Toyota Highlander not trail rated!

Which is true, b/c it is a trademarked Jeep thing. It is like the BMW dealer saying that a Ferrari 430 isn't an ultimate driving machine (which is technically true, b/c the "ultimate driving machine" is a trademarked BMW thing). I think you are getting a little confused by thinking that the "trail-rated" badge is somehow bestowed by an independant company--and that only Jeep made the cut. This is NOT the case. This badge (unless it works like a scuderia shield for you) SHOULD NOT influence your buying decision at all.

BTW, I own a Wrangler and take it way off road--the skidplates are well used--so I am not bagging on Jeeps.

Edit: I recall, perhaps incorrectly, that part of the "trail rated" badge was the ability of the vehicle to successfully navigate the Rubicon trail in California. Many other SUV's can do this.

 

Too funny, this guy's a gem. did you ask him who he is taking to the prom? or is his girlfriend from summercamp still in Canada?

 

I think the Trail Rated Jeeps get you a discount at some of the off road diners also. One word of caution: trail rated jeeps are only rated for specific trails. Ask the saleman for the list so that you don't inadvertantly take the jeep off road onto something other than an official trail. I think you can get a big "Trail Rated" spare tire cover so that you can impress your off roading friends (see if the dealer will throw that in to setten the deal)!

BT

 

I own a Highlander. You are exactly correct. It is built on a Camry platform and is basically a car, not a truck. The Landcruiser will climb trees if you ask it to.

 

OK, so if you have read the previous posts, it is a TRADEMARKED saying by Jeep. So, DUH, of course no other SUV can be trail-rated. If they say they are or badge themselves as being trail-rated, guess what??? Lawsuit for trademark infringement. It is purely a marketing ploy that you are obviously buying into. So NO other SUV can go off-road??? I'd be glad to take my FJ out any time.

 

You are correct. Highlander is NOT a trail vehicle. It is built on a Camry platform and is essentially a car, not a truck. It feels like a car, rides like a car, and is comfortable. I own an '03. That is precisely why I bought it. Notice (profile) that I own five cars. Each has a purpose. If you want off-road, there are way better choices. If you tow, there is that also.

I use mine well because:

I live on a steep hill. Highlander is AWD and it cares little about snow. My wife uses it for work in bad weather. I use the Tracker.
We have two dogs and they have lots of room in the Highlander.

It has lots of cargo space even with the dogs along.

In 75,000 miles I have had zero problems and it gets 23mpg, not too bad for AWD.

I'm sorry you were mislead. Car salesmen tend to do that. Jeep, off-road? Good choice. Landcruiser off-road? Better choice. 575M on a sunny day in light traffic-EXCELLENT! You and yours? The very best.

 

Amen!

 

Uh, no.

"Trail Rated" is just a trademarked phrase, the only thing it means is that Jeep spent some money getting it trademarked. That's it.

They haven't been "engineered" or "built" for off-road use any more than any other decent companies 4wheel drive offerings.

Further, your analogy makes no sense. What're the qualifications of the "doctor" or car company in this case? What makes Jeep more qualified than Land Rover or Toyota? They just say so, so you believe them?

I don't get it.....

 

Um, if our troops were actually using those piles of junk they would be out of action very quickly. Military uses real Hummers, not the rebodied Chevy's you see duochebags driving around in.

As for Highlanders, I've taken mine through the desert without a problem. Now it's no trail beast, but it handled sand and dry river beds.

 

Uh, no. Jeep has developed the "Trail Rated" designation as a marketing campaign for its vehicles. Many of the Jeeps do well off road (I have a Grand Cherokee) and Jeep has built a reputation on this. "Trail Rated" is just a way to market the reputation a bit more. It doesn't mean that Toyota, Hummer or many other manufacturers don't make quality off-road capable vehicles (they do).

You diagnosing people instead of a doctor is more like Bayliner putting wheels on a boat and calling it an off-roader.

 

ain't trail rated because they don't need no stinkin' trails
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this isn't trail rated either, but it will make you poop your pants.
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Damnit Man! You're making me really miss my Defender.

 

Now that is awesome.

 

haha.
Looks like Utah?

 

I was wondering how long you were going to keep it up.

 

Yes, it was all in good fun. You did a good job, though. The first few posts, I thought surely you were kidding, but then you kept at it. Well done.

 

Ditto!
I was really getting confused here...

 

+1 LOL! I kept thinking to myself....man, I've read lots of his posts before and he sure doesn't come accross that gullible... turns out I'M the gullible one! HA!

 

And then some.