finding a tow receiver rated for 7000 lbs for a 1995 HDJ81

[robtaylor]

can anyone recommend a tow receiver for a 1995 HDJ81 rated to 7000 lbs that I can buy in North America? Ideally in Canada?

My vehicle is rated to tow 7700lbs/3500kg. I can only find receivers rated to 5000 lbs, 6000 with a weight distribution tow set up, because all the NA online search sites only look at the FJ80 which, of course, has a lower towing rating due to the differences in the engines. Of course, the trailers I like have a GVWR of 6500 lbs.

Someone must have come up against this and solved it by now...

 

[IdahoDoug]

Good luck. The FZJ80 for the North American market was deliberately downrated to 5000lbs tow capacity, even though its mechanical twin in Germany was rated at 7700lbs. This was done as Toyota were terrified of having one of their products being in front of out of control US juries, so that in the event of an accident, Toyota could show diligence in downrating it.

Similarly, nobody in their right mind who builds hitches for the US market to fit an 80 series LandCruiser would build a hitch rated at more than the vehicle is rated for. Obvious liability. So, you'll need to find a hitch made for another country to fit the 80 if you want it to say "rated at 7700lbs" on the hitch. Having said that, I may, or may not have, pulled a trailer that weighed 9000lbs with my 80 series, and would not have if I did not have a decent working knowledge of hitches from an OEM perspective. Hitches are quite likely the most overbuilt aftermarket accessory you can buy, due to the incredible liability of building and selling vehicle trailer hitches. So out of an abundance of caution, hitches have a huge safety factory built into their strength.

 

[robtaylor]

thanks. Just thinking there may be a receiver with the same dimensions, built a bit bigger, for other vehicles, maybe another toyota with the same frame dimensions...

 

[IdahoDoug]

To my knowledge, the 80 Series shared nearly nothing in its rear frame with any other Toyota chassis. There are plenty of shops who will make you a custom hitch, but they would not have a certified capacity to pass an inspection if that's what you are worried about. They'd be plenty strong for what you envision, however. In fact, it would be better to buy a conventional Class 3 5000lb hitch and have a fabricator simply reinforce it if you feel it would be inadequate. That would significantly reduce your total costs vs a fully custom fabricated hitch.

If you are truly going to pull that heavy, also consider an AirLift kit to level the vehicle. We've used one in both 80s for a combined 400,000 miles trouble free.