2018 Toyota Highlander towing capacity
Up to 5,000 lbs with a conventional ball hitch. That rating is for this configuration: Model code GSU50L-ARZNHA, 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS) engine, FF, 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS) engine, FWD. The lowest-rated configuration in the same tables is 1,000 lbs, so the answer for your vehicle depends on how it is equipped.
Highest published rating5,000 lbsConventional (ball hitch). Lowest in the same tables: 1,000 lbs.
The top figure belongs to one specific build. Find the row that matches your engine, cab, drive and axle, and check the label on your driver's door jamb. Passengers and cargo in the truck come off what you can tow.
2018 Toyota Highlander towing capacity by engine
The highest rating published for each engine. Pick a figure to see every configuration behind it.
2018 Toyota Highlander towing capacity chart
All 7 configurations in the source, by hitch type and engine, highest rating first. Each row links to the page it is printed on.
Conventional (ball hitch)
| Configuration | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | GCWR | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model code GSU50L-ARZNHA, 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS) engine, FFTWR is the with-brakes rating (page 203); unbraked TWR is 1000 lb. for all models, printed below the table. Footnote *1: meets SAE J2807. Footnote *2: model code is on the Certification Label. Both lb. and kg are printed, lb. copied. Sway control device required over 2000 lb. (page 205). Driving system is printed as 'FF' (front-wheel drive), recorded as FWD. hitch: conventional, because the manual defines tongue weight as the load on the trailer hitch ball (page 204) and gives trailer ball sizes and a weight carrying ball position (page 209); a weight distributing hitch is required only over 5000 lb. (page 205). model_year is null because the manual prints no model year anywhere (every page footer reads 'HIGHLANDER_U (OM0E031U)'); the manifest records Toyota's manuals index title for OM0E031U as the 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual.; model year 2018 is from the publisher's listing of this manual; the pages themselves print no year | FWD | 5,000 lbs | 10,840 lbs | p. 206 | ||
| Model code GSU50L-ARZMHA, GSU50L-ARZGHA, 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS) engine, FFTWR is the with-brakes rating (page 203); unbraked TWR is 1000 lb. for all models, printed below the table. Footnote *1: meets SAE J2807. Footnote *2: model code is on the Certification Label. Both lb. and kg are printed, lb. copied. Sway control device required over 2000 lb. (page 205). Driving system is printed as 'FF' (front-wheel drive), recorded as FWD. hitch: conventional, because the manual defines tongue weight as the load on the trailer hitch ball (page 204) and gives trailer ball sizes and a weight carrying ball position (page 209); a weight distributing hitch is required only over 5000 lb. (page 205). model_year is null because the manual prints no model year anywhere (every page footer reads 'HIGHLANDER_U (OM0E031U)'); the manifest records Toyota's manuals index title for OM0E031U as the 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual.; model year 2018 is from the publisher's listing of this manual; the pages themselves print no year | FWD | 5,000 lbs | 10,950 lbs | p. 206 | ||
| Model code GSU55L-ARZNHA, GSU55L-ARZMHA, GSU55L-ARZGHA, 3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS) engine, AWDTWR is the with-brakes rating (page 203); unbraked TWR is 1000 lb. for all models, printed below the table. Footnote *1: meets SAE J2807. Footnote *2: model code is on the Certification Label. Both lb. and kg are printed, lb. copied. Sway control device required over 2000 lb. (page 205). hitch: conventional, because the manual defines tongue weight as the load on the trailer hitch ball (page 204) and gives trailer ball sizes and a weight carrying ball position (page 209); a weight distributing hitch is required only over 5000 lb. (page 205). model_year is null because the manual prints no model year anywhere (every page footer reads 'HIGHLANDER_U (OM0E031U)'); the manifest records Toyota's manuals index title for OM0E031U as the 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual.; model year 2018 is from the publisher's listing of this manual; the pages themselves print no year | AWD | 5,000 lbs | 11,000 lbs | p. 206 |
| Configuration | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | GCWR | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model codes GSU50L-ARZNHA, GSU50L-ARZMHA, GSU50L-ARZGHA, GSU55L-ARZNHA, GSU55L-ARZMHA, GSU55L-ARZGHASpecifications table repeats the TWR by model code only, with no engine or drive column; engine and drive are null here and are given by the page 206 table. Vehicle capacity weight (occupant + luggage) is printed per model code and seating capacity in the same table (between 1280 lb. and 1370 lb. across these codes) and is not copied into payload_max_lbs. Both lb. and kg are printed, lb. copied. One merged cell covers all six GSU codes. hitch: conventional, because the manual defines tongue weight as the load on the trailer hitch ball (page 204) and gives trailer ball sizes and a weight carrying ball position (page 209); a weight distributing hitch is required only over 5000 lb. (page 205). model_year is null because the manual prints no model year anywhere (every page footer reads 'HIGHLANDER_U (OM0E031U)'); the manifest records Toyota's manuals index title for OM0E031U as the 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual.; model year 2018 is from the publisher's listing of this manual; the pages themselves print no year | 5,000 lbs | p. 650 | ||||
| Model code ASU50L-ARTNKASpecifications table repeats the TWR by model code only, with no engine or drive column; engine and drive are null here and are given by the page 206 table. Vehicle capacity weight (occupant + luggage) is printed per model code and seating capacity in the same table (1460 lb. for this code) and is not copied into payload_max_lbs. Both lb. and kg are printed, lb. copied. hitch: conventional, because the manual defines tongue weight as the load on the trailer hitch ball (page 204) and gives trailer ball sizes and a weight carrying ball position (page 209); a weight distributing hitch is required only over 5000 lb. (page 205). model_year is null because the manual prints no model year anywhere (every page footer reads 'HIGHLANDER_U (OM0E031U)'); the manifest records Toyota's manuals index title for OM0E031U as the 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual.; model year 2018 is from the publisher's listing of this manual; the pages themselves print no year | 1,500 lbs | p. 650 | ||||
| Unbraked TWR, one value printed for all modelswithout trailer brakes; a single value printed below the GCWR/TWR table with no split by engine or drive, so engine and drive are null. Page 205 says trailer service brakes are required above this weight. Both lb. and kg are printed, lb. copied. hitch: conventional, because the manual defines tongue weight as the load on the trailer hitch ball (page 204) and gives trailer ball sizes and a weight carrying ball position (page 209); a weight distributing hitch is required only over 5000 lb. (page 205). model_year is null because the manual prints no model year anywhere (every page footer reads 'HIGHLANDER_U (OM0E031U)'); the manifest records Toyota's manuals index title for OM0E031U as the 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual.; model year 2018 is from the publisher's listing of this manual; the pages themselves print no year | 1,000 lbs | p. 206 |
| Configuration | Drive | Axle | Max trailer | GCWR | Needs | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model code ASU50L-ARTNKA, 2.7L L4 (1AR-FE) engine, FFTWR is the with-brakes rating (page 203); unbraked TWR is 1000 lb. for all models, printed below the table. Footnote *1: meets SAE J2807. Footnote *2: model code is on the Certification Label. Both lb. and kg are printed, lb. copied. Sway control device required over 2000 lb. (page 205). Driving system is printed as 'FF' (front-wheel drive), recorded as FWD. hitch: conventional, because the manual defines tongue weight as the load on the trailer hitch ball (page 204) and gives trailer ball sizes and a weight carrying ball position (page 209); a weight distributing hitch is required only over 5000 lb. (page 205). model_year is null because the manual prints no model year anywhere (every page footer reads 'HIGHLANDER_U (OM0E031U)'); the manifest records Toyota's manuals index title for OM0E031U as the 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual.; model year 2018 is from the publisher's listing of this manual; the pages themselves print no year | FWD | 1,500 lbs | 6,010 lbs | p. 206 |
Common questions
Which 2018 Toyota Highlander engine tows the most?
3.5L V6 (2GR-FKS) engine, at up to 5,000 lbs. Next is Engine not named in the table at up to 5,000 lbs.
Where do these numbers come from?
From Toyota 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual (OM0E031U). Each row in the tables above links to the document and gives the page the figure is printed on.
Towing equipment for the 2018 Toyota Highlander
Parts sold to fit this vehicle. Fitting one does not raise a rating, and the tables above say what each rating needs.
- Trailer wiring harness for the 2018 Toyota Highlander. See on Amazon (paid link)
- Trailer hitch receiver for the 2018 Toyota Highlander. See on Amazon (paid link)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The ratings on this page come only from the documents cited.
Where these numbers come from
- Toyota 2018 Highlander Owner's Manual (OM0E031U), Toyota. Owner's manual. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
Page numbers count pages in the linked file, which can differ from the number printed in the corner. Report a number that looks wrong.
Related ratings
- 2019 Toyota Highlander towing capacity
- 2017 Toyota Highlander towing capacity
- Every year of the Toyota Highlander
- Other SUVs that can tow 5,000 lbs
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- 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser, up to 8,100 lbs
- 2018 Toyota Sequoia, up to 7,400 lbs
- 2018 Toyota Tacoma, up to 6,800 lbs
- 2018 Toyota 4Runner, up to 5,000 lbs