AHC system offroad (1 Viewer)

[PhysicsHammer]

Very interesting, thanks.

So you can lift your LC200 by about 2 or 2.5 inches, right? And you have a 2" lift on 32" tires on your 100 series... how do the two vehicles compare offroad and onroad?

thanks!

 

[Mago]

LC200 electronic suspension beats the modified LC100 by miles.. Both on and off road.
The only thing the LC100 excels at is air borne jumps. It handles landing better because the compression settings are harder, relative to its weight.
I have on the LC100 Radflo suspension with external air reservoirs, heavy King springs, and heavy OME torsion bars. An awesome setup.
The LC200 suspension is really a work of art, not just the settings (soft/medium/hard) and the (low/normal/high), but also the AVS which is helping you brake better, turn at high speeds better, runs washboards and uneven ground better, etc.
I will feel 60 mi/hour on my LC100 in the desert much quicker than 80 mi/hour in the LC200.

Yes, the LC200 will lift by up to 2.5" depending on settings and conditions. High takes it to 2", if it senses you're bogged and you're on 4LO it takes it up around one more inch. Total travel from LO to 'upper' High is 10cm.

 

[PhysicsHammer]

wow, very interesting. Thanks for the details. In Egypt I assume the slow speed crawling is harder to come across, just based on the geography, but have you had any experience on big rocks, boulders, roots, etc?

thanks! I had heard the AHC gave similar RTI scores but hadn't seen it in use much...

 

[r3run33]

wow are you sure about the Australian models not being able to have the AHC control? what about the Sahara model? When i lived there Land Cruisers are everywhere; Australia is a huge market for Toyota; unless Lexus is getting bigger there and they are trying to push people to that model. Here is a vid of the Land Cruiser with the AHC from Japan

 

[r3run33]

forgot to question this (Beno??? or any other techs with Toyota) I always did not like the AHC; to me it was the leakiest link for the 100 series! I had a 99 model and a 2006; both LX470. With moderate off roading the only thing that EVER gave me trouble was the AHC. Little quality control items but nothing major like the AHC. In the 200 series and the 2014 model upgrade have things changed that much? Are the globes better? The whole system??? In europe and middle east the AHC controlled Land Cruisers are considered top of the line.

 

[Mago]

wow, very interesting. Thanks for the details. In Egypt I assume the slow speed crawling is harder to come across, just based on the geography, but have you had any experience on big rocks, boulders, roots, etc?

thanks! I had heard the AHC gave similar RTI scores but hadn't seen it in use much...

Not a lot of rocky terrain over here.. I do have slee sliders on the LC100, which I usually venture with climbing over hard stuff.. Haven't found yet sliders for the LC200 (as it requires sliders for the LX570, since it has those globes underneath)..

By the way, do you know of any rock sliders for the LX570?

 

[r3run33]

I know if you go with sliders for the LX you have to buy the rocker piece from the Land Cruiser because the LX has a 1 piece which includes the running board. The Land Cruiser uses to separate pieces with their running boards. Also if you find out if the trim piece comes already color matched let us know.

 

[crazy1323]

One more thing about installing sliders on an LX, I have looked and there are some accumulators for the AHC behind the running boards. I do not know if they would interfere with the mounting of sliders.

Also, I have been contemplating for about a year making a "Lift" for my AHC system. Right now I have just adjusted the AHC sensor in the front to remove the factory rake. My goal is to provide a little more clearance for larger tires while maintaining the AHC capabilities and function. I am planning on using Tundra strut spacers in the front and machining some extensions for the AHC lines. I will also have to make some pieces like a diff drop and sway bar extensions, possibly longer brake lines. In the rear I will machine an extension to attach to the factory shock and have some custom springs made. I cannot use LC lifted springs since the rates are so much lighter in the LX.

This should give me about 2.5" up front and 1.5" higher in the rear.

 

[PhysicsHammer]

I'd like to know about the sliders. I believe an ARB rear bumper is difficult because of the AHC system but I haven't heard anything definite about the sliders... I don't know if I could do without sliders.

 

[Mago]

I know there are sliders for the LX470, designed to evade the globes. I am looking for someone who has sliders for the LX570. I can tell you the original ones will be ruined easily, probably on your first adventure..

 

[crazy1323]

I'd like to know about the sliders. I believe an ARB rear bumper is difficult because of the AHC system but I haven't heard anything definite about the sliders... I don't know if I could do without sliders.

I believe the company is called Four Trax fitted ARB front and rear bumpers to an LX. When I spoke with them on the phone they said it took about 40 hours. Unlike the LX470, the AHC pump is not under the hood. It is located in the rear passenger side corner. This made rear bar installation difficult.

 

[Junglejack]

200 Series in Australia does not come with Active Height Control - simply not available at all, not an orderable option. Instead Aussie 200 Series come equipped (mostly) with KDSS as standard.

https://www.lexus.com.au/lx570/features/performance

There has been AHC in OZ since it was first offered I believe. Maybe not 1998 , but I think the 470 was on tap then and the top spec LC might have offered it.

 

[PhysicsHammer]

this company shows a slider that may work with the lx 570.. might just be a generic description though.

http://extremelandcruiser.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70&products_id=329

 

[PhysicsHammer]

has anyone actually PUT sliders onto an LX 570? That is a sticking point for me before purchasing an LX. I don't need bumpers too badly but sliders I don't think I can do without.

 

[crazy1323]

I would call Slee, you can see where the globes are located by looking at a parts diagram.

If someone with sliders can attach pictures of where the sliders attach, I will check to see if I can see any interference on my LX 570

 

[elkaholic]

The pics in my install thread here
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/slee-sliders-on-2013-lc.807091/
Should help


Misspellings courtesy of autocorrect from my iPad using IH8MUD Forum

 

[EverywhereBear]

See this thread - I don't know of anyone who has done it - but it does seem possible.

 

[tempestv8]

wow are you sure about the Australian models not being able to have the AHC control? what about the Sahara model?

Australian Land Cruiser 200 Series since introduction in 2007 do not come with Active Height Control (AHC), not even on the top of the line Sahara trim spec. I don't expect that AHC will ever debut for the 200 Series in Australia, but would love to see this feature come in; it would obsolete the need for the 2" suspension lift kits that are typically what owners do to "toughen" up their rides.

If AHC is a buying criteria for a large SUV customer living in Australia, the only vehicle which will meet that requirement is the Lexus LX570. Great SUV, except it is shunned by the majority of Aussies simply because it's not available with a diesel engine.

However there might be hope as the "LX450d" badge has recently been trademarked.
http://lexusenthusiast.com/2014/06/16/lexus-lx-450d-trademarked-australia/

A hypothetical Lexus LX450d will have AHC and the much coveted twin turbo diesel 4.5 litre V8 engine. Whether this vehicle sees the light of day in Australia or not remains pure speculation.

 

[Billfish]

IMHO: AHC is an unnecessary complication that belongs on buses and Escalades and soft-roaders like LXs. That's why its not offered down here on LCs.

Yes its offered in Europe and the US but the number of owners there with AHC that would even consider getting their tires muddy is probably less than the number of AHC LXs you would meet attempting Big Red. i.e bugger-all to none. (OK ok, one or two LX nut cases here sure, but then IH8mudders are all mad as meat axes and hardly count

just saying.

 

[PhysicsHammer]

I would simply like to hear from more AHC-equipped owners. I'm willing to concede that on the 100 series, some people seem to have reliability issues, but on the 200, I have not heard of any issues - but I also haven't heard of a lot of people who offroad with it. I simply want more data.