Anyone using LC200 with a family of 5? (1 Viewer)

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Family of 6 and no issues other than cargo space limitations...trailer or Sprinter go a long way.
 
yeah our other car is a Honda Odyssey
And for what it’s designed to do you can’t beat it.
I think the main hurdle to ownership is the negative attitude that people have about owning a minivan.

But I’m blessed with a wife that doesn’t give 2 cents about being a minivan mom and could care less about driving a RR or Tesla etc. she loves it.
And to be honest for car camping in nice weather it does really really well.

I’ve taken our family of 5 plus my parents. Plus gear for a family we introduced to camping. Of course it was loaded to the gills. 2 sky boxes side by side and a hitch carrier. But didn’t miss a beat going up to Sequoia national park and kings canyon.
 
Just stumbled on this thread - couldn’t be a better time as this picture was just taken last week when we went to check out the lc200 vs sequoia.

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Wish there was room to park my 100 series next to the line up for comparison. Both the 200 and sequoia seem wayyyy bigger than the 100 - the sequoia being almost too big for a typical parking space in the north east

We have 4 kids and really wish the 200 came with captain chairs.

I should add that me and the wife both drive lifted 100 series. There is absolutely no way I could get her into a van. I am concerned with the sequoia’s limited (to my knowledge) suspension options and the 200s 8 spd tranny for big tires.

Not in love with either of them for $60-89k but don’t see myself owning anything other than a Toyota
 
I had a 2017 4runner Limited with 3rd row seat and traded it in for 2016 LC.... NO rear A/C in the 4runner was HUGE and the reason I traded it in. 2 summer trips to Zion and watching the sweat come from their heads as the a/c was trying to cool them off with 100+ degree weather! The only rear a/c vents was between the front driver and passenger seats. Plus the power and towing 5000lbs Vs 8000lbs... I love my land cruiser and will never look back!
 
If you remove the third row there’s a lot of room back there.
 
Family of 5... 8, 2 and 4 months. It’s fine with 1 forward facing and a rear facing. My daughter rides in the third row and I have the drivers side 3rd row seat out. 8 year old lets herself in and out via the rear hatch using the cruiser outfitters rear hatch release button and handle.
My wife’s atlas is better at moving people, my land cruiser can move people fine and do way more than the atlas. As long as kids are old enough to buckle themselves into their booster seat in the third row you’re good to go.
 
Out of those two, '16+ LC200 wins hands down. As others have mentioned, the Sequoia is also a very good choice for a family.

Cargo room (and passenger space) will be the main deciding factor in the Sequoia's favor. With the seats up the Sequoia has 18.9 cu ft of cargo volume, versus the Land Cruiser's 16.1 cu ft. Not a big difference. But with all the seats down, you're looking at 120.1 cu ft in the Sequoia vs only 81.7 cu ft in the LC200. That's less for the LC than even the 4Runner (89.7 cu ft with the seats down - but the Land Cruiser reapportions that space for a more spacious passenger area than the 4R). This is all mainly due to the Land Cruiser's seat design not folding flat into the floor. With the last row folded in either vehicle with your family of 5, the cargo room in the back will be significantly different across both models. Each row/seat of the Seqouia is also roomier. Something you might want to look into is the dual purpose Tepui Hybox which functions as either a RTT or a 23 cu ft cargo box to help out the LC200's total cargo capacity.

The significant luxury refinement and off roading prowess of the LC200 is incomparable. We have both a current gen Sequoia Limited and LC200, and the difference inside is beyond noticeable. Besides the actual luxury features, the Sequoia lets in more road noise, feels way more boaty and massive to drive, and lacks some of the nicer handling and driving characteristics. The Sequoia really feels like the Tundra it's based on. And since you're considering the LC200, I bet you're well aware of the off road capability it offers, so I don't need to go into that.

So it's really up to you to consider how important the greater Refinement+Capability in the LC200 is versus the greater Cargo Capacity/Passenger Space in the Sequoia. You know how we'd all answer that on this forum ;)
 
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I have 3 kids and two dogs. 16, 14 and 9, Great Dane and a Labradoodle.
I remove the 3rd row and run a yakima skybox on the roof. I also have a hitch tray if needed.
This way the dogs can use the whole cargo area.
 
Not say T4R is bad, but it’s never roomy enough for me and family. Family of 5 here. Been using a 2nd gen Sequoia travel for 4 years. Recently add LC 200 into our fleet. My kids is 18, 15 and 12.

Coming from sequoia have some bias opinion between Sequoia and LC200. LC200 is great, but it’s not as roomy as Sequoia. We all love the luxury addon for LC200. If anyone question the off-road capability of sequoia, don’t. It’s as capable as LC200 minus all the electronic assistant. Sequoia do need some upgrade for off-road protection. At the end, I just love the 5.7 3UR-FE engine which is the heart of the LC200 & Sequoia.

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I had a 2017 4runner Limited with 3rd row seat and traded it in for 2016 LC.... NO rear A/C in the 4runner was HUGE and the reason I traded it in. 2 summer trips to Zion and watching the sweat come from their heads as the a/c was trying to cool them off with 100+ degree weather! The only rear a/c vents was between the front driver and passenger seats. Plus the power and towing 5000lbs Vs 8000lbs... I love my land cruiser and will never look back!

Your experience mirrors mine. Had a 2014 4Runner Limited and removed the XREAS and put on the Bilstein 6112/5160's. It took us on some great trips with my 3 kids but the lack of air flow to the 3rd row was ultimately the deal breaker. We used portable fans and other tricks but with all the places we want to go, that wasn't going to last. Looked at various options like the Sequoia/Tahoe but always kept coming back to the 200 series. My 2011 LX and it's 4 zone climate control are a massive improvement.
 
OP, you might also consider a Tundra crew cab with a topper for the usage/cargo needs you describe. Two different friends of mine with three kids have Tundras and love them for road trips/camping. The back seat of the Tundra is cavernous, makes my LC seem cramped.
 
I have a family of 5 with 3 kids 15,10, 8 and came from a crewmax tundra. Really, the only thing the rear seat has is more width. I gladly took the third row over that reclining second row in the tundra in my change to the LC. I thought i'd miss the tundra but not a chance now. The only thing I do miss is the gear ratio on the tundra vs the LC.

For the OPs need, I would seriously look at the Sequoia. Sure, it doesn't carry the LC name but seems to be a better fit to his intended use.
 
Some Sequoia temptation: ...

And I present for your consideration, the Sequndra (Sequoia with Tundra front end conversion): ...

Wow, Timjax, what do I need to do to make my Sequoia look more like the ones in the photos you posted? After only a quick search I wasn't able to find any information on the modifications made to the Sequoia's you presented. Is one of them your vehicles?

By the way - your LC is beautiful

If anyone cares - Longtime lurker, first time poster

We only have a family of four at the moment, but both children are in car seats

OP, we were in a similar dilemma and in the end we chose a new Sequoia. It's the Significant Other's daily driver and we use it for weekend trips and the amount of space for cargo is incredible. Perhaps it could be considered a somewhat well-powdered, 4x4 minivan with acceptable ground clearance?

The apparent lack of modification options (especially for the suspension) was a factor. However, perhaps Timjax can help provide some options to improve the offroad capability of a Sequoia?

Also, the Sequoia easily tows our 13' fiberglass trailer (for longer trips)

However, a LC200 will likely be our next vehicle - once I'm ready to trade in my Tacoma - and I anticipate we will be extremely happy with both a LC200 and a Sequoia (as our two vehicles)
 
Yeah sequoia was definitely in the equation.
Similar concerns mentioned above. After market support and off-road prowess and build quality

build quality is not a deal breaker. Think it’s in the same range as 4Runner. Just not to 80k LC standards. I’m no rock crawling 2 month over landing Aussie but it’s nice to know it can handle those situations.

For me personally I think if I get a sequoia I will just pack it to the gills. The land cruiser will probably fit my needs and make me a little more efficient packer.

I think sequoia and LC would both do great for my situation.
 
Wow, Timjax, what do I need to do to make my Sequoia look more like the ones in the photos you posted? After only a quick search I wasn't able to find any information on the modifications made to the Sequoia's you presented. Is one of them your vehicles?

By the way - your LC is beautiful

If anyone cares - Longtime lurker, first time poster

We only have a family of four at the moment, but both children are in car seats

OP, we were in a similar dilemma and in the end we chose a new Sequoia. It's the Significant Other's daily driver and we use it for weekend trips and the amount of space for cargo is incredible. Perhaps it could be considered a somewhat well-powdered, 4x4 minivan with acceptable ground clearance?

The apparent lack of modification options (especially for the suspension) was a factor. However, perhaps Timjax can help provide some options to improve the offroad capability of a Sequoia?

Also, the Sequoia easily tows our 13' fiberglass trailer (for longer trips)

However, a LC200 will likely be our next vehicle - once I'm ready to trade in my Tacoma - and I anticipate we will be extremely happy with both a LC200 and a Sequoia (as our two vehicles)

I know the owner (IG steelmanbuilt) of the sequndra (that the name from Sequoia + Tundra). He is in NC and he sold the sequoia already. I can tell you his build. That was a 2008 Sequoia with a frontend swap with 14-current tundra. Sequoia is built on Tundra frame with a few differences. So there are many tundra parts is interchangeable with sequoia. With Toyota releasing 2020 Sequoia TRD, there will be more aftermarket parts available.
As for off-road capabilities, what kind of off-road support you need? It’s not a rock-crawl rig, but definitely can do many hard trail in UT, CO & AZ. I have taken my sequoia to Moab UT and Ouray CO.
 
I know the owner (IG steelmanbuilt) of the sequndra (that the name from Sequoia + Tundra). He is in NC and he sold the sequoia already. I can tell you his build. That was a 2008 Sequoia with a frontend swap with 14-current tundra. Sequoia is built on Tundra frame with a few differences. So there are many tundra parts is interchangeable with sequoia. With Toyota releasing 2020 Sequoia TRD, there will be more aftermarket parts available.
As for off-road capabilities, what kind of off-road support you need? It’s not a rock-crawl rig, but definitely can do many hard trail in UT, CO & AZ. I have taken my sequoia to Moab UT and Ouray CO.

Thank you for the information, I really appreciate it

Side note to you and to everyone - I've been lurking on a number of forums over the years and the group here at Mud, like yourself, seems especially knowledgeable and experienced and also friendly enough to share both. It's a fantastic resource, thank you

Use - Weekend family trips for us often involve trying to find a quiet corner of the Shawnee National Forest for a night or two of camping and some hiking during the day, and sometimes we bring our Scamp-like trailer along for longer trips. This can require a bit more ground clearance to access areas that are more "remote" (can't get too remove around here though!)

In the past, before the children arrived, longer trips have included some time spent doing the same thing in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Rock crawling doesn't interest us all that much at the moment, and a set-up similar to my current Tacoma, now with BP-51s and slightly larger / more aggressive tires, maybe a roof rack and a compressor, has always been sufficient (to cross the Henry Mountains, to access trailheads / lakes around Colorado or in the Laramie or Wind River Range, Lander, etc.)

So, in short, I guess suspension and tire upgrades are most important to us?

Suspension - From what I've gathered, it seems the front ends of the Tundra and Sequoia are similar enough to allow for an interchange of parts, but the IRS of the Sequoia throws a bit of a wrench in the system? Of course, I am a total beginner when it comes to 4x4 modifications (or any modifications really!) so I could be completely missing something obvious!

It seems these, Product Result or a combination of these for the rear and something like the OME coilover for the front has successfully been used before? Perhaps even Cruiser Outfitters, according to one thread over on the Sequoia / Tundra side of the forum, has completed such an installation

To be honest, I know so little about all of this I worry about the need to replace the UCAs? A negative impact associated with a change in drive shaft angle (I think)? Really, I worry about what I don't know...

Most importantly - thanks again everyone for all of the wonderful and insightful post on this thread and forum

MG
 
Wow, Timjax, what do I need to do to make my Sequoia look more like the ones in the photos you posted? After only a quick search I wasn't able to find any information on the modifications made to the Sequoia's you presented. Is one of them your vehicles?

By the way - your LC is beautiful

If anyone cares - Longtime lurker, first time poster

We only have a family of four at the moment, but both children are in car seats

OP, we were in a similar dilemma and in the end we chose a new Sequoia. It's the Significant Other's daily driver and we use it for weekend trips and the amount of space for cargo is incredible. Perhaps it could be considered a somewhat well-powdered, 4x4 minivan with acceptable ground clearance?

The apparent lack of modification options (especially for the suspension) was a factor. However, perhaps Timjax can help provide some options to improve the offroad capability of a Sequoia?

Also, the Sequoia easily tows our 13' fiberglass trailer (for longer trips)

However, a LC200 will likely be our next vehicle - once I'm ready to trade in my Tacoma - and I anticipate we will be extremely happy with both a LC200 and a Sequoia (as our two vehicles)
Nope not my Seqouia, ours is bone stock. Thanks for the kind words about my LC200! Welcome to the forum.

In order, the first is Bo-Hunter on Tundras.com, the second is helloshoebox, and the last Sequndra build is steelman_built. Look through their profiles for more pictures and info on their builds.

Bo-Hunter is running a custom Dobinsons springs and Fox shocks setup on 34's. Helloshoebox is on a custom King 3.0 setup with 35's. Steelman_built's build breakdown is on his For Sale Post, with a custom Dobinsons springs and Bilstein shocks setup on 35's. Bumpers, lighting, roof racks, armor, swingouts, RTT's, snorkels, etc are also the other (expensive) factors that make those builds so well done.

All three of them look to be lifted about 3-4" with upgraded control arms. Since the Seqouia is more boaty and bulging than a LC200 or 4Runner, this large amount of lift not only looks good, but helps make it more maneuverable and capable off-road, with good clearance. Most LC200's on this forum are lifted just 2", which is often more than enough for it, but the big Seqouia seems to benefit from more lift.

A Sequndra (or Tunquoia lol) conversion will cost most likely around $1500-4000 in parts + $$$ paint + $$$ labor, depending on if you get the parts from a junkyard or new OEM. You'll need fenders, hood, grille, bumper, and headlights (and relevant mounting hardware). Securing a TRD Pro Tundra front end (the hood, grille, and LED headlights specifically) will be another hurdle and possible additional cost. I've seen about 10-20 of these conversions on the internet, so there should be a decent amount of resources. The 2020 Sequoia TRD Pro comes in a cool Army Green, which would be a unique build platform for the OP too.

xo.ashleynicole:
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phaze2mizzark:
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Sorry to OP for turning this into a Sequoia propaganda post : )
 

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