96 FZJ80 Cross Country Towing. GOOD or BAD idea

[rbeachjr]

You have the right idea - including the load distribution system. Yes, I know that Toyota does not recommend them on a stock setup. However, Toyota also did not include a trailer braking system.

Airbags alone are a false assurance. They fix the 'look' but actually decrease the stability by raising the fulcrum point (rear axle) without adding any additional downforce to the front axle. The front axle lift from a heavy hitch decreases handling and can cause the front wheels to skid & skip around during turning and can be outright dangerous at highway speeds. Just jacking up the rear end to compensate for height lost to trailer tongue weight does nothing to solve the then unloaded front axle.

A properly set up load distribution system pushes that downforce from the rear wheels forward to the front axle and helps keep it on the ground. The rear end comes up a bit, the front end goes down a lot. The drawback is that it gives a false unloaded signal to the LSPV as the vehicle is 'flat'. Having a properly set up trailer brake controller and good trailer brakes counters the LSPV drawback significantly.

Either way, the end result is outside of specs for an 80 series US Land Cruiser. You're crossing into that realm of your own choosing and should weigh advice accordingly. None of us are going to pick up the bill if/when your rig jack knifes (unloaded front axle) or breaks (too much weight on one or both axles).

Grench- with a SWAY control bar, do you still be crosswinds will be a major issue and or jackknifing?? I've got a good electric break system set up and plan to upgrade the pads on the LC and camper before I hit the road.

 

[Grench]

Grench- with a SWAY control bar, do you still be crosswinds will be a major issue and or jackknifing?? I've got a good electric break system set up and plan to upgrade the pads on the LC and camper before I hit the road.

By itself, a sway control bar does nearly nothing to re-load the front axle. With a heavy hitch load, the rear axle becomes a fulcrum point and is compressed while the front axle is -lifted- and unloaded. If/when the trailer encounters cross winds it will push one way on the hitch which results in a counter-force pushing the now unloaded front axle in the opposing direction.

We've all seen the rigs rolling down the highways with the rear suspension compressed to nearly nothing and the front end nearly floating in space. I've even seen one case where a K5 Blazer trying to tow a mid sized camper had the front tires leaving the ground. He was on city streets and didn't get far. He tried to turn right at a stoplight and could not accelerate or corner at the same time and wiped out the sign in the median.

That is where load distribution comes into play. It uses a pair of spring steel rods connected near the hitch ball to provide a forward torque/force onto the hitch that effectively moves a portion of the hitch load to the tow vehicle's front axle and the trailer's axle(s).

Again, Toyota does not recommend load distribution on the 80. Drawtite sells a hitch for the 80 that advertises 500lb / 700lb with load distribution hitch weights.

You might consider stopping into a camper seller's store to talk to them about it. Generally they will be very cooperative with trailer towing questions since treating you well could generate future business for them. After all, if you're happy and safe towing your camper trailer then you're more inclined to stick with it. They should be able to quickly tell you what system would work best for your situation - then of course try to sell it to you - which may be worth it.

 

[rbeachjr]

By itself, a sway control bar does nearly nothing to re-load the front axle. With a heavy hitch load, the rear axle becomes a fulcrum point and is compressed while the front axle is -lifted- and unloaded. If/when the trailer encounters cross winds it will push one way on the hitch which results in a counter-force pushing the now unloaded front axle in the opposing direction.

We've all seen the rigs rolling down the highways with the rear suspension compressed to nearly nothing and the front end nearly floating in space. I've even seen one case where a K5 Blazer trying to tow a mid sized camper had the front tires leaving the ground. He was on city streets and didn't get far. He tried to turn right at a stoplight and could not accelerate or corner at the same time and wiped out the sign in the median.

That is where load distribution comes into play. It uses a pair of spring steel rods connected near the hitch ball to provide a forward torque/force onto the hitch that effectively moves a portion of the hitch load to the tow vehicle's front axle and the trailer's axle(s).

Again, Toyota does not recommend load distribution on the 80. Drawtite sells a hitch for the 80 that advertises 500lb / 700lb with load distribution hitch weights.

You might consider stopping into a camper seller's store to talk to them about it. Generally they will be very cooperative with trailer towing questions since treating you well could generate future business for them. After all, if you're happy and safe towing your camper trailer then you're more inclined to stick with it. They should be able to quickly tell you what system would work best for your situation - then of course try to sell it to you - which may be worth it.

Think what I was getting at was having both the weight distribution and sway bar will help deal with the cross winds. I had always planned on having both along with the rear airbags.