From the ScionLife web-site: "...the xB was first introduced to America... sharing a 108hp 1.5L VVT-i engine (1NZ-FE) with the Scion xA and Toyota Echo..."

According to the "Toyota Australia" website, our cousin the Toyota Echo with the same (1NZ-FE) engine is rated at:

Towing capacity - with trailer brakes 700kg
Without trailer brakes 350kg

That's about 1540 lbs.

Source:
http://echo.toyota.com.au/TWR/vehicl...42_175,00.html
http://echo.toyota.com.au

 

pretty much for "OFF ROAD USE ONLY"

 

I have been following this thread closly because I am considering the purchase of an '06 xB.

My trade in, or possible direct sale, is a 2003 MINI Cooper with a trailer hitch that I use to tow a Teardrop trailer that weighs 650# dry and about 750# when loaded to travel. I plan on towing this same trailer with my xB if I go through with the buy.

ALL of the arguments that I have read here were included in a thread(s) on the MINI Forums. You could do a cut and past between this Forum and the MINIs and not loose any continuity of thought. There is the "the manual says" school and then there are those of use that want to tow our toys responsibly. The manual protects Scion/Toyota (or MINI/BMW) as the case may be; it also protects that portion of the buying public that has no common sense concerning towing.

Thanks to all who have posted before me for the great information and I also thank those of the "manual" school for their concern (misplace in my opinion but I still thank them).

 

TOWING INFO UPDATE:

All the people who say the xB is "not recommended for towing" blah, blah, blah... please go away. Everyone else who can actually "think outside the box" and wants to expand the functionality of our cars, read on...

DISCLAIMER:
Yes we all know that Toyota states that the xB is not recommended for towing and you can void your warrantee. So... tow at your own risk.

The fact is that the xA, xB and Toyota Echo all use the exact same engine.
The Toyota Echo (at Toyota Australia) is rated to tow 700 kilograms (about 1543 lbs)

However in my previous post, I forgot to take into account the weight differences of the vehicles:

WEIGHTS:
Toyota echo, 4 door automatic (Australia)
Curb Weight: 985 kg (2,171 lbs)

Scion xB, automatic
Curb weight: 1112 kg (2450 lbs)
Towing Capacity: ???

Vehicle weight difference: 127 kg (279 lbs)

That only leaves the xB with a theoretical maximum towing capacity of 573 kg (1264 lbs) and I'm guessing the hitch weight is the same at about 100 lbs.

So I guess if you stuck to 1000 lbs max towing limit (minus a full car load of people) the xB should be able to safely tow without damaging itself. That's about as much as a small: motorcycle, jet ski, ultra light pop-up camper, or small tear drop trailer. Also, be sure to take in to account not only the weight of the object, but the trailer as well. This still leaves the issue of a how to hook up trailer lights, but I think someone makes a towing wiring harness for the Echo somewhere.

As for me, I'll just continue to use my trailer hitch for my bike rack.

 

I'm interested in building a small teardop trailer to tow behind my xB. Could I get the dimensions etc of yours? I'd like to build mine to weigh about that much. Any other information, pictures, construction materials etc. would be most helpful.

 

I'd like to revisit this topic in a year and get feedback from people who have towed different items with an xB.
That might help decide the question.

 

This question keeps popping up. I pull a small sailboat with my xb using the xB. The boat weighs less than 300 lbs, with the trailer about 200 lbs. My 5 speed pulls this load with no problems. In fact, you can hardly tell it's back there. The curt hitch is one of the best engineered units I have ever seen(no, I don't work for them). If they want to sponsor me.... I will post some pictures, as I am travelling about 40 miles to race this weekend.

 

Thishttp://www.mikenchell.com/forums/ will take you to a Teardrop Forum that has a section on building, design, gallery pictures etc. I had mine built but most of the Forum members are builders - you can get more information than I could ever tell you from the site. Mine is traditional 4x4x8' but witout a galley (reduced the weight) because of what I wanted and how I use it. Search on edlfrey to see my posts and a pic of the trailer as an Avatar.

 

Here are some pics and underside pics of my hitch set up ... I'm the one in SF with the Curtis Hitch ..






I have since lowered the truck on the Tein springs and still no problems ... PM me for details. BTW the limit for my box was towing my 1959 Impala, it pulled it fine, stopping it was a task, it wasn't the brakes either it is the fact that the Impala weighs 6000 pounds. No trailer, just straight bumper bar to hitch.

 

put them in the towed trailer, then?







joke aside, this is a great thread! I'm reading and learning. thanks to the doers out there

 

I have been successfully towing my 2003 YZ125 plus gear 700 miles a month for a year now. The only thing I've hurt is myself on the motocross bike. I bought my xB on May 7th of last year. I built the hitch and installed it about two weeks after that and have been towing regularly ever since. I still get 32 mpg pulling my bike and gear. It's great!

 

I have a customer who wants this hitch. He wants to mount a rear mounted bike rack. I am wondering who has this reciever and what you have to say about the install and quality.

thanks.

 

I had this hitch on my box just for a bike rack. Install was good, had to pry on one side cause the holes where about a 1/4 inch from matching up. For using the rack it was pretty good, i found that when i went into a steep driveway straight on the end of the rack would drag, so i had to go on a little angle. Not sure if it was my rack being long ( it was a saris four bike one) or it the box was to low. After i lowered the box there was no way i could use it anymore.
So i would say use it if you are going to keep the ride height stock, if you want to lower it go with a roof rack.

 

I installed the Curt hitch over a year ago. I use it to tow a Hobie Cat (250lbs) and can't really tell it's back there. I also use it for a bike rack. Had no fit problems with my custom exhaust. Remember that the receiver is 1.25", so a heavier teardrop may need a 2" receiver.

 

The ongoing hitch discussion:

Check some of these out.

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...530&highlight=
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...741&highlight=
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...862&highlight=
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...923&highlight=
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...284&highlight=

 

I've been towing my quad with the curt hitch/HF trailer combo for a couple of years.

A custom exhaust can get in the way on installation and we had to lengthen the holes on the hitch as well.

I had a tall ball hitch custom made to compensate for the low attachment and TRD springs.

It works great!!