120 platform and trailer towing

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H

Hovenator

10 Year 15 Year
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Sep 25, 2007
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46
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371
Location
Abbotsford, B.C.
Hi all,

Looking at the 120 platform trucks as the new family mobile. After going away from Toyota for a while I am coming back. Long story but Toyota/ Lexus really are great vehicles.

So what we are looking for is some thing that can do the daily routine of kids to school, me to work, grocery getting ex-cetera, occasionally have 2 more kid passengers (we have 2 ) so 4 total and be able to handle some minor off roading.

We also have a 20' travel trailer that weighs 4000 lbs dry. We need to be able to tow that in all situations. We have some nasty steep highways around here that are brutal to tow up. Actual time spent towing though will be about 5% of the time if that.

I have been looking hard at the Tundra's but seating isn't ideal and the fact that they are not made in Japan concerns me.;)

We had an 03 4runner with the v6 in the past but found it to be somewhat cramped in the interior and the seats were quite uncomfortable. (SR5)

We also had an 80 series which my wife absolutely loved and I really liked other than the poor mileage and low towing power. (only towed a17' Bigfoot with it)

So, I'm now thinking GX470 or LC100 (LX470) for the "ideal" vehicle. Year wise would be 1999 to 2003 for what would be in our range.
I have the 4runner in the mix because it comes with the v8 and can be had with 7 seats however the room inside is an issue plus my wife really liked the LC over the 4R.

Any experience or thoughts on this would be welcome! Anyone tow a TT with any of these trucks?

Thanks
 
Hovenator said:
Hi all,

Looking at the 120 platform trucks as the new family mobile. After going away from Toyota for a while I am coming back. Long story but Toyota/ Lexus really are great vehicles.

So what we are looking for is some thing that can do the daily routine of kids to school, me to work, grocery getting ex-cetera, occasionally have 2 more kid passengers (we have 2 ) so 4 total and be able to handle some minor off roading.

We also have a 20' travel trailer that weighs 4000 lbs dry. We need to be able to tow that in all situations. We have some nasty steep highways around here that are brutal to tow up. Actual time spent towing though will be about 5% of the time if that.

I have been looking hard at the Tundra's but seating isn't ideal and the fact that they are not made in Japan concerns me.;)

We had an 03 4runner with the v6 in the past but found it to be somewhat cramped in the interior and the seats were quite uncomfortable. (SR5)

We also had an 80 series which my wife absolutely loved and I really liked other than the poor mileage and low towing power. (only towed a17' Bigfoot with it)

So, I'm now thinking GX470 or LC100 (LX470) for the "ideal" vehicle. Year wise would be 1999 to 2003 for what would be in our range.
I have the 4runner in the mix because it comes with the v8 and can be had with 7 seats however the room inside is an issue plus my wife really liked the LC over the 4R.

Any experience or thoughts on this would be welcome! Anyone tow a TT with any of these trucks?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Tow capacity on the V8 4Runner is 7k, 100 series is 6500. We have an 08 Limited 4Runner and we love it. But if you like the LC better, you should go with that. I think you'd be happy with either one. And either one should tow fine.

Sent from another Galaxy
 
I think the weight is fine for the GX470. It's the aerodynamic load of the 8 foot wide, 12 foot tall loaf of bread called a travel trailer that is the possible issue. ;)

I think that the length of the LC or the Tundra may handle that better, but I would rather have a slightly smaller truck for everyday use.
 
I have a 100 for my towing, but the 120 is supposed to do very well. I towed a lot with my 80, daily for my construction job. I added airbags to the rear coils, well worth the small expense, huge difference in stability with really no downsides, except maybe offroading. I just noticed my 120 front brake pads are much larger than my 100 front brake pads. Not just a little, a lot bigger.

The 3rd seat option moves the middle seat forward slightly, might not be a great option. I'm not sure why there is so much less interior room in the 120, it has nearly the same outside dimensions of my 80 and 100.
 
A 4Runner has a lot less room. The GX has WAY more space than a 4R, mostly the reason I went that route myself.
 
I've done a bunch of reading about the Titan trucks. They don't seem to stack up too well against the Toyota products. Rear axle issues, brake issues and general cheapness of interiors. I would assume that the Armada is on the same chassis and running gear. Too bad because I do like the styling.

I'm looking for the best reliability I can get (within given $ range) then interior space/ comfort, towing ability and finally some off road prowess! :rolleyes: Only a small wish list.
 
Hovenator said:
I've done a bunch of reading about the Titan trucks. They don't seem to stack up too well against the Toyota products. Rear axle issues, brake issues and general cheapness of interiors. I would assume that the Armada is on the same chassis and running gear. Too bad because I do like the styling.

I'm looking for the best reliability I can get (within given $ range) then interior space/ comfort, towing ability and finally some off road prowess! :rolleyes: Only a small wish list.
Click to expand...

The full size Nissans have major brake problems. Not to mention the Nissans are just really not even in the same ballpark with Toyota as far as quality goes. Nothing personal Bonner. Just my personal observations.

Sent from another Galaxy
 
the gx and 4runner v8 have the same powertrain. you get WAY more cabin and comfort with the gx. you also lose the 4rs roll-down rear glass and hatch and get THE WORST FRICKIN REAR DOOR EVER MADE FOR AN SUV with the gx. the 100 is the best choice if you can find / afford / fuel a good one. i couldnt, so i got a great gx with low miles and cpo and have been totally happy, EXCEPT FOR THAT DOOR. I hate lexus engineers for designing that thing.
 
I personally had an '05 4Runner V8 4x4 Limited and now have an '06 LX470. My father has an '06 GX470 that I've driven quite a bit.

Based on your comments, I think a GX470 would fit the bill nicely. While I loved the 4runner, I likewise thought it was cramped, especially in headroom, for it's overall size. And I also thought the seats were uncomfortable, especially for long drives, as they are mounted rather low to the floor.

I found my Dad's GX470 to be so much more refined, comfortable, and roomy compared to the 4Runner Limited I had. It's comfort level was beyond reproach really for a body on frame SUV, though his had KDSS which could disconnect the roll bars. The coachwork was taller, and that made all the difference in the world. The seats are way way more comfortable. I can't imagine a 3rd row in the 4Runner really, but the one in the GX470 is okay for up to teenagers, and really no worse than my LX470 3rd row. I would say that the ride comfort in the GX even exceeds that of my 'LX.

As for towing, both the GX and LX are rated for 6500 with the right hitch. The LX will likely be more stable overall, but the GX should be plenty adequate. The GX will be more agile and have more usable power compared to the much heavier LX, given that they have practically the same motor fitments. You'll want to avoid a 4 speed LX470 as that combo is only adequate for the LX itself, let alone towing. If you can afford it, spring for the vvti equipped '05 and up GX as that will have significantly more usable torque across the powerband.

While I've never personally towed with the GX, I've towed very close to 6500lbs with my vvti equipped LX470 on 33's. It did so with aplomb and could readily accelerate past 70mph even going up hills. The same vvti v8 in the GX should be even better if you can spring for it.
 
It doesn't matter what car you buy, if you go on the internet looking for problems with a vehicle you will find them. We are on our second QX and never had a brake problem. The people with brake problems on the Armada/QX were due to them putting cheap brake pads on them which is a big mistake on a vehicle of its weight.

Want to read about some problems about the GX? Go here: http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-first-generation-218/

I don't let forums scare me as they are the place to go to fix problems.

With a towing capacity of 9100 vs 6500 it is a no brainer. Plug in a heavy trailer and you will feel the difference.

If we travel to the beach we ALWAYS take the larger more comfortable QX and tow our Nissan behind it like a little wagon. (A tow bar not a trailer.)

Anyone who thinks a Nissan isn't reliable has obviously never owned one.

I do like my GX that will eventually replace my pathfinder. But if I had to choose between having the QX vs GX for the family and towing - it woudn't be the GX.

B-

Our old QX:
DSC06909.jpg


Nissan:
air-1.jpg
 
^--- I think you forgot your parking brake on the nissan....
 
The V8 & transmission in the 4Runner/GX/LC/LX is identical barring pre-03 100's (A343F) and VVT-i which the 4Runner/GX received in 05 vs 06 for the 100's.

The 120 platform feels like a rocket compared to the 100.
 
Wondering how your search is going?Thinking of a GX 470 as well.I have a 07 Tundra crewman but its more truck then I need.GX seems to have the power and the right size.Just started looking to see whats available in the lower mainland.
 
GX all the way!
 
Sam Stewart said:
Tow capacity on the V8 4Runner is 7k, 100 series is 6500. We have an 08 Limited 4Runner and we love it. But if you like the LC better, you should go with that. I think you'd be happy with either one. And either one should tow fine.

Sent from another Galaxy
Click to expand...

I'm with this... We have a '05 & '06 SR5 V8 4R and they perform and tow awesome, but it is more spacious in the LC's.

-Daniel Kent
 
I flat tow my FJ40 with my '04 4runner (V8) occasionally and it does just fine. 12.5 mpg vs 17.5 normally.
 
Still looking. Not many around here.

I looked at one about a week ago that a university student owned. Looked nice in the pic but was far from it. Still was asking $20k for it too! I wouldn't have paid $10k!

The other ones that are local and in my price range have all been in accidents. These are all at dealers too which don't have any service records and are cluless when I ask them about the 90k service (T-belt/ water pump):mad:

I'm still looking at 100 series LC's too but I think that the GX would be better for us. Bit better all round fuel economy, 5 speed transmission and just the right amount of room.
 
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