false rumors of the 100 series as a bad tow vehicle

[CruiserDog]

Every where I looked on I8HMUD people said towing close to the max capacity with the 100 series platform is dangerous and impractical. This truly concerned me to use it as a daily driver and tow vehicle, but the nah sayers didn't hold me back from using it as one. Thank your religious figure it didn't hold me back because it is one of the most comfy tow vehicles I have own. here is a photos of my relatively stock 2006 lx470 with the notorious AHC(which works great towing so far) towing my rig.

 

[Bardiya]

Love the wheels on the LX
What are they? Can we have a closer look?

 

[Sandroad]

LX wheels look like TRD Rock Warrior.

What's the weight going down the road of that rig?

 

[taipan]

Looks like the 18" Tundra TRD wheels. Thr Rock Warriors, also Tundra TRD wheels, are 17" and look like this.

 

[ponytl]

I've towed anything I needed with mine ...mostly boats and utility trailers... (21.5ft i/o ski boat) and never had an issue my main concern is it really is only a small (very small) V8 and while well matched to the 100 there just ain't a ton of ass left in it... plus my DD is at 325k and I assume the trans is oem I'm not ready to find it's limit... thats why everyone should keep an old F350 dually diesel around at this point I've had it so long it's only real value is to me (I'm thinking a trans in the 100 is more than the entire value of my F350)

 

[Trunk Monkey]

I don't recall anyone saying it's dangerous or impractical, just to be careful as you would towing on any vehicle. Good friend of mine was flat towing his 40 behind his 100 and had it push him out into an intersection when he had to stop quickly for a changing light.

 

[camino70]

I haven't towed with a 100, so pardon my ignorance. I think the concern is less about how well it tows and more about how well it maneuvers and more importantly stops in emergency situations.
I'd hate for a loaded trailer to push and pull you into a deadly situation due to lack of mass and/or stopping power. (I'd actually hate for an accident regardless of reason or outcome)

 

[re_guderian]

Looks like you were off to have a fun day! For the occasional towing of that rig to the trail, I don't see any problems as long as the tongue weight is appropriate.

"Bad" tow vehicle isn't the rumor. "Sub-optimal" is more like it. I've towed loaded 3-horse trailers and can still do ~60-65 uphill on the freeway. But it's not comfortable, you're always watching the rpms and temp guage, thinking about the tranny, wondering if it's going to start pushing you around on the downhill s-curves, etc. It tows, and does a decent job at it when set up with brake controller and air bags (non-AHC). It's just that if towing is something you're gonna do every weekend, or every day, then there's better solutions out there that don't have the compromises. Oh yeah, 8-10 MPG doesn't help the rumor either.... Can it tow?, yes, of course, but that capability is not in the "strong" column. Short wheelbase and small V8 are the biggest downsides. The 5 speed is much better than the 4 speed when it comes to towing, too.

Now our horse towing is done by my daughter's 7.3L F350 4x4 Crew Cab long bed. It's a MUCH better routine tow vehicle, but a pig off-road. Every vehicle has compromises. I'm an infrequent tower, and I find that it's still stressful for me. I never hop out after towing anything in the Cruiser for several hours and think, "man, that was a enjoyable, relaxing drive." A sub-optimal vehicle just adds to that stress, not reduces it. Maybe that worry goes away if you tow every day? As I tell my horse-trailering, 20 year-old daughter, when things go wrong towing, the consequences are almost always brutal, severe, permanent, and frequently involve other people (or your animals), and a heavy trailer just exponentially amplifies the bad outcomes from things that normally happen. The checklist is ALWAYS to be followed, every time, no short cuts, never "just this once" or "it's only a few miles".

 

[DutchCruiser]

In Holland the Land Cruiser is the best tow vehicle on the market. When a 100 series is equipped with an air brake pump for the trailer the 100 is allowed to tow up to 9 tons (19800lbs).

This is not my Cruiser, but this an example of what Land Cruisers are capable of.
I usually tow the same kind of trailer but only rated to 3.5ton, and the 100 can handle the trailers with ease.

 

[BlueWeim]

Ive towed plenty of weight with both of mine. but its kinda stupid when I have a 3500 DRW duramax in the driveway also. I pull a 35ft gooseneck with 12-18k on it daily. My landcruisers are plenty capable of towing my small utility trailers or boat or dirt bikes but I recently pulled my 22ft aluminum car hauler with two 900 rangers on it and it wasnt bad until it came to stopping or curvy areas on the intersate. I just dont like the feeling of a lot of weight behind me, a short wheel base, and soft suspension. For pulling that rig around in your picture its probably not a bad every now and again and Id keep doing it. There is no point in buying a big truck unless you use it every day. cruisers are plenty capable but I wouldnt want it to be a daily tow rig.

and i have to agree with re_guderian. Things get ugly in wrecks with trailers. We had a 53ft pot trailer turn over because someone loaded bulls together on the upper deck. That was an ugly wreck when the truck turned over doing 65 down a two lane highway.

 

[lhommec13]

In Holland the Land Cruiser is the best tow vehicle on the market. When a 100 series is equipped with an air brake pump for the trailer the 100 is allowed to tow up to 9 tons (19800lbs).
View attachment 1368245
This is not my Cruiser, but this an example of what Land Cruisers are capable of.
I usually tow the same kind of trailer but only rated to 3.5ton, and the 100 can handle the trailers with ease.

That is one cool pic, but the 100 series over in your neck of the woods are diesel-powered, right? If so, that's not really comparing apples to apples, i.e. petrol vs diesel. What are the engine specs of the 100 series in the Netherlands?

 

[TeCKis300]

Amen. Absolutely great tow vehicle in my experience also. Like any tow vehicle, it has to be properly setup. When done so, it tows with absolute stability and comfort. I wouldn't hesitate to tow up to its full rated 6500 lbs.

 

[87warrior]

I love your LJ. Nicely done

 

[CruiserDog]

The wheels are tundra trd wheels I found craigslist for cheap in my area. they where brand new takeoffs. love the look because its different.

 

[CruiserDog]

In Holland the Land Cruiser is the best tow vehicle on the market. When a 100 series is equipped with an air brake pump for the trailer the 100 is allowed to tow up to 9 tons (19800lbs).
View attachment 1368245
This is not my Cruiser, but this an example of what Land Cruisers are capable of.
I usually tow the same kind of trailer but only rated to 3.5ton, and the 100 can handle the trailers with ease.

that is wild. I will never have a doubt about towing with my LX

 

[CruiserDog]

Amen. Absolutely great tow vehicle in my experience also. Like any tow vehicle, it has to be properly setup. When done so, it tows with absolute stability and comfort. I wouldn't hesitate to tow up to its full rated 6500 lbs.


View attachment 1368371
View attachment 1368372
View attachment 1368370

I wish i was towing that beautiful porsche tho

 

[CruiserDog]

I haven't towed with a 100, so pardon my ignorance. I think the concern is less about how well it tows and more about how well it maneuvers and more importantly stops in emergency situations.
I'd hate for a loaded trailer to push and pull you into a deadly situation due to lack of mass and/or stopping power. (I'd actually hate for an accident regardless of reason or outcome)

I have heavy duty 4 wheel brakes on my trailer for the steep inclines that I encounter to often, but a well setup brake control for your trailer makes a world of difference. Most people neglect to set it up properly and tend get in hairy situations for the same reason I don't flat tow my jeep with this vehicle.

 

[CruiserDog]

I love your LJ. Nicely done

thank you she is my true love of my life closely followed by my LX

 

[Matserelli]

thank you she is my true love of my life closely followed by my LX

I try not to tow much with my 100, but I share your love.

 

[bamabrock]

Every where I looked on I8HMUD people said towing close to the max capacity with the 100 series platform is dangerous and impractical.

I'll play devil's advocate for just a second.

Towing with ANY vehicle close to max capacity is dangerous and impractical and is not a false rumor. Trailer brakes, air bags, sway bars, etc can help, but the limitations of a short wheel based vehicle with a five link coil sprung rear end and 230-265hp are still going to be there. Pulling a load and handling a load are very different aspects of towing and 100 series do not handle heavy loads as well as some of the examples listed. The brakes in a 100 are subpar, IMO, for the weight of a stock 100, much less towing.

I tow my grady-white 209 every weekend during the summer and while the 100 will get the job done, my gas powered 2500HD did it significantly better because it was set up better to do it with a bigger frame, more power, and stiff rear leaf springs. You barely know its back there with the truck.