trailer hitch '06 Sienna

[magicalme]

Hey there ! New at this . Just got an '06 LE , 25000 on it . Trying to make up my mind what trailer hitch to go with . I read and saw the pic's of the Curt 13256 class 3 , what about the Curt 12212 class 2 ? Anyone know anything about it ? Here's where I have the biggest problem . If a class 2 is rated 3500 LB , and the van is rated 3500 LB , then why have the big class 3 hanging back there ? Am I missing something ? Even with a WD hitch the van is still rated at 3500 LB with trailer brakes , 1500 without . Lots of good stuff on this site . Thanks to all .

[vastdavidson]

I see the biggest difference is the Tongue weight. Also if you are going to pull a camping trailer you may want a WDH (Weight Distribution Hitch) For that you need class III.

Since I only tow a Motorcycle trailer I purchased the Toyota Dual Port hitch for my 2005 and installed it myself. It was pretty simple.

[magicalme]

Is that the Toyota class2 that you have / How do you like it ? Thanks for the comeback ! I have an F-350 crew cab Dully with the 7.3 L engine for heavy loads , my Sienna is for my 14' boat that is probably under a thousand LB's . Tongue wight on class 2 is 300 LB , 3500 LB pull , Sienna rated 350/ WD 525 -3500 pull . How far down from bumper is the bottom of your hitch , if you don't mind . I read one person said they had one and where going to get class 3 Curt because the Toyota hitch had the same ground clearance . I find that hard to believe , but , maybe their right .

[brian_bp]

I believe that the reason for a 2" receiver is to have more choice of accessories, including weight-distribution hitch systems. Since the Sienna's trailer weight limit is 3500 lb (the Class 2 limit), there is no "legal" Class 3 towing with Sienna, so I don't see how a Class 3 load rating has any benefit with this vehicle.

The 300 lb tongue weight limit for some Class 2 receivers is not a limitation of Class 2, only of that particular model from Curt (and perhaps other specific model). I have read the SAE J684 and VESA-5 standards which define the towing classes, and neither specifies a tongue weight limit. The original-equipment Dual Port System (DPS) receiver is good for the full 350 lb weight-carrying hitch weight limit of the Sienna.

I, too, find it hard to believe that any 2" receiver has the same ground clearance as my original-equipment DPS 1.25" receiver,
because mine fits right up against the bumper and the box extends down 3/4" less. The DPS "ports" (the angled flat plates which stick out for attaching accessories) don't really hang down.

[vastdavidson]

On my old car I had a class II so I just stuck with that. The hitch sits up nice and close to the bumper. I got it for two reasons. I already had hitches for it....and if you get the Toyota wire harness it screws on the hitch and looks good. I did the full install myself. Took me about an hour or so.