capable towing vehicle?

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iseibert

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Jun 17, 2006
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My wife and I are considering the purchase of a 2001 LX to as her DD. We are in need of more room for us and two kids and from my research, and lurking on this forum for the last few months, the LX seems to be the closest match to our criteria.

My concern is towing capability, especially for longer trips. It is my understanding that with the short wheel base (112 in.) this is not necessarily an ideal tow vehicle. I need to tow a pop up camper that weighs about 4,200 lbs. completely loaded. The listed towing capacity of the LX is 6,500 lbs., but I am interested in real-world towing experience and reviews. We are looking at taking longer trips, over 2,000 miles round trip, and want to be comfortable and safe while towing the camper. (no white knuckles when we get to our destination):)

Does anyone have any experiences they can share using the LX as a tow vehicle, especially if you have towed over a longer distance? Does the AHC make a difference when towing compared to a similar LC?
 
I have only towed with mu '98 LC, not LX, so I can't address AHC. Otherwise, the LC tows fabulously. I have towed in the past with a Ford Bronco and the wheelbase on the LC is sufficiently longer than that of the Bronco to make a significant difference for the better. The LC is heavy enough to keep the truck steady, and the breaks are great with a trailer. The only limitiation in my view is the lack of power as opposed to larger towing rigs with big gas or diesel motors. That said, I tow a 6500 lb. 26' travel trailer without any problems and I can maintain highway speeds on all but the steeper mountain pass inclines. Sounds like your trailer would be no problem.
 
Like many Toyotas the LC has an extra power button which might help as well.
 
I tow a large pop up as well - pushing 4-5k loaded. Properly loaded you should not need a weight distribution hitch system, but I STRONGLY recommend an anti-sway device.

The short wheel base is your only enemy and once the tail (trailer) starts wagging the dog (truck), recovery is extremely difficult and dangerous. Engine power, braking power and weight will not save you. Trailer sway is a matter of rhythmic motion.

As a comparison, my Chrysler T&C, with a longer wheel base, towed with less sway. But using the same anti-sway device on my LC, I had to tighten it considerably.

I expect your trailer has electric brakes, which is also a recommended must have. Why fry the brakes on your truck for the minor cost of a trailer brake controller?

Otherwise we think the LC is the best we've had for towing. Once set up right, it tows effortlessly.

Good Luck.
 
iseibert said:
<snip> Does the AHC make a difference when towing compared to a similar LC?
Click to expand...

The AHC does make a difference when towing. The auto-leveling function really shows its usefulness here.

(Have never towed with LC, but I really like that auto-leveling feature of LX when towing...)
 
I have used the search function on the forum several times and have previously read each of the above linked searches. None seemed to answer my question entirely. Several have modified suspensions (OME 863 springs) or did not mention thier traveling distance. This is a big difference to me since towing an hour or less and towing for an 8 hour day is very different. I also am interested in the AHC option and its usefulness in towing and have not seen any related information in searches.

I appreciate the responses and do have electric brakes on my trailer and will definately be using a WD hitch with anti-sway for safety. If any other members have related information, please post.
 
IMHO I would say that a WD hitch is probably overkill for your application. Especially if you have an effective AHC. My LC stock suspension dropped only about an inch with my camper, 2 adults, 4 teenagers and a 3 yr old... I have the front trunk on the camper that tends to cause the packing of too much weight on the tongue as well. I recommend following basic trailer weight distribution rules and pack so the tongue weight is under the hitch rated weight (i.e. light enough to move by hand). The stock suspension should be able to handle the rest of the motions brought on by road terrain.

2000 miles are long trips with a pop-up - where are you headed?
 
I have a starcraft 14rt pop-up which has the large front deck as a toy hauler. The weight districution may be necessary to offset the 500 lbs. of an ATV on the deck so as not to go over the max 650 lb. tongue weight.

Without the addtional weight of an ATV, we plan on taking a few vacations to the Great Smokey mountains, Yellowstone, and of course the obligitory trips to Disney World (Ft. Wilderness camp ground). For these trips we will be at about the 4200 lb. range and the manual for the LX requires the use of an anti-sway device if towing over 2,000 lbs. I am one who tends to study the manual and follow it fairly closely, thus the use of a WD hitch and towing questions.
 
Sound like fun trips. I agree that an ATV on the tongue would probably dictate the WD. I have a Coleman Utah which is about 18 ft closed. It is wider and longer than the LC, but well balanced.

We did Ft. Wilderness and I would say that is the nicest campground I have ever used. Looking forward to Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon in a couple years, but I think I want to do the cross country trip in a big RV, towing the LC, or a 4Runner.

I think you will like the LX as a tow vehicle and for travel comfort. The kids travel comfort was an important fact in my purchase. A long trip with uncomfortable kids is the worst!
 
welcome!

our popup is a bit smaller, more like 3000 lbs loaded IIRC, but except on steep roads at high altitude -and that's a power issue, not stability- I can't tell it's there....
 
I just finished my first trip and was very happy with the way the 100 performed. Power button make the acceleration seemless. The only problem I found was I cant see anything but the trailer behind me.:eek: Short of camera what else is available?
100wtrailer.webp
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
<snip> The only problem I found was I cant see anything but the trailer behind me.:eek: Short of camera what else is available?
Click to expand...

That's a problem? I consider that to be a benefit of towing - it makes it so I can't see the tailgaters gesturing behind me, so the trip is more enjoyable.

:)
 
The AHC is great for towing because of its auto leveling. However, if it is overloaded it can droop. It sounds like you will be fine in your application.

As far as LX vs LC, when we have taken long trips with a heavy load (esp after picking up boxes of old (100+ yrs) books), the LX auto leveling causes one to forget there is a load in back - everything seems like normal. At times I find myself wondering why the LX seems to be struggling on an incline, then realize I have a heavy load. The LC was just as capable pulling, but the front would raise a bit so I could see it had a load.
 
I’m taking a trip (ABQ to Denver) to get a 71 GMC SW truck and was planning on using a tandem axel trailer to haul it back. Its a large trailer and not sure what the truck weighs. I have trailer brakes but no anti sway control for this trailer. What’s your thoughts?
DMX
 
put the 1.5 inch ome lift and it will ride better with a trailer I installed one myself and it was incredibly easy.
 
iseibert said:
I have used the search function on the forum several times and have previously read each of the above linked searches. None seemed to answer my question entirely. Several have modified suspensions (OME 863 springs) or did not mention thier traveling distance. This is a big difference to me since towing an hour or less and towing for an 8 hour day is very different. I also am interested in the AHC option and its usefulness in towing and have not seen any related information in searches.

I appreciate the responses and do have electric brakes on my trailer and will definately be using a WD hitch with anti-sway for safety. If any other members have related information, please post.
Click to expand...

I think my posts would apply to your scenario pretty good in the last link that Campfire posted. I was pulling around 4000lbs for 1000 miles and besides the gas it towed it OK. The ahc worked fine for me. The main thing was the old girl drinking some serious gas,~10mpg tops for me. The engine did have to dig down on some of the steep grades but unless you've got a good diesel any vehicle would have to grunt in that sitution. At least with the 4.7 it's smooth as a baby's but at higher RPM's.

Sidenote: The only time I've had the AHC fail is loading my tractor too far forward on the tongue of my 20' steel trailer. It couldn't cut it for that; easily resolved it by moving the tractor aft a bit to properly distribute the weight.
 
DMX84 said:
I’m taking a trip (ABQ to Denver) to get a 71 GMC SW truck and was planning on using a tandem axel trailer to haul it back. Its a large trailer and not sure what the truck weighs. I have trailer brakes but no anti sway control for this trailer. What’s your thoughts?
DMX
Click to expand...

Simple: Does the combined weight of hauled truck + trailer equal the max towing capacity of the tow vehicle/hitch, or less?

You'll probably be limited to towing a vehicle weighing less than 4000lb with a typical car hauler trailer weighing more than 2000lb.
 
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