How to Determine if My 2008 Toyota Highlander Has the Factory Tow Package

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Question:

I have a 2008 Highlander Sport. It has the shift feature to manually change gears. How can I tell if it has the tow package?

asked by: Dale R

0

Expert Reply:

If your 2008 Toyota Highlander has a converter box under the dashboard already then you have the factory tow package. To give you an idea of what to look for I've attached a video of the trailer wiring being installed onto a Highlander without the tow package. If you watch around the 30 second mark you will see the converter box being plugged in.

Also, you can verify with Toyota using your VIN to be completely sure if your Highlander has the factory tow package.

If you do not have the two package the wiring harness you will need is the Tekonsha # 118449. If it turns out you do have it then you'll need the Curt T-Connector # 56042.

If you don't already have a trailer hitch, the Draw-Tite Max-E-Loader # 75726 is a Class III hitch compatible with your Highlander.

And an adjustable ball mount that includes two hitch balls is the Curt Channel Style Adjustable Ball Mount # C45900.

expert reply by: Charles S

0

Answer 1

I have attached a couple of drawings that show how the wires are routed when installing a brake controller, and how the wires are run from the 7-way connector on your 2008 Toyota Highlander. I have also included a couple of helpful articles that…

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Answer 2

You will need to check your vehicle owners manual, the drivers side door jamb, and the trailer hitch itself, to determine the maximum towing capacity for your specific vehicle. I did some research on the internet and found that the 2008 Toyota…

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Answer 3

Luckily, rather than trying to understand the VIN check, the easiest way to determine if your Highlander is equipped with the taillight converter is to get a quick peek at the 10-pin connector it would plug into. The connector is located under the…

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Answer 4

You will want to check your owners manual or with the Toyota dealer for the gross towing weight capacity of your 2008 Toyota Highlander to make sure the towing capacity is not exceeded. Even if the hitch will have a higher weight capacity than your…

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Answer 5

The Toyota Highlander does not have the provision for plugging in the brake controller. You would need to hardwire the controller using the ETBC7, as you mention. Since you already have the 4-way connector, you will not need anything else. Everything…

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Answer 6

We have heard that the Curt hitch #C13200 doesn't fit well with the larger aluminum spare wheels that some of the Highlanders have. We have the Draw Tite hitch part #75726 that I can show you does fit with the aluminum spare wheels. Check out the…

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Answer 7

The features and equipment that constitute an auto maker's OEM "tow package" can vary by vehicle manufacturer, vehicle model and model year. Auto makers may change the elements of a "tow package" for any number of reasons. The…

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Answer 8

To determine if a 2017 Toyota HIghlander has a factory towing harness, start by opening up the rear hatch. Then, lift up on the rear compartment panel and pull it out. Remove the two driver-side panels by pulling up on them. There, you may see a…

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Answer 9

You can have a Toyota dealer run the VIN number to determine how your 2018 Toyota Highlander is equipped. As far as trailer wiring you can check under the dash for any sort of wiring converter. It may or may not be labeled. Or you can find where a…

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Answer 10

On the 2008 Toyota Highlander, the component that connects under the dash is the converter box. This is used to convert the 3 wire vehicle signals into 2 wire signals used by trailers by combining the directional and brake light signals into a single…

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Answer 11

The differences between the etrailer.com Trailer Hitch Receiver part #E98858 and Curt Hitch part #13534 for 2008 - 2013 Toyota Highlander is the powder coat. They both install the same, have the same weight rating of 750 lb tongue weight the only…

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Answer 12

For your 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid that has the full size 19 inch spare you'd want the Curt hitch part #13534 as it is the one that fits the best with the large spares like what you have. If you check out the picture I attached you'll see…

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How to Determine if My 2008 Toyota Highlander Has the Factory Tow Package

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