tow packages vary??

[teachndad]

Hi,

I have been looking for a used 1998 - 2003 Sienna for the past 4 weeks. I saw one two days ago and the owner showed me the original sticker and it showed the $160 for the tow package. Then he throws me and says, "I put on the tow hitch myself." I was stumped. I was stumped because it originally didn't come with the hitch on it. I thought the tow package came with the hitch in place and either a tranny cooler or a larger radiator. I looked for the tranny cooler and I couldn't find it. From reading a few things on the old site, it's supposed to be near the front left fender well. I didn't see it. I can't tell if this Sienna had the larger radiator or not. This happened to be a 2001 model xle.

It's kind of confusing. Your comments please.

I need to tow package to tow a 1300 lbs.(dry weight) tent trailer. If I can't find one with the tow package, I am going to mount the hitch myself and find someone to add the tranny cooler.

Cheers

Rod Wylie

[thangtqt]

I bought an used 2000 XLE with towing package, haven't towed anything yet, but from the old forum they said Sienna tows very well much better than trucks. The trans cooler is in the left front wheel, last week I fixed the front light and saw it there.
thang

[FloridaNative]

The Sienna tow package never included a hitch. For 1998-2003 USA models, the main component is a transmission cooler, which is located inside the driver's side fender well. You should be able to see it from the front through one of the grills. The Canadian models all included the tow package as standard.

With that small of a trailer, you should have no problems just adding a trans cooler to a non-tow package equipped van.

[ej_san_fran]

If you give your VIN to a Toyota dealer, they can look up if the tow package is present or not.
I think in California all Siennas were sold with the tow package included (but it's good to verify anyway).

[rstanek]

Yep, our 2000 Sienna came with the tow prep package ( I verified with Toyota by supplying my VIN).

It appears that at some point (around 2000 or so) the tow prep package was pretty much standard on Sienna LE's and up until 2007.

Installing a class III hitch on our 2000 took me 20 minutes. I let a hitch shop wire the brake controller and connector.

Just ordered the Curt Hitch for our 2006 Sienna, and all the wiring stuff. Wish me luck.