I am in the process of buying a Highlander to pull the 2018 Jayco identified above. I don’t have the Highlander yet. I need to pull the Jayco from South Carolina Where I bought it to Richmond this coming Friday. The private seller has been pulling it with his Highlander but correctly points out that the hitch he has been using probably won’t work for the sierra pick up truck The private seller has been pulling it with his Highlander but correctly points out that the hitch he has been using probably won’t work for the sierra pick up truck because it would result in the ball being too high. I have looked some on Amazon at adjustable hitches And I’m thinking that might be the way to go since I won’t get a chance to match up the truck and the hitch and the pop up until when I get down there on Friday. Do any of you have any thoughts or recommendations for hitches.
Hitch for GMC Sierra SLT 2500 to pull 2018 Jayco Jay Sport 12SC
- Thread starter Roger1976
- Start date
Dingit
Super Active Member
- Mar 8, 2017
- 2,259
It might be cheaper to buy several hitches and hope one fits than to get an adjustable. (Depends on your receiver size. Mine is 2.5" and for some reason those are kinda pricey.)
If the seller can give you the height measurements of (preferably) the trailer or of his TV and drop he uses, you will have a pretty good idea of what you need.
If the seller can give you the height measurements of (preferably) the trailer or of his TV and drop he uses, you will have a pretty good idea of what you need.
Perhaps you can have the seller meet you at a RV Dealer or Home Depot near to his location so you can pick out an appropriate hitch.
Otherwise, I agree with @Dingit post.
Otherwise, I agree with @Dingit post.
Wybb3
Member
If the seller can supply you with the coupler height you can figure the drop or rise you need by measuring your hitch receiver. Coupler height should be the height of where the ball mounts to the drawbar, so maybe he could provide the measurement from the ground to the base of the ball if he can't get to the trailer.
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17” seems to be a common hitch height for a lot of pups. I’d just get one that puts the ball close to that and you’ll be fine. If it’s a little off, it’s fine just to get it home. Then measure to get the correct one for the Highlander.
I’m not a fan of the cheap adjustable ones. I have a fixed mount for each of my two trailers.
I’m not a fan of the cheap adjustable ones. I have a fixed mount for each of my two trailers.
vagov
Super Active Member
So your pulling the camper home with the 2500 then plan on using a Highlander to pull it once you buy it correct? I would use a shank with a long drop. And tow it home even if nose high, just go slower as this may cause more sway, then buy a hitch dedicated to your primary tow vechile later . You may also want to look into a reducer sleeve from u haul. For roughly 20 bucks , this will reduce the opening on the hitch on the 2500. Down from 2.5. To 2. For more standard 2 inch ball applications. That most pups and smaller travel trailers use
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Dingit
Super Active Member
- Mar 8, 2017
- 2,259
..after towing with a 2500, won't it be horrible to tow with a Highlander? ![[:I]](/smileys/smile_blush.gif "Blush [:I]")
That was my thought...after towing with a 2500, won't it be horrible to tow with a Highlander?
It’s a 6 cylinder Highlander rated at 5k towing and GVW on pop up is 3250 and we will have only 2 low weight adults plus dog in Highlander, doesn’t seem like tow will be a problem, what am I missing?..after towing with a 2500, won't it be horrible to tow with a Highlander?
a 5000# tow limit give you 4000# to work with on the pup, cargo, LP, water (if any), etc.
we towed our 2500# popup with our 4Runner, also rated at 5000#. It did well; we also towed our 3500# travel trailer with it for a season and a half, and that was not as great; the 4Runner was stressed under some conditions, admittedly it is a 2005 (we still have it). It does have a larger "sail" area than popups, although I'm not sure if yours is a high-wall or not. (ours was not). One of the big differences for us was length of wheel base, and the motion transfer from the trailer (single axle) to the front seat. Towing with our trucks has been much more comfortable, ride-wise. We originally up-sized to a Chevy Colorado (which was a lemon), and now tow with a Silverado 1500. Even between the 2 trucks there has been a difference in towing comfort due to wheel bases, etc. IIRC, the Highlander is smaller than the 4Runner, we looked at them before we bought that, so you'll just have to see how it tows.
we towed our 2500# popup with our 4Runner, also rated at 5000#. It did well; we also towed our 3500# travel trailer with it for a season and a half, and that was not as great; the 4Runner was stressed under some conditions, admittedly it is a 2005 (we still have it). It does have a larger "sail" area than popups, although I'm not sure if yours is a high-wall or not. (ours was not). One of the big differences for us was length of wheel base, and the motion transfer from the trailer (single axle) to the front seat. Towing with our trucks has been much more comfortable, ride-wise. We originally up-sized to a Chevy Colorado (which was a lemon), and now tow with a Silverado 1500. Even between the 2 trucks there has been a difference in towing comfort due to wheel bases, etc. IIRC, the Highlander is smaller than the 4Runner, we looked at them before we bought that, so you'll just have to see how it tows.
Dingit
Super Active Member
- Mar 8, 2017
- 2,259
It'll be fine. Just not AS fine. 
A Highlander will never tow as well as a truck. I'd get something fun and sporty instead of a Highlander and use the truck as a TV. But I'm not you and you probably have a perfectly good reason for what you're doing. Ignore us. We like to toss random bits of useless opinion around. You know what you're doing!
A Highlander will never tow as well as a truck. I'd get something fun and sporty instead of a Highlander and use the truck as a TV. But I'm not you and you probably have a perfectly good reason for what you're doing. Ignore us. We like to toss random bits of useless opinion around. You know what you're doing!
I appreciate all of the informative and helpful replies. Our most important camper (Su’sh our 50 pound rescue dog) should like the bench seat on the Highlander. We also like having all the covered area for stuff. Also pretty good mpg. So we went with a Highlander. We bought the pop up from a family that pulled it with Highlander.
vagov
Super Active Member
Congrats. Hope you make many memories with it!
Harbor Freight has an adjustable drawbar that will adjust from about 10" up to 11" down. It uses the same pins that hold the drawbar in the receiver to permit quick adjustment. 5,000 lb load limit (just like many trailer hitches). $38! I just bought one for my Silverado as I have 3 trailers to pull, and want to make sure that each is level.
Here's the link: https://www.harborfreight.com/8-in-1-adjustable-ball-mount-hitch-95991.html
Because it is not hard-bolted, it will probably make some noise when slowing or starting, but it should solve your problem. I also have a trailer ball that has exchangeable ball sizes (1-7/8" and 2"). Those might be handy if you don't know the ball size to get.
Good luck!
Here's the link: https://www.harborfreight.com/8-in-1-adjustable-ball-mount-hitch-95991.html
Because it is not hard-bolted, it will probably make some noise when slowing or starting, but it should solve your problem. I also have a trailer ball that has exchangeable ball sizes (1-7/8" and 2"). Those might be handy if you don't know the ball size to get.
Good luck!
DiamondGirl
Adventures with KODI in AZ
For many of us towing with trucks… It’s a truck thing. I’ve towed a teardrop (1,800 GVWR) and Aliner (2,500 GVWR) with a Equinox(6cyl.) rated at 3,500 tow. I only took the teardrop and Aliner a couple of times each with the Equinox. Both were rated to tow the teardrop and Aliner but had difficulty going up hills and mountains at more than 35 mph. Then I towed with a Colorado (4K tow capacity) which was slightly better than the Equinox and finally a Titan. The Titan worked like a champ towing the Aliner. Now, I want a 2500 to tow our current trailer. My Titan (9k tow rating) tows the trailer (Kodiak 5,500 GVWR) BUT I wish we had a stronger 2500 to tow with ease. You can feel the difference going up hills and mountains at 45MPH verses flat landscape. Having more power than needed for me is a “peace of mind” knowing I can head up higher elevations without worrying about overworking the transmission or engine. And having a 2500 will allow me to tow up higher elevations at more than 45MPH.
Once you tow with the Highlander, you’ll figure out which vehicle works best for your needs. As you said, your Highlander provides more passenger convenience and you need to take that into consideration. And if you’re not driving up hills and mountains then you may not notice a difference between the two vehicles.
Happy Camping…![[put&hy]](/smileys/smile_put_&_hy.png "Pickup Truck and Hybrid [put&hy]")
Once you tow with the Highlander, you’ll figure out which vehicle works best for your needs. As you said, your Highlander provides more passenger convenience and you need to take that into consideration. And if you’re not driving up hills and mountains then you may not notice a difference between the two vehicles.
Happy Camping…
