You got off easy, $100 tow, co pay, $150 campsite. My starter went out, at a gas stop. I got 2 phone numbers from the gas station. A campsite 5 blocks away, and a machanic. Sunday afternoon the machanic towed me to the campsite, had a starter delivered, then it needed a coil, and ignition control solenoid. He was a small town guy, and gave me a deal at $500. I spent $130 campsite. And now I have a free campsite till my check comes. I'm broke, but have food, propane, and gas in the generator.
Oh man, that sounds like a rough situation! Sorry you are dealing with that. At least you are safe for the time being. Yes, in hindsight we feel so lucky with how things unfolded. I definitely don't take kindness for granted anymore and you better believe I will be paying it forward in the future.
I was guessing water pump because that recently failed in my 2010 Toyota hybrid and it threw the same scarry error messages. Close to being right. Glad you got all fixed up. A fuel pump failure is unlikely to cause damage as opposed to overheating, so that's good.
That's a really good point! I hadn't even thought about the potential for long-term damage caused by part failure. I guess we got pretty lucky! Thanks for watching! What kind of Toyota hybrid did you have?
Made me look back and check the date of the fuel pump recall. Phew! I had it taken care of back when it came out! But we’re towing with the same vehicle, same year and my mileage is double yours so keep me posted of any further car issues!! Mine has really been golden for all four years of Alto towing. Good video because it isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. ❤
Did you buy your Highlander hybrid new? Did Toyota notify you when there was a recall? Aside from this issue, this car (and our last Highlander hybrid) has been nearly perfect. In fact, it's hard for me to blame the car since there was a recall that we didn't get taken care of. Also, I'm glad people are receptive to the good and bad sides of RVing. Like you said, it isn't all rainbows and unicorns 😅 Thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing this story. I can only imagine that the need to capture the story on video as it was unraveling only added to your stress. In the end, this is a story about the goodness of people and bolstered my faith in humanity
Well said! It is such an unnatural feeling to pull out the camera and start filming when something is going wrong. I can't tell you how many weird, quirky, or unfortunate things have happened since we started becoming TH-camrs last year, and a couple hours afterwards, we look at each other and say "dang, I wish we had gotten that on video". This was the FIRST time that we finally remembered that and pulled out the phone to start recording. I think anyone watching can probably tell that, during the beginning of the video, we looked pretty stressed out and didn't really feel like standing in front of the camera. It definitely got easier as the days progressed and we had more positive experiences and time to process what was going on. I'm glad your takeaway was that this story was about the goodness of people. I'm not saying that I would welcome more car trouble in the future, but the interactions and generosity we shared with strangers really made all of this a more positive experience.
Absolutely! It's really hard to complain in hindsight. And like we mentioned in the video, it was really nice to get caught up on some work, so I don't really feel like we lost out on much. Thanks for watching!
I have a 2015 Highlander Hybrid, and i have been towing my trailer for 4 years. Last year, i also had the Hybrid System Failure light come on and lost power. I had my SUV and trailer towed 2 hours back home. My issue was a transaxle pump that cools the hybrid system, and this caused the battery to overheat. My repair was not under warrenty and cost $2200 Canadian. The one thing im curious about is the weight of your trailer. Mine us 2890lbs empty so loaded with all my camping stuff, power cords etc its probably pushing 3500 lbs, which is the towing capacity of a Highlander Hybrid, im curious about how much your trailer weights. Also no surprise they blame the missing key on the tow truck driver they always do.
Had a similar experience last fall in Colorado. That is why I chose a trailer over a van or pickup camper. Options are the way to go so you are not reduced to no choice.
We totally agree! No RV is one size fits all and there are a few type of campers that we steer towards vans, but having our trailer available to us while the car was in the shop was such a huge benefit during this ordeal.
Fuel pumps are of course used in both ICE and hybrid vehicles, so fuel pump failure isn't solely probable with hybrids..... Anyways, all turned out well and y'all met some nice people and came away with some good content........... Happy trails!
Good point! We thought it was an issue with the hybrid system all week because that's what all of the errors were showing on the dashboard. It's interesting that none of the errors or alerts mentioned anything about the fuel pump. We are so glad that we met so many nice people, made some friends, and walked away with some pretty interesting memories. Thanks so much for watching!
Wow! New Subscriber! Sorry to hear of your difficulties but all in all, everything turned great, and you were blessed to meet some great people. I think this video popped up in my feed because we have something in common, we also tow with a Hybrid (2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid XSE). We have had our travel trailer (2019 Flagstaff E-Pro 19BH) for about 1 1/2 years and have been to 25 states and towed it almost 17,000 miles with no major issues (tow vehicle or TT). You all do a great job with your videos! We have a channel but have not posted any videos yet (we have tons of content) but we will be posting soon. I do have a few questions for you: 1. What is the tow capacity of your tow vehicle (ours is 3,500 lbs.)? 2. What is the dry weight of your Alto (ours is 3,100 lbs.)? 3. How many miles have you towed your Alto? 4. Do you use a weight distribution hitch (we could not tow without one)? 5. How does your Alto tow? 6. How do you like your Alto; any issues? Although we really like our rig, we did look at the Alto's but we live in FL and would need to drive all the way to Canada to pick one up. E-Pros are really solidly built, and have a lot of features, but we do still like the Altos. Safe travels!
Thanks so much for watching (and subscribing)! Yes, we feel so fortunate to have run into so many kind and accommodating people during such a stressful situation. Thank you so much for the kind words about our videos. We are looking forward to seeing yours when they are posted!! Regarding your questions... 1. Our 2019 Highlander hybrid also has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs 2. Our Alto (F1743 Expedition) weighs just shy of 2,500 lbs dry. Here's our full video tour: th-cam.com/video/JJwHXtzOv_E/w-d-xo.html 3. We've put about 25,000 mi on our Highlander since buying it used last year. It has about 58,000 mi in total on the odometer. 4. I do not use a weight distribution hitch 5. All of the alto trailers tow like a dream. They are so lightweight (half of them under 2000 lb dry) and it's really hard to even notice a difference when towing except for when you're going up steep hills. 6. We love our Alto. It's been doing really well so far and there are no major or mechanical issues. My biggest complaint is that some of the latches feel a little cheap on the interior, but I think they did that to save weight. Safari condo really builds exceptional trailers and I think their customers know it because most of the models have a 2+ year waiting list. Safari condo just recently started distributing trailers to their first dealer in United States. They are called Four Corners RV in Durango Colorado. There's also a great Facebook group called The "Altoistes Marketplace" where people list their used alto trailers for sale. Thanks again for watching and safe travels!
@@JustinandJess Yes, there are usually very nice people you will run into when travelling. Fortunately, the opposite is rare. I had almost forgotten how light Altos were; which is one of the reasons that we were looking at them. You all really have travelled a lot. We are not full time but we take our rig out whenever we can. If we did not use a WDH, we would not be able to tow since our TV already sits low to the ground. We are still looking at Altos although we would need sleeping for 4 with our 2 girls (their largest rig would work). Your rig has held up very well and yes, we did hear about the waiting list! Anyway, thanks again and keep producing your great content! Safe travels!
Whew!😅 Thanks for sharing this experience, even though it was no fun! We have the same make, model & year, also bought used, so we definitely learned a few things about checking for recalls and service bulletins! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Happy Trails to you guys & Howard! 😊
I don't think I've heard one bad review of their service. Definitely something we are looking into now. I'm curious, what happens that you needed to call them in the past? Thanks for watching!
They do pay but the run around on the phone with people who aren’t anywhere nearby you ends up wasting time. What you should have done is find a local service, pay them and take your receipt to Sam’s for reimbursement. You might have made that appointment if you had done that
That Toyota Highlander hybrid with the V6 is one of the most reliable Toyotas! As long as you do your oil changes every 5000 miles and never block the highbred vents that cool your highbred battery they’re probably in the backseat. He never block those vents with a blanket or any cargo you should be just fine. I think there’s also a hybrid fan filter that needs to be either cleaned or replaced frequently especially if you have a pet riding around in the car with you that is the exact combination that I am looking to purchase a Toyota Highlander with a V6 hybrid and also your amazing trailer! I am so jealous of this combination. Yes recalls and those kind of things do happen especially when you least expect it but I’m glad there was a zero Repair bill. Just discovered your channel! I am following you from here on out! #Subscribed
Thanks so much for watching and subscribing! We've totally loved both of our Highlander hybrids and I can't imagine towing with anything else. It's so cool to be able to get 16 MPG while towing, and then drop the trailer off at the campsite and get almost 30 miles per gallon for the week while we are driving around and exploring. It really feels like a superpower sometimes. Thanks for the tips on the hybrid battery vents. I'll also have to look into that filter on the cabin as well. Have you had to replace that filter? I'm glad you found us. Let us know if you have any questions about the alto trailer or how it handles with the Highlander. Safe travels!
Glad so many good folks helped out - it seems that is often the case in smaller towns across America! BTW - I actually sold my older standard trailer (18-ft Fleetwood Pioneer) that weighed about 4500 lbs and was towed with a Ford F250 ... because our young F250 (! under 50K miles when we sold it) gave us so many problems and put us into "limp mode" - ultimately slowing us to 2MPH - SO MANY TIMES, and bought a used Alto F1743 (love'n it!) and a hybrid to tow it with. So - my (short) story is that any car can be unreliable - even a burly F250. That F250, even very early in its life - less than 20,000 miles (!) kept suffering from a situation where all the warnings would appear on the dash and the car wouldn't start unless I "popped" the parking brake. The dealer said it would require an new computer module and replacement of all sensors for $1000s - I finally found the connector (carefully anchored to the emergency brake bracket) that kept unplugging leading to the error codes. Later in its life, between 20,000 and 50,000 miles, we had multiple failures of the Diesel Exhaust Fluid system, the NOx sensors, and a fuel injection rail (which cracked, spilling diesel all over the motor in the middle of nowhere, requiring a tow for the car and the trailer). Thanks for your great Alto channel! Glad you are sponsored by them. Watching your videos, I learned enough about the Alto to decide it was the best trailer for my wife and I in retirement! Still making some mods to it, but enjoying it all the while!
Wow. That 250 sounded like a lot of headaches. Looks like you were unfortunate enough to get a lemon. Thanks so much for your kind words. Glad we could help you find your Alto. Thanks so much for watching! 🙏
@@JustinandJess Thanks for your reply! - Also, my comment was, in part, to show that it isn't only hybrids that occasionally have problems - and in fact, the great thing about the Alto trailer is that it CAN be towed with a hybrid - getting great mileage around the campground - and decent mileage even while towing. We're getting double the mpg we formerly did with our F250, both while towing, and when unhitched (we have a Mazda CX-90 PHEV). Sure is a challenge when the TV breaks down! Glad you're back don't the road!
@@richardmitchell2043 great points! We love getting close to 30MPG when we're not towing. Saves us a LOT on gas. Thanks again for watching and have fun out there!
Im only at 8:42 but i would guess that the problem was the heat on the high voltage. If you have a dirty air filter or just too much heat the inverter could have failed, or needed an emergency shutdown. This makes me question my 2008 Prius with 159k on it. Seems fine and it made it through last summer but this does worry me a little. Although I don't tow so there's that too.
Interesting guess, but that's not it! Definitely keep watching to find out. There is ZERO chance I would have guessed the issue based on the errors and alerts we were seeing. Are you the original owner of your Prius? How many miles do you think it has left in it? We had a Prius C before we started towing with Highlanders and we absolutely loved it. We routinely got over 50 miles per gallon and it was amazing!!! Thanks for watching!
@@JustinandJess second owner got it at just over 150k. It was maintained at a Toyota Service Center according to the car fax. I can believe I have done almost 9k miles since May 23, 2023. I only drive to school and one road trip. I guess 40 miles four days a week adds up fast. I get 44 mpg. I know that some have lasted as long as 450k. It was properly maintained so I think it could get there but I probably won't have the car that long.
This is why I always have a roadside membership. Anyways gotta stay prepared for any and all unplanned situations! Stay vigilant and keep moving forward in your journeys!😊
Crazy stuff can happen when on the road. It makes me happy knowing the kindness of strangers is still a thing. I have a winch tow ropes and am a decent mechanic so I enjoy helping others. I have pulled many people out of ditches and can't count how many jump starts. I do believe in karma, I generally get help back when I need it. Safe travels. Kronk our 4Runner and Yzma our trailer will be heading out West this summer for our first big trip in a camper. Will be a new adventure as we always tent camped in the past...
That's so kind of you to always stop and help others. I hope karma always gives you the best parking spots at busy trailheads! 😂 I hope your big trip out west with Kronk and Ysma is wonderful. Hopefully we cross paths one day. Safe travels and thanks for watching.
No kidding! The gift shop, the campground in Mayhill, Jeff and Bertie, Raymond at Ace Oasis, and even the employees at Toyota! Everyone was exceptionally nice and accommodating. There's some great people out there. We appreciate you watching. Take care, friend
U.S. 82 is a rough place to break down, especially between Cloudcroft and Artesia. Glad a Toyota dealer is close enough. Hope you found good service in Alamogordo.
We were just talking about the extraordinary service we found in Alamogordo at that Toyota dealership. It's definitely something we don't take for granted anymore. It's amazing how often these days we will be treated poorly even though we are courteous and are paying people for their time. It's even more amazing when you consider that we weren't paying Toyota anything. They treated us like first class customers.
Did you check your insurance policy to see if you have emergency hotel reimbursement? Some policies have such coverage. I would imagine if you do have coverage, you would still be eligible for reimbursement of the campground fees since you had to stay there due to the mechanical breakdown. It’s worth checking out.
Great adventure! Your breakdown was unfortunate but pretty low impact. The fuel pump on my Suburban failed near Gettysburg PA while towing our travel trailer on a Friday afternoon. Chevy dealers all full and talked about the following week. We found a Pep Boys shop that could replace the pump. $1,000 later plus about $200 in towing bills and we were on the road. Truck had about 175k on it so no coverage. Turned out to be an aftermarket pump that did not shake hands with the fuel gauge so it was very inaccurate. Later had a Delco pump installed and all was good. We also found a number of very kind and helpful people including the towing service owner who personally towed our trailer with his own F350 from a very precarious spot near the turnpike entrance to a parking lot next to the Pep Boys. As with your experience, very lucky/fortunate. BTW - my wife has a '21 Highlander Hybrid so I was very curious as to your issues. Good luck!
Thanks for watching! Sounds like your experience was no fun, but I'm glad it wasn't super expensive (and you were lucky enough to run into some nice people as well). 175,000 mi isn't bad for a suburban. Are you still driving that? How many miles does it have now?
@@JustinandJess Hi guys! Hope this finds your Highlander back on the road and doing its thing. I gave my pristine '01 Suburban (ordered it and purchased it new) to my daughter and her husband when she was pregnant with her first daughter. She always loved that truck and they needed something bigger and safer. Truck had 205k on it. All original. They traded it five years later in 2021 with 315k on it. They had lifter issues and put a used motor in it at 275k. Transmission never touched. I towed our 6,000 lb. travel trailer all over the country with that old truck. Aside from the fuel pump drama, it never skipped a beat and always did what I wanted done. Hauled three kids to and from college each fall and spring for 15 years with it. One daughter once asked if her load would fit? My reply was, of course, it is a Suburban. It fit. Now I drive a '22 Silverado LTZ with the 5.3. Pulls our 7,000 Rockwood Mini-Lite very nicely. Reminds me of the Suburban. Best of luck to you. I look forward to following your adventures.
If I was you guys, I would do a transmission fluid exhange with full synthetic atf by amsoil for longevity. It's also one of the best brands for lubes and oil's that the dealer doesn't offer. The dealers know it lasts longer than their mileage intervals that they set up for their service packages, and because amsoil is a specialized product. (I used to be a service advisor and a technician at a dealership and at a drive thru oil change facility) Then you also have the peace of mind of the fluid level being good (especially since you tow! And checking the highlander transmission fluid level isn't like a truck with a dipstick.) Also recommending an awd differential fluid exhange too. When the differential is new, the gears wear into eachother and the fluid gets contaminated with the metal shavings, and the gears get worn more compared to a fluid without that much metal shavings. Even teslas do this for their transmissions at 30-50k miles then they dont have to change the transmission filter again or for a longer interval after the first change. And the computer system will throw a malfunction light when the engine loses power or cuts iff like yours did and all what was powering the vehicle was the hybrid system which will set a mal function light if it detects that it is working over load. I've been planning a Highlander overland vehicle and was hoping for you guys to a get quick fix too on Howard! 👍
Thanks for the video about this experience. Great to hear about all of the amazingly helpful people. My only criticism: Please edit it down a little more. Wanted to hear the outcome ... but I need to get out of bed 😊
The more complex the power train the more possibilities of problems that are also more expensive and time consuming to fix. Hence in areas where practicality, reality, longevity and reliability really matters such as in the military, they don't have hybrids.
I had a similar experience when I bought my used 2011 Highlander Hybrid. I wasn't towing anything, but the hybrid system overheated in the middle of central Idaho while climbing a mountain to 5,000 feet and all the power systems went out, steering, brakes etc. It became a brick. There was no cell service, and no Starlink-just emergency 911 from another phone carrier. I had to explain to the 911 dispatcher that I had no cell service but was stranded 100 miles from the nearest town-can you send tow truck. The tow truck took 2 hours to come, and charged $769.00 to tow 100 mlies. Gulp. What choice do you have? And, like you, you wonder-is this a $5,000 battery bill? YIkes. The local dealer recharged the 12 volt (regular battery) and couldn't find anything else. (They didn't know what they were doing.) A $165 bill later-and back on the road again-but the situation repeated: Hybrid System Overheated-Call Toyota Immediately-etc. But this time was able to limp to the next dealer. The second dealer discovered the previous owner had overfilled the transmission fluid, causing it to overheat. They changed the ATF fluid-and the Highlander has worked perfectly ever since. (P.S.-Insurance ended up paying for the $769.00 towing bill.)
$769 for a tow!? Wow, that's not cheap. That was so fortunate that you were able to make a roaming 911 call. That sounds like a pain, but all things considered I'm glad it wasn't anything more expensive.
@@JustinandJess -I didn't think it was possible that 100 mile tow could cost that much-until he handed me the bill. The first trip after, I took an 80 mile longer route that had continuous cell coverage to be sure I could reach roadside assistance while making sure the bugs were worked out of the hybrid system. No problems in the 10,000 miles since, and getting 26-28 mpg.
Newer vehicles once they have an issue, they throw all kinds of messages to force you to repair the vehicle ASAP and not ignore it. that is cause vehicle owners tend to ignore the check engine light and by throwing errors and illuminating your dash scare the driver and thus force repairs
That's a great point! Although, there was no ignoring these errors. I'm not an expert, but I think the car would only drive two more miles because that's how much juice was left in the Hybrid battery. I think that's also why the car would only drive 20 miles per hour after the fuel pump failed... In other words, I think the hybrid battery allowed us to drive a little bit even though the gas engine was kaput.
We totally agree! I was pretty bummed that our used car only came with one key when we bought it last year. Up until now, we didn't think it was a big deal, but you better believe getting a duplicate is on our shopping list now.
Negative comments manifest negative events 😊. You are blessed people are willing to care for you. Your guardian angels are working hard today, lol. Light and Love ❤😊
Ha! Thank you, friend. Someone on Reddit yesterday told me they thought, at first, that the thumbnail was for a movie trailer and I almost teared up. 🥲
I swear every one of those hybrid toyotas have massive issues, i personally know of 3 people with the same awd hybrid failure, my neighbors had the whole drivetrain minus the engine replaced 3 times
As far as we are aware so far, we weren't charged for the tow and I think it was covered in full by our insurance company. That said, I believe we were also entitled to get reimbursed by Toyota for the tow in the event our insurance didn't cover it.
Ok, people don't listen to this. If a small SUV ( for instance all Subaru's) has a CVT transmission,DO NOT TOW anything with them. These CVTs ( Continuously Variable Transmission)are only build to get a little better milage in small cars. Unlike a standard automatic transmission,with gearing, they have a steel belt that goes between 2 pulleys. Old mechanic,they are far from heavy duty.Very light duty in a small car only. They are basically replaced as a unit, 6K +$$$.
We have the 2021 version of that very same vehicle and am looking to get a travel trailer to tow with it. Your video title definitely scared me, but lo and behold, the issue had absolutely nothing to do with it being a hybrid.
Yes, those alerts definitely had us fearing for the worst all week. I think it's kind of silly that every warning we saw had absolutely nothing to do with the fuel pump. In fact, I think the hybrid system is what allowed us to limp back to town and safely park next to businesses where we could make calls and get help. Without it, I think the car would have died right on the spot in the middle of the road. Sorry to give you a scare. I've heard that the newest series of Highlander hybrid (I believe that includes yours) has even better fuel efficiency. What will you be towing with your Highlander?
I don't disagree with you there. I actually asked them about this on the first day we called, and they said they were going to check into it, but I forgot to follow up because we were fortunate enough to have a full pantry and plenty of work to keep us busy. It also helped that the weather was kind of crappy and we didn't really need to go out and about while we were waiting for 3 days.
Wow, 150.00 for the trailer camp slot? Check back in a few months or check the web months later ... I worked as a tech for 50 years and a tech can't predict if a problem like a bad or broken connector ... but I am glad you nudge at them. You have new friends for life type of thing too...
Sorry for the confusion. 150 was how much we paid for the whole time we were there. Pretty affordable for full hookups! Yes, we definitely have some new friends for life after this experience! We appreciate you watching and commenting. Take care!
It was an easy fix! [Spoiler alert 👇] . . . . . . . It ended up being the fuel pump. I have no idea why a bad fuel pump would throw all those specific errors though. You'd think they could just display "failed fuel pump" or something like that on the display. But then again, I don't know a whole lot about cars. 🤷
@JustinandJess - That's OK. Most folks aren't either. Good thing y'all were in Mayhill in the mountains in New Mexico. Folks in the state are really nice and very helpful. You always had your neighbor's back and always helped strangers. Had a Ford Bronco do something similar. It had the then-new electronic fuel injection (think 1975), and it quit for no good reason and threw a check-engine light. I was out in the middle of nowhere in the northern New Mexico mountains. Finally limped into the Ford Dealership in Taos and they determined it was the computer module that controlled the fuel to the injectors. Cost me about $250 to replace (that's about $1200 in today's dollars). Everything else was fine. I'm so glad it was an easy fix. By the way, that's a cute trailer y'all have! It reminds me of the one my wife and I had when we were first married (that'll be 46 years ago this September). My father-in-law told us to always have a travel trailer. That way, we'll never be homeless - sorta. Safe travels! Y'all take care!
@@robertcolpitts4534 folks in New Mexico are really something special! We love our little trailer. At 17', it's cozy, but it enables us to be nimble and go to some really neat places. And like you said... we'll never be homeless 😅 We really enjoyed reading your comment, Robert. I hope we cross paths one day 🙂 Take care and safe travels!
@JustinandJess - Enjoy these times together. Traveling when you're young, visiting new places, exploring unknown roads, and having new adventures is so much fun. It's what we did and are still doing. Adversity makes your bond stronger, and y'all will have many memories of those good times together when you are older. Now, go make those memories, see out-of-the-way places and be sure to take the road less traveled. Safe travels!
Wow, that's not a bad deal! I've also heard that they are really experienced with towing trailers onto flatbeds as well. I've heard some horror stories from under experienced tow truck drivers damaging trailers when they pull them up on their flatbed 😬
@@JustinandJess They can damage it pulling it on, but that's on them to make 100% if they do. What you DONT want is an f750 pulling a tiny trailer. The mass (inertia) and super stuff springs of a huge truck hitting bumps DESTROYS trailers. There is such a thing as too much overkill. Happens to fifth wheels pulled by semis that don't have air ride.
I don't think any RV is one size fits all and there have definitely been occasions when we have recommended vans to certain types of travelers, but wow do we like this benefit of trailer life! I feel like that week would have been so much more difficult if we didn't have our home with us. Do you and your husband already have a trailer? What did you end up with?
We absolutely love the durability and reliability of Toyota vehicles. We've been towing with two different Highlander hybrids and this is literally the first issue we've ever had. Ironically, it's not even with the hybrid system! And frankly, it's difficult for me to blame the car since there was a recall that I was not aware of. I absolutely love the way the 4runner looks. I've been wanting one for years, but the way we travel just wouldn't work with its gas mileage. We will frequently drop the trailer for a week at a time and do a ton of driving to capture content for our blog and videos. Getting 30 mi per gallon is really helpful for saving money on gas. I did hear from someone just last week that Toyota is changing up the 4runner next year and offering a hybrid version. Have you heard anything about that?
Looks like the engine… with no fuel supply, was not engaging. You were probably just on battery. You would have been totally dead on the road had it not been a hybrid.
You did not have an emergency, you had a damned inconvenience. An emergency means there are lives about to be lost, or serious property loss. You were in no danger.
If you're referring to me saying "Well, I'm kind of a little in an emergency here" in response to the Toyota service tech at 02:54, I don't feel that was hyperbolic. I was just trying to communicate that I wasn't calling to schedule an appointment for routine maintenance. At least, I wasn't trying to deceive anyone, but I think that's clear from how the conversation went.
@@JustinandJess his comment not worth replying to. Nice video! I remember Mayhill because of some of the notices in the window of the business there. Not sure if they are still there.
@@alphpup3281 it's hard to not defend yourself, but usually better for my sanity when I don't. Thanks for the reminder. 😅 We appreciate you watching. Take care! -J&J
I know this is anecdotal but, I've had three Toyotas over the last 12 years and this is literally the first major problem I've ever had. They have been unbelievably reliable (for me and many others that I know, at least). Take care and thanks for watching!
I’m going To sound harsh here But you two have no common sense Why would you Tow A Travel trailer with a hybrid It’s not designed to tow that Even if it had a So-called Tow package Also it’s not safe you’re putting everybody in jeopardy with you towing with such a small vehicle I’m just baffled how much stupidity is on the Internet
@@MICMaw123 It wasn’t a nasty comment it was the truth You’re probably just as naïve as them You’re towing with a vehicle that is not Design to tow a travel trailer That’s OK because you guys will be on the side of the road sooner or later Most likely it’ll overheat and blow up the Motor or your transmission Will burn up And the scariest thing is you’re probably gonna end up Flipped over on your side When your trailer Overtakes your smaller SUV
@@alfredstevens9586 setting aside the fact that Toyota has been making the Highlander Hybrid for almost 2 decades and most certainly won't produce an SUV that can't meet its advertised tow rating... why on earth are you making the blanket statement that Highlander Hybrids can't tow? I've personally towed with two Highlander Hybrids (one of which had over 180K miles) and this recalled fuel pump-which ironically has nothing do to with the Hybrid drive system-is literally the first problem I've ever had. I also know of DOZENS of other Alto trailer owners who tow with Highlander Hybrids and I don't think I've ever heard of a single one having a Hybrid drive issue. I encourage you to make a sensible argument (and perhaps, hold on the name calling).
Did you watch the video? We are not exceeding our tow rating. The problem was literally due to a recalled fuel-pump. Of course it was the vehicle's problem. 😒
You got off easy, $100 tow, co pay, $150 campsite. My starter went out, at a gas stop. I got 2 phone numbers from the gas station. A campsite 5 blocks away, and a machanic. Sunday afternoon the machanic towed me to the campsite, had a starter delivered, then it needed a coil, and ignition control solenoid. He was a small town guy, and gave me a deal at $500. I spent $130 campsite. And now I have a free campsite till my check comes. I'm broke, but have food, propane, and gas in the generator.
Oh man, that sounds like a rough situation! Sorry you are dealing with that. At least you are safe for the time being.
Yes, in hindsight we feel so lucky with how things unfolded. I definitely don't take kindness for granted anymore and you better believe I will be paying it forward in the future.
I was guessing water pump because that recently failed in my 2010 Toyota hybrid and it threw the same scarry error messages. Close to being right. Glad you got all fixed up.
A fuel pump failure is unlikely to cause damage as opposed to overheating, so that's good.
That's a really good point! I hadn't even thought about the potential for long-term damage caused by part failure. I guess we got pretty lucky!
Thanks for watching! What kind of Toyota hybrid did you have?
No doubt the new toyotas are plagued with problems
I understand. My engine blew while towing and had to find a way to get trailer and truck 500 miles home.
Ugh, that's terrible 😫. What did you end up doing?
Made me look back and check the date of the fuel pump recall. Phew! I had it taken care of back when it came out! But we’re towing with the same vehicle, same year and my mileage is double yours so keep me posted of any further car issues!! Mine has really been golden for all four years of Alto towing. Good video because it isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. ❤
Did you buy your Highlander hybrid new? Did Toyota notify you when there was a recall?
Aside from this issue, this car (and our last Highlander hybrid) has been nearly perfect. In fact, it's hard for me to blame the car since there was a recall that we didn't get taken care of.
Also, I'm glad people are receptive to the good and bad sides of RVing. Like you said, it isn't all rainbows and unicorns 😅
Thanks for watching!
There are wonderfull people everywhere ❤
Perfectly put! This experience really helped to restore my faith in humanity 🙂. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for sharing this story. I can only imagine that the need to capture the story on video as it was unraveling only added to your stress. In the end, this is a story about the goodness of people and bolstered my faith in humanity
Well said! It is such an unnatural feeling to pull out the camera and start filming when something is going wrong. I can't tell you how many weird, quirky, or unfortunate things have happened since we started becoming TH-camrs last year, and a couple hours afterwards, we look at each other and say "dang, I wish we had gotten that on video". This was the FIRST time that we finally remembered that and pulled out the phone to start recording.
I think anyone watching can probably tell that, during the beginning of the video, we looked pretty stressed out and didn't really feel like standing in front of the camera. It definitely got easier as the days progressed and we had more positive experiences and time to process what was going on.
I'm glad your takeaway was that this story was about the goodness of people. I'm not saying that I would welcome more car trouble in the future, but the interactions and generosity we shared with strangers really made all of this a more positive experience.
Still good decent folks out there!! You guys put out good vibes and karma came along. Glad it worked out. Thanks for sharing 😊
Yes there is! Thank you for the kind words and for watching. 🙏
always nice when it ends up being a simple repair, despite holding you up for 4 days. safe travels.
Absolutely! It's really hard to complain in hindsight. And like we mentioned in the video, it was really nice to get caught up on some work, so I don't really feel like we lost out on much.
Thanks for watching!
I have a 2015 Highlander Hybrid, and i have been towing my trailer for 4 years. Last year, i also had the Hybrid System Failure light come on and lost power. I had my SUV and trailer towed 2 hours back home. My issue was a transaxle pump that cools the hybrid system, and this caused the battery to overheat. My repair was not under warrenty and cost $2200 Canadian. The one thing im curious about is the weight of your trailer. Mine us 2890lbs empty so loaded with all my camping stuff, power cords etc its probably pushing 3500 lbs, which is the towing capacity of a Highlander Hybrid, im curious about how much your trailer weights.
Also no surprise they blame the missing key on the tow truck driver they always do.
Had a similar experience last fall in Colorado. That is why I chose a trailer over a van or pickup camper. Options are the way to go so you are not reduced to no choice.
We totally agree!
No RV is one size fits all and there are a few type of campers that we steer towards vans, but having our trailer available to us while the car was in the shop was such a huge benefit during this ordeal.
@@JustinandJess One of the reason that we opted for a travel trailer rather than a motorized rig.
Fuel pumps are of course used in both ICE and hybrid vehicles, so fuel pump failure isn't solely probable with hybrids..... Anyways, all turned out well and y'all met some nice people and came away with some good content........... Happy trails!
Good point! We thought it was an issue with the hybrid system all week because that's what all of the errors were showing on the dashboard. It's interesting that none of the errors or alerts mentioned anything about the fuel pump.
We are so glad that we met so many nice people, made some friends, and walked away with some pretty interesting memories. Thanks so much for watching!
Wow! New Subscriber! Sorry to hear of your difficulties but all in all, everything turned great, and you were blessed to meet some great people. I think this video popped up in my feed because we have something in common, we also tow with a Hybrid (2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid XSE). We have had our travel trailer (2019 Flagstaff E-Pro 19BH) for about 1 1/2 years and have been to 25 states and towed it almost 17,000 miles with no major issues (tow vehicle or TT).
You all do a great job with your videos! We have a channel but have not posted any videos yet (we have tons of content) but we will be posting soon. I do have a few questions for you:
1. What is the tow capacity of your tow vehicle (ours is 3,500 lbs.)?
2. What is the dry weight of your Alto (ours is 3,100 lbs.)?
3. How many miles have you towed your Alto?
4. Do you use a weight distribution hitch (we could not tow without one)?
5. How does your Alto tow?
6. How do you like your Alto; any issues?
Although we really like our rig, we did look at the Alto's but we live in FL and would need to drive all the way to Canada to pick one up. E-Pros are really solidly built, and have a lot of features, but we do still like the Altos. Safe travels!
Thanks so much for watching (and subscribing)! Yes, we feel so fortunate to have run into so many kind and accommodating people during such a stressful situation.
Thank you so much for the kind words about our videos. We are looking forward to seeing yours when they are posted!!
Regarding your questions...
1. Our 2019 Highlander hybrid also has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs
2. Our Alto (F1743 Expedition) weighs just shy of 2,500 lbs dry. Here's our full video tour: th-cam.com/video/JJwHXtzOv_E/w-d-xo.html
3. We've put about 25,000 mi on our Highlander since buying it used last year. It has about 58,000 mi in total on the odometer.
4. I do not use a weight distribution hitch
5. All of the alto trailers tow like a dream. They are so lightweight (half of them under 2000 lb dry) and it's really hard to even notice a difference when towing except for when you're going up steep hills.
6. We love our Alto. It's been doing really well so far and there are no major or mechanical issues. My biggest complaint is that some of the latches feel a little cheap on the interior, but I think they did that to save weight. Safari condo really builds exceptional trailers and I think their customers know it because most of the models have a 2+ year waiting list.
Safari condo just recently started distributing trailers to their first dealer in United States. They are called Four Corners RV in Durango Colorado. There's also a great Facebook group called The "Altoistes Marketplace" where people list their used alto trailers for sale.
Thanks again for watching and safe travels!
@@JustinandJess Yes, there are usually very nice people you will run into when travelling. Fortunately, the opposite is rare.
I had almost forgotten how light Altos were; which is one of the reasons that we were looking at them.
You all really have travelled a lot. We are not full time but we take our rig out whenever we can.
If we did not use a WDH, we would not be able to tow since our TV already sits low to the ground.
We are still looking at Altos although we would need sleeping for 4 with our 2 girls (their largest rig would work).
Your rig has held up very well and yes, we did hear about the waiting list!
Anyway, thanks again and keep producing your great content! Safe travels!
Whew!😅 Thanks for sharing this experience, even though it was no fun! We have the same make, model & year, also bought used, so we definitely learned a few things about checking for recalls and service bulletins! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 Happy Trails to you guys & Howard! 😊
Glad you could learn from our mistakes 😂😂. Thanks so much for watching 🙏
Good Sam roadside service is worth every penny. I've used them several times and they've always been awesome.
I don't think I've heard one bad review of their service. Definitely something we are looking into now.
I'm curious, what happens that you needed to call them in the past? Thanks for watching!
They do pay but the run around on the phone with people who aren’t anywhere nearby you ends up wasting time. What you should have done is find a local service, pay them and take your receipt to Sam’s for reimbursement. You might have made that appointment if you had done that
That Toyota Highlander hybrid with the V6 is one of the most reliable Toyotas! As long as you do your oil changes every 5000 miles and never block the highbred vents that cool your highbred battery they’re probably in the backseat. He never block those vents with a blanket or any cargo you should be just fine. I think there’s also a hybrid fan filter that needs to be either cleaned or replaced frequently especially if you have a pet riding around in the car with you that is the exact combination that I am looking to purchase a Toyota Highlander with a V6 hybrid and also your amazing trailer! I am so jealous of this combination. Yes recalls and those kind of things do happen especially when you least expect it but I’m glad there was a zero Repair bill. Just discovered your channel! I am following you from here on out! #Subscribed
Thanks so much for watching and subscribing! We've totally loved both of our Highlander hybrids and I can't imagine towing with anything else. It's so cool to be able to get 16 MPG while towing, and then drop the trailer off at the campsite and get almost 30 miles per gallon for the week while we are driving around and exploring. It really feels like a superpower sometimes.
Thanks for the tips on the hybrid battery vents. I'll also have to look into that filter on the cabin as well. Have you had to replace that filter?
I'm glad you found us. Let us know if you have any questions about the alto trailer or how it handles with the Highlander.
Safe travels!
Toyota has nailed down hybrid tech from day one and it only gets better
Wow! That was Heavy and Far Out brother! The Force was with you....live long and prosper!😎🖖
You got that right! Take care and safe travels friend 🖖
Glad so many good folks helped out - it seems that is often the case in smaller towns across America!
BTW - I actually sold my older standard trailer (18-ft Fleetwood Pioneer) that weighed about 4500 lbs and was towed with a Ford F250 ... because our young F250 (! under 50K miles when we sold it) gave us so many problems and put us into "limp mode" - ultimately slowing us to 2MPH - SO MANY TIMES, and bought a used Alto F1743 (love'n it!) and a hybrid to tow it with. So - my (short) story is that any car can be unreliable - even a burly F250. That F250, even very early in its life - less than 20,000 miles (!) kept suffering from a situation where all the warnings would appear on the dash and the car wouldn't start unless I "popped" the parking brake. The dealer said it would require an new computer module and replacement of all sensors for $1000s - I finally found the connector (carefully anchored to the emergency brake bracket) that kept unplugging leading to the error codes. Later in its life, between 20,000 and 50,000 miles, we had multiple failures of the Diesel Exhaust Fluid system, the NOx sensors, and a fuel injection rail (which cracked, spilling diesel all over the motor in the middle of nowhere, requiring a tow for the car and the trailer).
Thanks for your great Alto channel! Glad you are sponsored by them. Watching your videos, I learned enough about the Alto to decide it was the best trailer for my wife and I in retirement! Still making some mods to it, but enjoying it all the while!
Wow. That 250 sounded like a lot of headaches. Looks like you were unfortunate enough to get a lemon.
Thanks so much for your kind words. Glad we could help you find your Alto. Thanks so much for watching! 🙏
@@JustinandJess Thanks for your reply! - Also, my comment was, in part, to show that it isn't only hybrids that occasionally have problems - and in fact, the great thing about the Alto trailer is that it CAN be towed with a hybrid - getting great mileage around the campground - and decent mileage even while towing. We're getting double the mpg we formerly did with our F250, both while towing, and when unhitched (we have a Mazda CX-90 PHEV).
Sure is a challenge when the TV breaks down! Glad you're back don't the road!
@@richardmitchell2043 great points! We love getting close to 30MPG when we're not towing. Saves us a LOT on gas. Thanks again for watching and have fun out there!
A very big great job for the people that helped you folks
There are some incredible people out in the world! We're reminded of that almost daily. Thanks for watching!
Glad you guys are ok. I was actually a little nervous watching this. I hate car troubles. But, as you say it's real life. Cheers!
Im only at 8:42 but i would guess that the problem was the heat on the high voltage. If you have a dirty air filter or just too much heat the inverter could have failed, or needed an emergency shutdown. This makes me question my 2008 Prius with 159k on it. Seems fine and it made it through last summer but this does worry me a little. Although I don't tow so there's that too.
Interesting guess, but that's not it! Definitely keep watching to find out. There is ZERO chance I would have guessed the issue based on the errors and alerts we were seeing.
Are you the original owner of your Prius? How many miles do you think it has left in it? We had a Prius C before we started towing with Highlanders and we absolutely loved it. We routinely got over 50 miles per gallon and it was amazing!!!
Thanks for watching!
@@JustinandJess second owner got it at just over 150k. It was maintained at a Toyota Service Center according to the car fax. I can believe I have done almost 9k miles since May 23, 2023. I only drive to school and one road trip. I guess 40 miles four days a week adds up fast. I get 44 mpg. I know that some have lasted as long as 450k. It was properly maintained so I think it could get there but I probably won't have the car that long.
This is why I always have a roadside membership. Anyways gotta stay prepared for any and all unplanned situations! Stay vigilant and keep moving forward in your journeys!😊
Very true! If you don't mind me asking, which roadside membership do you have? Have you had to call them in the past? Thanks for watching!
Crazy stuff can happen when on the road. It makes me happy knowing the kindness of strangers is still a thing. I have a winch tow ropes and am a decent mechanic so I enjoy helping others. I have pulled many people out of ditches and can't count how many jump starts. I do believe in karma, I generally get help back when I need it. Safe travels. Kronk our 4Runner and Yzma our trailer will be heading out West this summer for our first big trip in a camper. Will be a new adventure as we always tent camped in the past...
That's so kind of you to always stop and help others. I hope karma always gives you the best parking spots at busy trailheads! 😂
I hope your big trip out west with Kronk and Ysma is wonderful. Hopefully we cross paths one day.
Safe travels and thanks for watching.
Incredibly hospitable people!
No kidding! The gift shop, the campground in Mayhill, Jeff and Bertie, Raymond at Ace Oasis, and even the employees at Toyota! Everyone was exceptionally nice and accommodating.
There's some great people out there. We appreciate you watching. Take care, friend
U.S. 82 is a rough place to break down, especially between Cloudcroft and Artesia. Glad a Toyota dealer is close enough. Hope you found good service in Alamogordo.
We were just talking about the extraordinary service we found in Alamogordo at that Toyota dealership. It's definitely something we don't take for granted anymore. It's amazing how often these days we will be treated poorly even though we are courteous and are paying people for their time. It's even more amazing when you consider that we weren't paying Toyota anything. They treated us like first class customers.
Did you check your insurance policy to see if you have emergency hotel reimbursement? Some policies have such coverage. I would imagine if you do have coverage, you would still be eligible for reimbursement of the campground fees since you had to stay there due to the mechanical breakdown. It’s worth checking out.
Good thinking! I'm not sure on that but I'll have to check our policy. Thanks for watching!
Great adventure! Your breakdown was unfortunate but pretty low impact. The fuel pump on my Suburban failed near Gettysburg PA while towing our travel trailer on a Friday afternoon. Chevy dealers all full and talked about the following week. We found a Pep Boys shop that could replace the pump. $1,000 later plus about $200 in towing bills and we were on the road. Truck had about 175k on it so no coverage. Turned out to be an aftermarket pump that did not shake hands with the fuel gauge so it was very inaccurate. Later had a Delco pump installed and all was good. We also found a number of very kind and helpful people including the towing service owner who personally towed our trailer with his own F350 from a very precarious spot near the turnpike entrance to a parking lot next to the Pep Boys. As with your experience, very lucky/fortunate. BTW - my wife has a '21 Highlander Hybrid so I was very curious as to your issues. Good luck!
Thanks for watching! Sounds like your experience was no fun, but I'm glad it wasn't super expensive (and you were lucky enough to run into some nice people as well).
175,000 mi isn't bad for a suburban. Are you still driving that? How many miles does it have now?
@@JustinandJess Hi guys! Hope this finds your Highlander back on the road and doing its thing. I gave my pristine '01 Suburban (ordered it and purchased it new) to my daughter and her husband when she was pregnant with her first daughter. She always loved that truck and they needed something bigger and safer. Truck had 205k on it. All original. They traded it five years later in 2021 with 315k on it. They had lifter issues and put a used motor in it at 275k. Transmission never touched. I towed our 6,000 lb. travel trailer all over the country with that old truck. Aside from the fuel pump drama, it never skipped a beat and always did what I wanted done. Hauled three kids to and from college each fall and spring for 15 years with it. One daughter once asked if her load would fit? My reply was, of course, it is a Suburban. It fit. Now I drive a '22 Silverado LTZ with the 5.3. Pulls our 7,000 Rockwood Mini-Lite very nicely. Reminds me of the Suburban. Best of luck to you. I look forward to following your adventures.
If I was you guys, I would do a transmission fluid exhange with full synthetic atf by amsoil for longevity. It's also one of the best brands for lubes and oil's that the dealer doesn't offer. The dealers know it lasts longer than their mileage intervals that they set up for their service packages, and because amsoil is a specialized product. (I used to be a service advisor and a technician at a dealership and at a drive thru oil change facility) Then you also have the peace of mind of the fluid level being good (especially since you tow! And checking the highlander transmission fluid level isn't like a truck with a dipstick.) Also recommending an awd differential fluid exhange too. When the differential is new, the gears wear into eachother and the fluid gets contaminated with the metal shavings, and the gears get worn more compared to a fluid without that much metal shavings. Even teslas do this for their transmissions at 30-50k miles then they dont have to change the transmission filter again or for a longer interval after the first change.
And the computer system will throw a malfunction light when the engine loses power or cuts iff like yours did and all what was powering the vehicle was the hybrid system which will set a mal function light if it detects that it is working over load.
I've been planning a Highlander overland vehicle and was hoping for you guys to a get quick fix too on Howard! 👍
Thank you for all of these service recommendations! We really appreciate the advice. We will look into those.
Thanks for the video about this experience. Great to hear about all of the amazingly helpful people. My only criticism: Please edit it down a little more. Wanted to hear the outcome ... but I need to get out of bed 😊
Thanks for watching!
The more complex the power train the more possibilities of problems that are also more expensive and time consuming to fix.
Hence in areas where practicality, reality, longevity and reliability really matters such as in the military, they don't have hybrids.
I had a similar experience when I bought my used 2011 Highlander Hybrid. I wasn't towing anything, but the hybrid system overheated in the middle of central Idaho while climbing a mountain to 5,000 feet and all the power systems went out, steering, brakes etc. It became a brick. There was no cell service, and no Starlink-just emergency 911 from another phone carrier. I had to explain to the 911 dispatcher that I had no cell service but was stranded 100 miles from the nearest town-can you send tow truck. The tow truck took 2 hours to come, and charged $769.00 to tow 100 mlies. Gulp. What choice do you have? And, like you, you wonder-is this a $5,000 battery bill? YIkes. The local dealer recharged the 12 volt (regular battery) and couldn't find anything else. (They didn't know what they were doing.) A $165 bill later-and back on the road again-but the situation repeated: Hybrid System Overheated-Call Toyota Immediately-etc. But this time was able to limp to the next dealer. The second dealer discovered the previous owner had overfilled the transmission fluid, causing it to overheat. They changed the ATF fluid-and the Highlander has worked perfectly ever since. (P.S.-Insurance ended up paying for the $769.00 towing bill.)
$769 for a tow!? Wow, that's not cheap. That was so fortunate that you were able to make a roaming 911 call. That sounds like a pain, but all things considered I'm glad it wasn't anything more expensive.
@@JustinandJess -I didn't think it was possible that 100 mile tow could cost that much-until he handed me the bill. The first trip after, I took an 80 mile longer route that had continuous cell coverage to be sure I could reach roadside assistance while making sure the bugs were worked out of the hybrid system. No problems in the 10,000 miles since, and getting 26-28 mpg.
Newer vehicles once they have an issue, they throw all kinds of messages to force you to repair the vehicle ASAP and not ignore it. that is cause vehicle owners tend to ignore the check engine light and by throwing errors and illuminating your dash scare the driver and thus force repairs
That's a great point! Although, there was no ignoring these errors. I'm not an expert, but I think the car would only drive two more miles because that's how much juice was left in the Hybrid battery. I think that's also why the car would only drive 20 miles per hour after the fuel pump failed... In other words, I think the hybrid battery allowed us to drive a little bit even though the gas engine was kaput.
@@JustinandJess you are correct, if your fuel pump failed, the only thing moving your car was the hybrid battery. Take care and safe travels
Thanks for watching!
One key is not wise. Hope you have two keys now..
We totally agree! I was pretty bummed that our used car only came with one key when we bought it last year. Up until now, we didn't think it was a big deal, but you better believe getting a duplicate is on our shopping list now.
The best part of being a pessimist, is that it is always a GOOD THING when you yurn out to be wrong.
P.S. Don't forget to disengage your Caravan movers 😂😂
Negative comments manifest negative events 😊. You are blessed people are willing to care for you. Your guardian angels are working hard today, lol. Light and Love ❤😊
Thanks for watching! ✌️❤️
Guys....I think it's fair to say with 11k views that.... well....
THIS WAS A KILLER THUMBNAIL!
Has this jumped the shark yet? -J
Ha! Thank you, friend. Someone on Reddit yesterday told me they thought, at first, that the thumbnail was for a movie trailer and I almost teared up. 🥲
I swear every one of those hybrid toyotas have massive issues, i personally know of 3 people with the same awd hybrid failure, my neighbors had the whole drivetrain minus the engine replaced 3 times
You've had several angles come to your rescue. Count your blessings and be thankful.
We are endlessly grateful for how things played out. Generosity from strangers is so wonderful and it encourages us to pay it forward whenever we can!
You should get AAA incase you need a tow again. It's only like $200 a year.
Definitely a good idea
Everybody is an expert on TH-cam....I prefer to listen to the ACTUAL experts.
Went to Mayhill. Experienced MayHELL but the people made it feel like MayHilton.
That pretty much sums up our week 😂
Wow! You guys do know God had his hand on you two?
We are so grateful for the generosity of strangers! I look forward to passing it on.
Missed opportunity to name the Toyota "MacLeod The Highlander".
😂 I'm going to remember that if we ever buy another Highlander one day
Naming your next Highlander after Connor Macleod has the added benefit of Connor being immortal
Why not Toyota towed with your coverage?
As far as we are aware so far, we weren't charged for the tow and I think it was covered in full by our insurance company. That said, I believe we were also entitled to get reimbursed by Toyota for the tow in the event our insurance didn't cover it.
Ok, people don't listen to this. If a small SUV ( for instance all Subaru's) has a CVT transmission,DO NOT TOW anything with them.
These CVTs ( Continuously Variable Transmission)are only build to get a little better milage in small cars.
Unlike a standard automatic transmission,with gearing, they have a steel belt that goes between 2 pulleys.
Old mechanic,they are far from heavy duty.Very light duty in a small car only.
They are basically replaced as a unit, 6K +$$$.
We have the 2021 version of that very same vehicle and am looking to get a travel trailer to tow with it. Your video title definitely scared me, but lo and behold, the issue had absolutely nothing to do with it being a hybrid.
Yes, those alerts definitely had us fearing for the worst all week. I think it's kind of silly that every warning we saw had absolutely nothing to do with the fuel pump.
In fact, I think the hybrid system is what allowed us to limp back to town and safely park next to businesses where we could make calls and get help. Without it, I think the car would have died right on the spot in the middle of the road.
Sorry to give you a scare. I've heard that the newest series of Highlander hybrid (I believe that includes yours) has even better fuel efficiency. What will you be towing with your Highlander?
@@JustinandJess I have not decided. I’ve been looking at the Casita, but the one you have looks awesome.
Toyota should give you a free rental for your car coverage.
I don't disagree with you there. I actually asked them about this on the first day we called, and they said they were going to check into it, but I forgot to follow up because we were fortunate enough to have a full pantry and plenty of work to keep us busy. It also helped that the weather was kind of crappy and we didn't really need to go out and about while we were waiting for 3 days.
Wow, 150.00 for the trailer camp slot? Check back in a few months or check the web months later ... I worked as a tech for 50 years and a tech can't predict if a problem like a bad or broken connector ... but I am glad you nudge at them. You have new friends for life type of thing too...
Sorry for the confusion. 150 was how much we paid for the whole time we were there. Pretty affordable for full hookups!
Yes, we definitely have some new friends for life after this experience!
We appreciate you watching and commenting. Take care!
Also I just went to have my brakes Bleed out and this small town with 4 shops saved d “We don’t work on RVs 😮😢
Oh no, that's terrible! Why on earth wouldn't they take your business? What am I missing?
Sounds like a computer failure. Those will result in cascade system failures like what you have. Hope it's a simple fix.
It was an easy fix! [Spoiler alert 👇]
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It ended up being the fuel pump. I have no idea why a bad fuel pump would throw all those specific errors though. You'd think they could just display "failed fuel pump" or something like that on the display. But then again, I don't know a whole lot about cars. 🤷
@JustinandJess - That's OK. Most folks aren't either. Good thing y'all were in Mayhill in the mountains in New Mexico. Folks in the state are really nice and very helpful. You always had your neighbor's back and always helped strangers.
Had a Ford Bronco do something similar. It had the then-new electronic fuel injection (think 1975), and it quit for no good reason and threw a check-engine light. I was out in the middle of nowhere in the northern New Mexico mountains. Finally limped into the Ford Dealership in Taos and they determined it was the computer module that controlled the fuel to the injectors. Cost me about $250 to replace (that's about $1200 in today's dollars). Everything else was fine. I'm so glad it was an easy fix. By the way, that's a cute trailer y'all have! It reminds me of the one my wife and I had when we were first married (that'll be 46 years ago this September). My father-in-law told us to always have a travel trailer. That way, we'll never be homeless - sorta.
Safe travels! Y'all take care!
@@robertcolpitts4534 folks in New Mexico are really something special!
We love our little trailer. At 17', it's cozy, but it enables us to be nimble and go to some really neat places. And like you said... we'll never be homeless 😅
We really enjoyed reading your comment, Robert. I hope we cross paths one day 🙂
Take care and safe travels!
@JustinandJess - Enjoy these times together. Traveling when you're young, visiting new places, exploring unknown roads, and having new adventures is so much fun. It's what we did and are still doing. Adversity makes your bond stronger, and y'all will have many memories of those good times together when you are older.
Now, go make those memories, see out-of-the-way places and be sure to take the road less traveled. Safe travels!
Good Sam would have towed your car to the dealer and Camper to the closest Campground for about $120 per year. :)
Wow, that's not a bad deal! I've also heard that they are really experienced with towing trailers onto flatbeds as well. I've heard some horror stories from under experienced tow truck drivers damaging trailers when they pull them up on their flatbed 😬
I've never had them put my trailer on a flatbed. They've always loaded the truck on the flatbed and then towed the trailer being. 👍🏽
@@chilidog73 ahhhh, that makes a LOT more sense. Thanks!
@@JustinandJess They can damage it pulling it on, but that's on them to make 100% if they do. What you DONT want is an f750 pulling a tiny trailer. The mass (inertia) and super stuff springs of a huge truck hitting bumps DESTROYS trailers. There is such a thing as too much overkill. Happens to fifth wheels pulled by semis that don't have air ride.
@@chilidog73agree! 👍 This is how they should do it which negates my previous comment concerns too.
This is exactly why I told my husband it’s better to get a trailer.
I don't think any RV is one size fits all and there have definitely been occasions when we have recommended vans to certain types of travelers, but wow do we like this benefit of trailer life! I feel like that week would have been so much more difficult if we didn't have our home with us.
Do you and your husband already have a trailer? What did you end up with?
Get the Toyota 4Runner or Tacoma, problem solved. “Full-time travel requires a known reliability & durability, TOYOTA.”
PS: check out Deming, N.
We absolutely love the durability and reliability of Toyota vehicles. We've been towing with two different Highlander hybrids and this is literally the first issue we've ever had. Ironically, it's not even with the hybrid system! And frankly, it's difficult for me to blame the car since there was a recall that I was not aware of.
I absolutely love the way the 4runner looks. I've been wanting one for years, but the way we travel just wouldn't work with its gas mileage. We will frequently drop the trailer for a week at a time and do a ton of driving to capture content for our blog and videos. Getting 30 mi per gallon is really helpful for saving money on gas.
I did hear from someone just last week that Toyota is changing up the 4runner next year and offering a hybrid version. Have you heard anything about that?
I can attest to the 4Runners awesomeness. 2025 the IForce turbo - same as the 2024 Tacoma magical unicorn that no dealership seems to have.
Obviously if you want reliability you do not want a Toyota😢
Looks like the engine… with no fuel supply, was not engaging. You were probably just on battery. You would have been totally dead on the road had it not been a hybrid.
I wish I had touched on that in the video, but I wasn't 100% certain. However, that's the impression I was left with as well!
You did not have an emergency, you had a damned inconvenience. An emergency means there are lives about to be lost, or serious property loss. You were in no danger.
If you're referring to me saying "Well, I'm kind of a little in an emergency here" in response to the Toyota service tech at 02:54, I don't feel that was hyperbolic. I was just trying to communicate that I wasn't calling to schedule an appointment for routine maintenance.
At least, I wasn't trying to deceive anyone, but I think that's clear from how the conversation went.
@@JustinandJess his comment not worth replying to. Nice video! I remember Mayhill because of some of the notices in the window of the business there. Not sure if they are still there.
@@alphpup3281 it's hard to not defend yourself, but usually better for my sanity when I don't. Thanks for the reminder. 😅 We appreciate you watching. Take care!
-J&J
Well let's face it your first mistake was buying a Toyota😢
I know this is anecdotal but, I've had three Toyotas over the last 12 years and this is literally the first major problem I've ever had. They have been unbelievably reliable (for me and many others that I know, at least).
Take care and thanks for watching!
A 35 minute video for a bad fuel pump LOL
It was 70 minutes, but we decided to cut out the part about my paper cut.
- Justin
Get rid of it and don't buy a hybrid again
I’m going To sound harsh here But you two have no common sense Why would you Tow A Travel trailer with a hybrid It’s not designed to tow that Even if it had a So-called Tow package Also it’s not safe you’re putting everybody in jeopardy with you towing with such a small vehicle I’m just baffled how much stupidity is on the Internet
I was trying to think of a clever comeback, but my stupidity is really holding me back.
@@JustinandJess I didn’t say you were stupid I said you didn’t use common sense if wanna call yourself stupid I’m OK with it
I tow with a Hybrid…I’m always amazed at the small minded simplicity of rude and nasty commentators. RV on J & J!!
@@MICMaw123 It wasn’t a nasty comment it was the truth You’re probably just as naïve as them You’re towing with a vehicle that is not Design to tow a travel trailer That’s OK because you guys will be on the side of the road sooner or later Most likely it’ll overheat and blow up the Motor or your transmission Will burn up And the scariest thing is you’re probably gonna end up Flipped over on your side When your trailer Overtakes your smaller SUV
@@alfredstevens9586 setting aside the fact that Toyota has been making the Highlander Hybrid for almost 2 decades and most certainly won't produce an SUV that can't meet its advertised tow rating... why on earth are you making the blanket statement that Highlander Hybrids can't tow?
I've personally towed with two Highlander Hybrids (one of which had over 180K miles) and this recalled fuel pump-which ironically has nothing do to with the Hybrid drive system-is literally the first problem I've ever had. I also know of DOZENS of other Alto trailer owners who tow with Highlander Hybrids and I don't think I've ever heard of a single one having a Hybrid drive issue.
I encourage you to make a sensible argument (and perhaps, hold on the name calling).
Every vehicle has a tow rating, you are pulling to much. Not the vehicals problem.
Did you watch the video? We are not exceeding our tow rating. The problem was literally due to a recalled fuel-pump. Of course it was the vehicle's problem. 😒
Looks like paying attention is hard for you.... It was definitely a Toyota problem