Can My 2010 Toyota Camry Class 2 Hitch Tow a 1,720 lb Trailer

Question:

ok i have a 2010 toyota camry le with a class 2 hitch thats rated at 3500lbs and tongue weight at 350lbs will be purchasing the 1720 trailer for hauling various items around what would be the weight i can put on the hitch is it safe to go over the 350lb tongue weight

asked by: Henry E

Expert Reply:

Great question Henry!

For any and all towing setups you'll be limited by the least rated part of the towing gear. Your 2010 Toyota Camry being equipped with a Class II hitch with a 3,500 lb tow rating, like the Curt # C12343, is great, but when I looked up the online owner's manual for your vehicle it listed your vehicle as only being able to tow up to 1,000 lbs. So in your case the vehicle is the limiting factor at 1,000 lbs and you'll want to avoid towing a trailer weighing over that.

This does beg the question "Why is the hitch rated for more than my vehicle", which is generally the follow up we receive from people. The answer is pretty simple, actually. The hitch manufacturers test the capabilities of the hitch receivers separately from the vehicle. This can be helpful because hitches can sometimes fit a variety of vehicles so if they tested and listed the hitches for one specific vehicle then they wouldn't know what the breaking point is for the hitch.

I know this isn't the news you wanted to hear, but hopefully this gives you a better sense of what direction you need to go with towing, and more importantly that it helps you to tow safely!

expert reply by: Jon G