Darryl- I was in a conversation with someone yesterday on the Rav4 World Forum, regarding "why" Toyota so far has only produced a Prime version for the Prius and Rav4, and not for the Sienna or Highlander. And the answer was something I hadn't thought of: The Sienna Hybrid and Highlander already have a curb weight that is nearly at the maximum that would still give those vehicles enough payload capacity to haul 7 passengers and a reasonable amount of luggage. The Prius and Rav4 don't have 7 passenger seating, so they are less likely to hit the maximum GVWR limit. Where this limit comes from: part of it is based on Government regulations - EPA tailpipe emissions, crash safety, and especially CAFE fuel economy standards - and part of it is engineering and parts supply: components like brake calipers and pads, suspension struts, ball joints, steering gear, tires and wheels, etc. all are sized to handle the stresses of passenger vehicles. If the GVWR exceeds about 8,900 pounds (this includes up to a 3,500 pound trailer for the Sienna and Highlander), you get out of the regulatory space of what the Government considers to be a "passenger car", and into "light truck" territory, and different rules apply to light trucks than to passenger cars. Plus, if the curb weight of a vehicle exceeds about 6,000 pounds with passengers, luggage, trailer tongue weight, and fuel, you need tires that can handle at least 1,500 pounds load per tire, and that's pushing the upper limit of passenger car tires; any more than that, and you need load range "E" light truck tires. Right now, the Sienna Hybrid has a curb weight of 4,700 pounds. That's 300~400 pounds MORE than our Rav4 Primes (depending on trim and options). A Sienna Prime would need at least a 24 kW-hr traction battery to give it a 50 mile EV range - that would be 1,100 pounds of battery, and now you are well beyond the GVWR limit unless you eliminate the 3,500 pound trailer towing capability. So the upshot of this conversation was that the Sienna and Highlander will probably never come out as PHEV Primes, unless Toyota totally re-designs them to weigh less, removes the rear seat to make them 5 passenger vehicles, or re-certifies them as light trucks. And a 5 passenger minivan would never sell, I'm guessing.

Thanks for this, Darrel. This summer, we'll be towing a 13-foot fiberglass trailer and carrying 2 kayaks on our R4P. Your video has reminded me to weigh the whole kit and caboodle when we're all loaded, and see how close to the limit we are. Also, I recently did my version of the minor mod you showed in your video about dampening the noisemaker behind the R4P front grille. I now happily drive a little-less-noisy car.

Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing on my Forester. GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) front and rear is yet another consideration involving balance of payload front to back. Maybe payload being more centered toward the rear axle becomes a factor towards the GVWR? And then considering what happens with tongue weight past the rear bumper causing a load on the rear axle that partially lowers load on the front axle, may also further make the rear axle the limiting factor in calculations (2900lbs for you car). Much to consider when you are right up to the limits.

Maybe the door sticker considers the tires that came stock on your model of vehicle.

HI I AM A NEW SUBSCRIBER. I HAVE A 2019 RAV 4 LE. DO YOU THINK IT WILL PULL AN ALINER? MY WIFE AND I ARE WANTING TO PURCHASE AN ALINER OR SOMETHING I CAN PULL. WHAT IS EVERYONES OPINION ON WHAT TO PURCHASE? HAS TO HAVE A FURNACE AT THE LEAST. IS THERE AN ALINER DEALER NEAR CENTRAL WISCONSIN? DARREL CAN YOU HELP US WITH THIS? WE WILL BE PURCHASING A CAMPER FOR THE FIRST TIME AND FOR US IT IS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING ON WHAT ARE VEHICLE WILL HANDLE. PLEASE HELP!!!! YOUR KZfaq CHANNEL ON ALINER REALLY HELPED US MAKE DECISIONS. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO.