I have a 12E that I pull with our 99 LX470. With the AHC I needed a weight distribution hitch. Just installed an Ironman lift and am anxious to see if we still need the weight distribution hitch.
They are very tongue heavy - you know you're pulling it! I can't imagine putting an ATV on the front - it would likely be too much to pull.
I have the Jayco Baja with the small front deck, on which I keep a generator, gas for it and a cooler. My 2000 LX will "pull" it fine, but the AHC won't handle the tounge weight. I've contemplated adding airbags. Like Jrod said, the are very tounge heavy.
I bought mine at the same time a freind bought a non-offroad pop-up that is 2 feet longer. You wouldn't believe how much difference that two feet makes. Plus, it is nice to be closer to the ground. Unless you are going to wheel with it, I'd think about a lonnger standard version. Just my two cents.
I pull a Baja 10y with my '99. The front has a truck storage box mounted, and I only use it for storage of gear. It was very saggy on my old springs, but just fine now that I have the OME Medium lift on it.
I pull a similar size starcraft Rt10 with my 99 but after adding bumpers and stuff I went with the slee heavy load springs. The camper pulls like a dream....
I don't have the AHC so thats no biggie. I was curious about stiffening the rear suspension a little due to the tongue weight. There is no way I would put a 4 wheeler on front with my landcruiser, but I will put my regular sized generator on the front.
Think I will go take a look friday and see if I want to purchase it. My thoughts are it should pull fine with the 100 but may get little slow going up the hills and such which really isn't that big of a deal.
You will probably want to put airbags in there even without the AHC. It just adds so much stability without having a rough ride when unloaded. I love my bags but I usually tow a lot heaver than a pop-up trailer...
Airbags verse a little heavier suspension of in addition to? My knowledge of suspensions deals mostly with springs and shocks.
Thanks for all teh help gentlemen
Airbags would be overkill for towing a pop-up, IMHO.
Look at the max tongue weight for the trailer, that will tell you if you need to modify the suspension. As long as you don't load the front deck with matter from a black hole my guess is you will be fine.
Dan
That was my thought. I have owned a huge 5th wheel before but my 3/4 ton truck obviously wasn't going to have any issues pulling it. All that luxury goes ut the window with the 100. I just don't want to hurt my daily driver or create situation where I stand the family in BFE.
IMO, stiffer springs all of the time is hurting your daily driver. Last night I finally deflated my airbags and lowered the tire pressure after 3 months. I never bothered with it because I had a trailer on at least once a week. All I can say is, it was a nice cooshy ride to work this morning! Airbags are cheaper, won't raise up your back end when unloaded and are adjustable... but it's your rig. Both will work.
The Baja does have a much higher tongue weight than most other pop ups. Most of the Jayco series comes in around 180lbs, the 12' Baja with the long deck is 370lbs on the tongue. I would guess it's even higher for the short deck.
Lets say you're putting a generator, cooler, fuel, water on the front deck and you could easily be over 500 lbs tongue weight. That's comparable to a larger trailer. Not sure if this means you need air bags or not. I suppose it would all depend on how much weight you have inside the LC.
Add $100 to your purchase budget and get airbags. Airbags are much more effective for carrying a load and make a huge difference on handling and keeping the front of the truck on the ground.
Once again, look at the MAX tongue weight of the trailer, that will be at the max loaded weight. If you exceed that all bets are off.
Open up your owners manual and look up the max tongue weight.
Compare the two numbers and make a decision.
Been there done that, that was one of the first things I looked at. My curiosity centers more on how the suspension and engine did while pulling one.
Wife and I talked more last night and we may just get the military trailer and rig it up for some serious tent camping. I want a baja but we may postpone it for little while.
You're not going to win any races going up Rabbit Ears, but it'll do it and you'll get there. I run the 866 springs and with a bike in front it's a little low on mine, not too terrible but I should get air bags to even it out. Not exactly a Jayco Baja, but pretty close after some modifications...
I'm still well under the tongue weight rating of my bumper and hitch, but to keep things a little more even I put the boy's bike in back.
I'm right about 2800 fully loaded, which is just about the limit of that single axle. I know there's safety margin in all those ratings, so it's really not a concern honestly. But it's dang slow up the passes... like 35-45 in 2nd gear. hth!
