Latest RAV4 PHEV Towing capability

[PatW]

Can anyone confirm what is the towing capacity?  On the Toyota web site it says 1415KG but I found multiple other sources that say it's 1500KG, and a thread on this forum which seemed to imply 1550KG?

Also - for anyone who knows more about towing than me (we are beginners) is this car suitable to tow a Swift Sprite Caravan?  Max nose weight seems to be 70KG and that is less than 5% of the MPTLM of that caravan so does that mean it's not suitable?

[philip42h]

From the Owner's Manual (downloadable from the website):

So, 1500 kg unless it's a GR Sport and then down to 1400 kg.

Max nose weight / drawbar load is 70 kg.

[PatW]

54 minutes ago, philip42h said:

From the Owner's Manual (downloadable from the website):

So, 1500 kg unless it's a GR Sport and then down to 1400 kg.

Max nose weight / drawbar load is 70 kg.

Thanks - I guess that explains it as I selected GT Sport on the web site - I had assumed the differences were just trim / cosmetic.  The cars look mainly identical in performance that would seem to impact on towing weight.  Maybe it's the wheel size that changes it.

[robo1]

Does the GT Sport have a different suspension set up. Could that be the reason for the reduced towing capacity ?

[Flatcoat]

That is very odd. The Dynsmic Premium which was effectively replaced by the GRS still had a 1500kg tow weight limit. That at least confirms I will not have another RAV….. 1400kg no good to me. 

[Oscarmax]

20 hours ago, PatW said:

Can anyone confirm what is the towing capacity?  On the Toyota web site it says 1415KG but I found multiple other sources that say it's 1500KG, and a thread on this forum which seemed to imply 1550KG?

Also - for anyone who knows more about towing than me (we are beginners) is this car suitable to tow a Swift Sprite Caravan?  Max nose weight seems to be 70KG and that is less than 5% of the MPTLM of that caravan so does that mean it's not suitable?

We tow a 2016 Swift Conqueror 480 1454kg, at the time of purchase we upgraded to 1500kg, although never used the extra capacity, as regards the nose weight the wife fortunately stuffs the rear wardrobe to the inch of it life, plus I carry very little in the front locker. To date we have experienced no problems with the 70kg nose weight limit.

Our 2023 Suzuki Across the rear suspension is quite taught even with the the vehicle and caravan loaded up for 3 weeks holiday we have experienced no problems with the jockey wheel grounding on large sleeping policemen/bollards.

You don't state the specific model and weight of your caravan.

[PatW]

1 hour ago, Oscarmax said:

We tow a 2016 Swift Conqueror 480 1454kg, at the time of purchase we upgraded to 1500kg, although never used the extra capacity, as regards the nose weight the wife fortunately stuffs the rear wardrobe to the inch of it life, plus I carry very little in the front locker. To date we have experienced no problems with the 70kg nose weight limit.

Our 2023 Suzuki Across the rear suspension is quite taught even with the the vehicle and caravan loaded up for 3 weeks holiday we have experienced no problems with the jockey wheel grounding on large sleeping policemen/bollards.

You don't state the specific model and weight of your caravan.

The caravan we are considering is Swift Sprite Major 4SB.  We are complete beginners at towing and caravanning and we have not even ordered a caravan yet so we are still researching the topic at the moment.  I am trying to make a shortlist of suitable cars as neither of our current cars can tow at all.  I prefer a PHEV if possible.  Considered an EV but I don't fancy unhitching every time I want to "refuel".

12 hours ago, Flatcoat said:

That is very odd. The Dynsmic Premium which was effectively replaced by the GRS still had a 1500kg tow weight limit. That at least confirms I will not have another RAV….. 1400kg no good to me. 

If it's not the wheel sizes, maybe it's the provision for panoramic roof that makes the weight of the car slightly different?  Otherwise yes I have no idea.  If you downgrade to the cheaper model of Rav4 the towing capacity goes back up to 1500.  I'm a bit worried about the 70KG but I take your point that you can also influence it by moving stuff around in the caravan.  However 70kg is less than 5% of the caravan MPTLM we are considering so it's not within the recommended range (about 2KG under)

[Oscarmax]

The Swift Sprite Major 4SB is 1507 kg I believe Flatcoat Swift caravan is slightly heavier, Flatcoat is best to explain that, several owners have experienced problems with the panoramic roof.

As regards the 70kg nose weight we run around the 65kg mark zero stability or pitching problems the RAV4 PHEV is a 2 ton tank.

[PatW]

2 minutes ago, Oscarmax said:

The Swift Sprite Major 4SB is 1507 kg I believe Flatcoat Swift caravan is slightly heavier, Flatcoat is best to explain that, several owners have experienced problems with the panoramic roof.

As regards the 70kg nose weight we run around the 65kg mark zero stability or pitching problems the RAV4 PHEV is a 2 ton tank.

It says 1442 on the Swift website.

[Oscarmax]

7 minutes ago, PatW said:

It says 1442 on the Swift website.

I looked on Towcar site, our caravan is 1454kg, if your caravan is 1442kg you have no problems, Flatcoat is the best person to explain the noseweight is carried as part of the vehicle load so basically 1442 -70kg = 1372kg.

[philip42h]

1 hour ago, PatW said:

I prefer a PHEV if possible...

The AWD HEV makes a better tow car in terms of "Towing capacity":

Again, the GR Sport is reduced compared with "other models" and I suspect that this is to do with the more aggressive suspension on the GR Sport (but really don't know for certain).

[Flatcoat]

2 hours ago, Oscarmax said:

I looked on Towcar site, our caravan is 1454kg, if your caravan is 1442kg you have no problems, Flatcoat is the best person to explain the noseweight is carried as part of the vehicle load so basically 1442 -70kg = 1372kg.

Yep, that is it. The towed weight is the weight on the axle of the trailer (or caravan). The nose weight is part of the cars payload when hitched up.  
 

As for why the GRS has a lower tow weight limit is a mystery only Toyota can answer in their wisdom! 

[PatW]

4 minutes ago, Flatcoat said:

Yep, that is it. The towed weight is the weight on the axle of the trailer (or caravan). The nose weight is part of the cars payload when hitched up.  

So you are saying that for example if the nose weight measured is 70KG, and the caravan weighs 1442KG unhitched, then actually I could tow that caravan with a car that only covers 1400KG?  In other words actually the RAV4 PHEV Sport would be ok after all?

[Flatcoat]

That is how I have interpreted the DVSA legislation. As I understand it, the law is interested in the weight on the trailer axle, not the weight of the trailer in its entirety. However I suggest you check your insurance in case there is some clause over riding the law. In practice the MTPLM is a maximum. You are not exceeding the MTPLM and in reality 70kg of the weight is taken by the cars payload. In the event of an accident how will your insurer prove you were towing at the caravans max payload? Nevertheless it is your call! This is my approach but you must come to your own decision. 

[Oscarmax]

5 hours ago, PatW said:

So you are saying that for example if the nose weight measured is 70KG, and the caravan weighs 1442KG unhitched, then actually I could tow that caravan with a car that only covers 1400KG?  In other words actually the RAV4 PHEV Sport would be ok after all?

Personally I stay on the side of caution and keep to the 1500kg manufacture limit, despite not requiring the extra payload we upgrade our Swift caravan from 1454 to 1500kg just to give some leeway (we could have gone as high as 1550kg), there is only 2 of us we never use the rear seats, we alway load the seats, awning etc in the vehicle.

I personally would not wish to exceed the manufacture 1400kg limit or include the nose weight as part of the vehicles payload, but that is me, as Flatcoat has stated your are within the interpretations of the guideline, again its your decision.

[Flatcoat]

12 hours ago, Oscarmax said:

Personally I stay on the side of caution and keep to the 1500kg manufacture limit, despite not requiring the extra payload we upgrade our Swift caravan from 1454 to 1500kg just to give some leeway (we could have gone as high as 1550kg), there is only 2 of us we never use the rear seats, we alway load the seats, awning etc in the vehicle.

I personally would not wish to exceed the manufacture 1400kg limit or include the nose weight as part of the vehicles payload, but that is me, as Flatcoat has stated your are within the interpretations of the guideline, again its your decision.

You are not exceeding the manufacturers limit. The nose weight is part of the cars payload so the towed weight is the weight on the trailer axle which is the gross trailer weight less nose weight. It is simple physics AND the DVSA definition in law. You cannot count the nose weight twice. What anyone towing anything needs to understand is the trailer noseweight does become part of the tow vehicles payload. You are towing a live weight of 1430 kg so well below the manufacturers limit (with the manufacturers design safety margin) anyway. At development stage car manufacturers will test the car to destruction to ensure the towing limit is well within the vehicle capabilities. The car manufacturers cannot defy the laws of physics of how weight is carried or change the legal definitions of towed weight. 

[Oscarmax]

1 hour ago, Flatcoat said:

You are not exceeding the manufacturers limit. The nose weight is part of the cars payload so the towed weight is the weight on the trailer axle which is the gross trailer weight less nose weight. It is simple physics AND the DVSA definition in law. You cannot count the nose weight twice. What anyone towing anything needs to understand is the trailer noseweight does become part of the tow vehicles payload. You are towing a live weight of 1430 kg so well below the manufacturers limit (with the manufacturers design safety margin) anyway. At development stage car manufacturers will test the car to destruction to ensure the towing limit is well within the vehicle capabilities. The car manufacturers cannot defy the laws of physics of how weight is carried or change the legal definitions of towed weight. 

I fully agree with you hence I advised the original poster to yourself, mine is  a personal choice only

[Flatcoat]

Yep, as long as the set up legal anything else is noise and froth.