70 series towing capacity

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Malahki

Malahki

10 Year 15 Year
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Oct 1, 2006
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Lethbridge AB
I have a JDM spec 1988 BJ71 with the 5 speed manual and want to know what the towing capacity is? It has a Japanese sticker above the bumper that says 400kg, is that max payload or hitch wait? I have been thinking about buying a BJ74 for the added wheel base and cargo space and assumed it would have a greater towing capacity? Can anyone tell me the overall tow capacity and max hitch wait for these units? I am wanting to pull a small camper around this summer. Thanks
 
Yeah I realize I would not be setting any speed records pulling a trailer, however I don't want to go very far either. My friend pulls a 3000lb camper behind his 03 Jeep Rubicon, so I figure I should be able to do the same. I just want to make sure I can do it legally and safely. I would definitely have brakes on the trailer.
 
well...
since the 71 shares all the same frame and powertrain characteristis of the 40 series then according to Dougal the towing rate will be 8000 lbs...LOL!!

in reality a SAFE towing rate will be 1500 lbs although you will be able to tow more.
toung weight is 700 lbs max.
remember you are driving a 5000 lb vehicle so 3000 lbs is pushing the braking system and you have a short wheelbase so fishtailing is a strong possibility.
 
it's totally dependent on the towing hitch itself and where it was made and who made it.

If it's factory (as MANY of them are), max downweight is 350kg, unbraked towing capacity is 750kg, braked towing capacity on a shorty is 2500kg, on the longer wheelbases it's 3500kg.

I regularly tow a 3000kg trailer (loaded) with my HZJ75. I don't advise doing it in a short wheelbase as you have smaller brakes I think and compression braking from the engine becomes very relevant at that sort of load.

A cruiser will easily tow a small camper, i've pulled down a tree with mine. :)
 
6600 lbs with a 75 eh?
good for you, i will not recommend it unless you live in Table top country. if you live in ALberta and travel into BC then that would be sucidal.
 
So the medium wheel base of a BJ74 is rated at 1000kg more towing capacity?? Seems like a big difference for a 9" longer wheelbase?

Where is the spec plates or markings on the truck that will tell me for sure what the legal limit is. I know I would not want to go into BC over the limit.
 
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You should find the chassis plate on the firewall which will have the relevant weights on it:
4738_scan0019_600_x_303_3.jpg


On this plate:...
2210 is the maximum gross vehicle weight.
4210 is the maximum train weight(trailer,load,and towing vehicle)
1 is the maximum front axle weight.
2 is the maximum rear axle weight.

So this lj70 can tow 2000kgs....(subject to it not overloading the individual axles...)

All you have to do is:
Max train weight - Max gross vehicle weight = Max trailer weight

Afaik all short wheelbase 70s are only rated to tow 2000kg (in Europe and Japan anyway) which is crap! If a LandRover 90 is rated to tow 3500kgs with its scrap metal drive chain and useless brakes then a 70 series Yota definitely can! What were Toyota thinking!?
 
Funny but true, I havent driven an LJ but Ive heard they can be pretty gutless at the best of times so with 2ton behind it I can only imagine how slow itll be! :p The KZJ70 on the other hand will tow 2ton all day, I barely know the trailers there. :D
 
My 73 is allowed by law to tow 3500 kg max. The max weight on the hitchhook is limited to 100 kgs (I think, don't have that figure at hand.) Because of that towing a single axle trailer at 3500 kg is out of the question as the weight on the hook should be in 5 to 10% of the trailer weight.
My camping trailer is max 1600 kgs (single axle) and I think that's more or less the limit I should tow in this category. Rule of thumb is to never tow a single axle trailer that is over 75% of the total weight of the car some say even better to limit it to 60 % but I think that 60 % is not practical.
Total weight of my rig is around 2250 kgs when on a holiday-trip.
 
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actually, your answer is wrong.

the original poster mentioned he lives in Alberta and VERY likely will be towing into BC.
the firewall plate will be from Japan since he is talking a recent JDM import

max allowable weights and common sense.

to take this one step further, you are saying that an imported from NZ or Netherlands or Oz with the above plate makes it acceptable and realistic in Alberta or BC? no, you mentioned practicality. so for practicality a LJ will die a painfull death trying to pull 4000 lbs across the Oz outback. so if the original poster looks at his plate (which i "think" is missing on the JDM trucks) then those figures are a dangerous error to be avoided..

so, in a nutshell, the plates are worth about as much as it cost to produce them.

the frame strength is the same between a LJ71, BJ70, HZJ73, HZJ75.
the axles are the same between all the HD 3 listed and yet they have different tow ratings
the rear tongue weight is the same between all 3
the rear axle is the same (if all are FF)

so what is determining the difference in tow rating?

Dougal has stated that the drivetrain is NOT a factor, if that is the case (and considering the tow rating of the LJ i have to agree) what is the determining factor?
 
braking capacity is the same for all 3, weight is with in 400 lbs and the wheel base is close as well...
actually the LJ71 has disc all around, weighs very close to the BJ71 and the exact same wheel base...
 
Hitch capacity is directly related to wheelbase length, GVM of tow vehicle, the hitch setup itself (where it bolts on and how) and MOST IMPORTANTLY, the rear suspension.

My HZJ75 with a GVM upgrade has a 430kg downweight rating on the towhitch with 13 leaf rears and a fxxxing sizable towing connection.

Granted, very few cruisers have GVM upgrades... they are rare even here in Oz.

And i'm sorry, I missed the Alberta/BC thing. I would limit your towball downweight to 100kg in a midwheelbase. Long wheelbases are 150kg but you can do 250 with the right setup.

And crushers is right, JDM/Oz vehicles don't have that plate.
 
so that is a 9000 lb tow rating... cool.]
i have a FJ75 coming in with 13 leaves and i can install a class 4 hitch easy enough.
excellent, i do not have to buy a new tow vehicle now.
can you get me a GVM plate and ship it over? i will pay you for it.

of course it will be a slug and fuel milage will be terrible and the tow will be very uncomfortable but at least if i am towing a few miles and MTO stops me i can tell them to take a hike.
 
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