Sienna Gen-II Towing Capacity. (2004-2010)

[kolkh]

I remember there were numerous questions and discussions about towing capacity of Sienna, Generation II.
A summary of those discussions are presented below. It is based on Sienna's electronic brochures and recollections of other members, who read those disussions, spoke to dealers and made their purchases.

Towing capacity

Model year . . .U.S.A . . . Canada . . .
2004-20073500lb3500lb/1587 kg
2008-20091200lb3500lb/1587 kg


In the U.S., your 2008+ Sienna needs a tow prep package to tow up to 3500lb. The tow prep package includes an additional engine oil cooler, which is shown in the attachment.

Inspect your engine and if you do not find the parts highlighted in the attachment, your Sienna does not have the tow prep package, which allows towing more than 1200 lb.

If you have any questions, I hope that knowledgeable members will find this site soon and will give you an answer...

EDIT1: this post was corrected to address comments in posts 1 and 2.
EDIT2: puctures from the original discussion were found and added.
EDIT3: "additional info" for Canadian owners is provided here.

EDIT4: amended topic to include model years for clarity
BY: topspy/Mod-Squad

[SiennaMC]

This info was VERY helpful in my search for the right Sienna.

Oddly enough, based on reading those same threads, and based on my inquiring with dealers, it appears that in '07 ALL U.S. Sienna had the extra oil cooler, but in '08 and '09 a VERY LIMITED number were distributed in the U.S., even though someone posted that in Canada they all have it, even in those later years.

(sorry the Siennaclub forum was shut down, otherwise I'd post links, but of course you could just see 'em for yourself...anyway...)

[rijndael]

I also thought that the 2007 had the towing package included, and it was dropped for 2008+.

Here are the Sienna Club page on it, google cached them

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:...lnk&cd=1&gl=us

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:...lnk&cd=7&gl=us

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:...nk&cd=17&gl=us

[kolkh]

Thank you for your comments. I will check all the references that you provided. If needed, I will edit the first post so that we would have correct information about 2007 for future reference.

EDIT1: the original post was corrected to address your comments. Does it look Ok now?

[rstanek]

I did a huge amount of research before we purchased our gently used 2006 Sienna XLE.

I was able to find and download the sales brochures for the 2005-2008 maodel years here.
http://www.toyotacertified.com/request.html#

I did notice that in 2005, 2006 and 2007, the Tow Prep is standard. 2008, it is not. We actually looked at 2009 models as possibility, but they could only find a single XLE in the 5 state area with a tow prep package. I called 3 dealers to inquire about tthe cost of adding it aftermarket, and thye all said not to do it, and if I really wanted it, the cost was probably $2,000+, yikes!

[FloridaNative]

This topic should probably be a sticky.

I had the same problem when we were shopping. Could only find four 2008 LE vans with tow package in entire SE region. Ended up buying an end-of-year '07 to make sure we got the tow package and the equipment we wanted (or more accurately, didn't have what we didn't want).

[tomn3]

Can someone please clarify. In the brochures it says a 2008 gets a heavy duty radiator, heavy duty fan, 150 amp alternator and power steering oil cooler. Yet you mention an oil cooler only and I've seen others mention of a transmission fluid cooler.

Am I missing something? Apologies if this was answered previously.

Thanks

[kolkh]

... In the brochures it says a 2008 gets a heavy duty radiator, heavy duty fan, 150 amp alternator and power steering oil cooler.

Yes, all 2008 models get this equipment, therefore, all models are allowed to tow (up to 1200 lb)

Yet you mention an oil cooler only and I've seen others mention of a transmission fluid cooler.

If you want to tow more than 1200 lb (up to 3500lb), you need only one additional piece of equipment - an engine oil cooler.

As to confusion with trans cooler, it probably comes from discussions about first generation Sienna...

[FloridaNative]

Can someone please clarify. In the brochures it says a 2008 gets a heavy duty radiator, heavy duty fan, 150 amp alternator and power steering oil cooler. Yet you mention an oil cooler only and I've seen others mention of a transmission fluid cooler.

Am I missing something? Apologies if this was answered previously.

Thanks

The 2008 brochure is wrong. Those items have been standard equipment on the Sienna since 2004. There was a large amount of confusion in 2008 because the tow package became optional, but all of those components were still included on every single Sienna produced. After months of investigation it came out that the only item included in the 2008+ tow package was an engine oil cooler.

Auxiliary transmission oil coolers are typically found in many vehicles' tow packages, and was the main component in the 1998-2003 Sienna's tow package. Beginning in 2004, the Sienna included a very good transmission oil cooler incorporated into the radiator. Some people towing at or over the 3500 pound limit of the Sienna have chosen to add an additional transmission oil cooler, which is probably still a good idea if towing at or above the Sienna's limit.

[tomn3]

Thanks for the quick and detailed response.

[ultraviolet]

Hi, I have a Sienna 2006 CE Canadian model. It's not clear to me about the engine oil cooler. Does my Sienna has, if it has this, then how it will be activated (i have not done any towing yet, but planning a boat), automatic or some wiring needed. Any info and suggestion is welcome. Thanks.
UV

[kolkh]

Hi, I have a Sienna 2006 CE Canadian model. It's not clear to me about the engine oil cooler. Does my Sienna has, if it has this, then how it will be activated (i have not done any towing yet, but planning a boat), automatic or some wiring needed. Any info and suggestion is welcome. Thanks.
UV

1. All Canadian models still have 3500 lb towing package (Note to future readers: currently, info is available about [up to] 2009 MY).
2. In 2006, all Siennas had 3500 lb towing package in the U.S. and in Canada, ....well, and in Mexico!

[FZ1RIDER]

Greetings to all! I'm a newbie, so be kind. I have been reading about the towing lbs that my 2008 Sienna will be able to pull. First off, I have not taken a look to see if I have the tow prep package. I will assume I don't. If that is the case, the oil cooler that I have been reading about, is this Tranny oil cooler or Crank case oil cooler that will be needed? Is that all is needed? I have been preping myself to take my 4 boys Motorcycling in Va. I have three M/C's,looking for one more. I was looking into a trailer and hitch when I discovered this web site. My Vehicle is still under warranty. Please give me all the info everyone has here before I go any further, even if it seems trival. Thanks Dennis

[kolkh]

... If that is the case, the oil cooler that I have been reading about, is this Tranny oil cooler or Crank case oil cooler that will be needed? Is that all is needed? ...

Sienna Gen-II needs an additional engine oil cooler, not trans cooler.
Look here for details:

http://siennachat.com/forum/index.php/topic,116.0.html

As to after market oil cooler, here is a picture of one:




Look for details here Oil Cooler Install

http://www.automotivearticles.com/Oi..._Install.shtml

[denbsteph]

Has any body ever put a engine oil cooler on a 08 Sienna?. I have been researching the net for 4 plus hours, can't find one, can't even find what one really looks like for the Sienna. Need some help, getting frustrated that I bought a vehicle that can barely pull the passengers around without frying the motor. Thanks