Good tow vehicle for 30' Airstream?

[silverhorse]

Hi Guys, I'm an 80 guy. I know almost nothing about the 100 or 200 series.. I need a daily driver that can tow 6400lbs. from time to time safely! Anyway, I want to get something newer for cross country trips. From what I have read the last couple of days, it doesnt seem like there are drastic difference between years??
03' more power and tranny change
What about this Active height control and Variable suspension, Should i avoid those things like the plague? Sounds like expensive fixes.......

Thanks for an Education! Bill

 

[gaijin]

Hi Guys, I'm an 80 guy. I know almost nothing about the 100 or 200 series.. I need a daily driver that can tow 6400lbs. from time to time safely! Anyway, I want to get something newer for cross country trips. From what I have read the last couple of days, it doesnt seem like there are drastic difference between years??
03' more power and tranny change
What about this Active height control and Variable suspension, Should i avoid those things like the plague? Sounds like expensive fixes.......

Thanks for an Education! Bill

You may find the following info from the 2013 LC Owner's Manual helpful:

●If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a weight distributing hitch with sufficient capacity is required.

■ GCWR*
14400 lb. (6532 kg)
■ TWR*
8100 lb. (3670 kg)
■ Unbraked TWR*
1000 lb. (454 kg)

● The gross trailer weight must never exceed 8100 lb. (3670 kg)

● The gross vehicle weight must never exceed the GVWR indicated on the Certification Label.

● The gross axle weight on each axle must never exceed the
GAWR indicated on the Certification Label.

● To ensure the recommended values shown below, the trailer must be loaded by referring to the following instructions.

• Tongue Weight
The gross trailer weight should be distributed so that the tongue weight is 9% to 11%. (Tongue weight /Gross trailer weight x 100 = 9% to 11%)

If using a weight distributing hitch when towing, return the front axle to the same weight as before the trailer connection.
If front axle weight cannot be measured directly, measure the
front fender height above the front axle before connection.
Adjust weight distributing hitch torque until front fender is
returned to the same height as before connection.
The gross trailer weight, gross axle weight and tongue weight
can be measured with platform scales found at a highway
weighing station, building supply company, trucking company,
junk yard, etc.

And the following info from the "Certification Label:"

GVWR: 3345kg (7385lb)

GAWR Front: 1630kg (3595lb)

GAWR Rear: 1950kg (4300lb)

Looks to me like you would be fine with a LC200 and a Weight Distributing Hitch.

 

[silverhorse]

AWESOME! Thanks for the great info mate! This info will really help us make an educated decision!

 

[elkaholic]

To the OP ... My $0.02 based upon a few decades of towing. The 200 series has the ability to handle the weight (assuming the 6400 pounds is wet weight). However, I personally believe that pulling a 30 foot bumper pull trailer with a rig that has a 112 inch wheelbase is pushing things a little. Unless the set-up is perfect, I believe you will find the handling quite tiresome with that much length behind you.

I do note that you stated "from time to time" as towing frequency, so this may be a compromise that will work out for you.

 

[silverhorse]

I'm thinking I'll probably need to drop down to around a 25'...

 

[bjowett]

What is your budget?

As long as you set up properly, the 200 can take it... but as mentioned above, wheelbase is king when towing. Might want to have a look at the second generation Tundra, it is based on the 200 Series Land Cruiser. Generation 2.5 is out in September.

 

[silverhorse]

I spoke with these guys this morning. I noticed several folks with RV's for sale had them. Apparently it stops sway and also adds a little wheelbase. They claim The LC short wheelbase is not an issue once this is installed..... http://hensleymfg.com/faq/hensley-hitch-works/

 

[patrickfinley]

Also look into the tongue weight of the trailer. Many newer 25'+ Airstream's will have a tongue weight of 700-900 lbs. That eats up a huge portion of your cargo payload in the LC at roughly 1500 lbs. If you add Airstream + 4 adults you've pretty much hit your max payload. No ability to put luggage in the vehicle.

Sure you can add airbags, a weight distribution hitch, transmission oil cooler, better brake system and the list goes on. In the end your putting band aids on a vehicle that really isn't designed to tow such large trailers.

 

[gaijin]

I spoke with these guys this morning. I noticed several folks with RV's for sale had them. Apparently it stops sway and also adds a little wheelbase. They claim The LC short wheelbase is not an issue once this is installed..... http://hensleymfg.com/faq/hensley-hitch-works/

The following is the "complete" list of recommendations from the LC200 Owner's Manual:

● If the gross trailer weight is over the unbraked TWR, trailer service brakes are required.

● If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control device with sufficient capacity is required.

● If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a weight distributing hitch with sufficient capacity is required.

I did not include the first two in my response above because I did not think them applicable to your question which involved a trailer over 6,000 lb.

The way I read this, the sway control device you reference would be good for trailers over 2,000 lb. but less than 5,000 lb.

Once the trailer weight reaches 5,000 lb., the sway control device needs to be replaced by a weight distributing hitch. So the device you reference in your post would not be acceptable unless you settled on a trailer weighing less than 5,000 lb.

 

[chilibit]

Actual empirical data from people who have towed with the 200 has been in short supply in this thread. Perhaps Elkaholic has. I will tow a trailer with twin axles (both braked) with a race car. Weight is just 3700 wet for car and trailer combined. I am now redoing my chocks to fine tune my tongue weight. I think is will work as it is very low profile and exposure to sidewinds seems low. But compared to my previous Tundra 5.7 it is way different. I think Brian said this. This LC is the right vehicle for me by and large, but I think I need to leave a little extra time when pulling. If I were using this thread to help with a purchase decision on a 200 to pull an Airstream I would want more real world data. Frankly, I prefer that my tow truck manhandle my trailer.

 

[silverhorse]

They consider their product a weight distribution and anti sway hitch according to who i spoke with. That said and with speaking with an Airstream distributor about this issue. I'm thinking if i get a 25'(7300lb.) or less the 200 would be ok with Hensley hitch . If i go bigger on the trailer i'll have to get an Excursion or add 2 doors to my quad cab

 

[elkaholic]

The following is the "complete" list of recommendations from the LC200 Owner's Manual:

● If the gross trailer weight is over the unbraked TWR, trailer service brakes are required.

● If the gross trailer weight is over 2000 lb. (907 kg), a sway control device with sufficient capacity is required.

● If the gross trailer weight is over 5000 lb. (2268 kg), a weight distributing hitch with sufficient capacity is required.

I did not include the first two in my response above because I did not think them applicable to your question which involved a trailer over 6,000 lb.

The way I read this, the sway control device you reference would be good for trailers over 2,000 lb. but less than 5,000 lb.

Once the trailer weight reaches 5,000 lb., the sway control device needs to be replaced by a weight distributing hitch. So the device you reference in your post would not be acceptable unless you settled on a trailer weighing less than 5,000 lb.

The bullets are additive. At 2000 pounds Mr. T recommends a sway control device. A 5,000 pounds he recommends a shift from a weight carrying (WC) hitch to a weight distributing (WD) type. Sway control is usually a component of a WD type and can be added to a WC type. Sway control and weight-distribution are not mutually exclusive.

The Hensley arrow is a WD hitch that also has a unique sway control system. I have never used one or personally seen one but the do have a good reputation over on rv.net forums.

I personally go a different route with a Haulmark Motorcoach biased on a Freightliner M2-106 chassis for accommodations towing the 200 on a Trailer World 18 foot 10,000 pound capacity aluminum trailer.

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[elkaholic]

Actual empirical data from people who have towed with the 200 has been in short supply in this thread. Perhaps Elkaholic has. I will tow a trailer with twin axles (both braked) with a race car. Weight is just 3700 wet for car and trailer combined. I am now redoing my chocks to fine tune my tongue weight. I think is will work as it is very low profile and exposure to sidewinds seems low. But compared to my previous Tundra 5.7 it is way different. I think Brian said this. This LC is the right vehicle for me by and large, but I think I need to leave a little extra time when pulling. If I were using this thread to help with a purchase decision on a 200 to pull an Airstream I would want more real world data. Frankly, I prefer that my tow truck manhandle my trailer.

My towing to date has been limited to approximately 4000 pounds with a 14x7 tandem axle enclosed trailer. I can tell its back there, but the truck handles it well. The biggest issue is the lack of rear visibility with the trailer being as wide as the 200 with the oem exterior rear view mirrors.

Weight distribution helps a lot with handling. It is not as comfortable a tow as a domestic 3/4 ton or 1 ton LWB truck, but is quite good for what the truck is.

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[elkaholic]

They consider their product a weight distribution and anti sway hitch according to who i spoke with. That said and with speaking with an Airstream distributor about this issue. I'm thinking if i get a 25'(7300lb.) or less the 200 would be ok with Hensley hitch . If i go bigger on the trailer i'll have to get an Excursion or add 2 doors to my quad cab

I'll point out two things to think about then get off the soapbox. First, make sure you work with the max trailer weight (wet weight) of the trailer, not the dry weight. RV manufacturers are pretty well known for publishing dry weights and making it hard to figure out weights that are typical of "on the road" weights. Tis is an important difference, especially if 7,300 pounds is the dry weight.

Secondly (and I do not know how much towing you have done), tow ratings have become standardized I the recent years and so the following rule of thumb is not as clear as it once was. Most rigs I have towed with are more comfortable if you can keep trailer weight below about 80% of the max tow rating. I have towed with everything from a CJ5 ( really sucked at towing) to 40 foot class A motorhomes with towed trailer weights ranging from minuscule to ~150% of the towing rating. Every single combination was much less comfortable and much less reliable when the weight started approaching 90% of the tow rating.

My concern with a 25 foot airstream behind a 200 on a regular basis is weight, length and frontal area with more emphasis on the latter two. It's a pretty large trailer for the 200, but I have no doubt that with a proper setup, it will be doable. For me, a 200 would not be my first choice for that trailer.

Soapbox off

BTW, I have three Toyota documents that give tow ratings for my 2013 from 8100 pounds to 9500 pounds. I do not plan to exceed 8100. I noted in a post above that I have towed approximately 4000 pounds. I did not have the WD torsion bars set up and that would have been helpful. I have not used (or ever used) sway control devices. I have never had any sway issues with are rly loaded trailer ... Improperly loaded, I have had to change shorts and I learned from that one scary experience a long time ago.

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[silverhorse]

Thank you Sam, all info is appreciated here!

".. Improperly loaded, I have had to change shorts and I learned from that one scary experience a long time ago."

My brother, I can relate..........

In the late 80's I had a 71' Bronco, I was pulling a 70's model HEAVY car to the scrap yard.. going down hill the trailer decided to pass me. I jack knifed a couple times then slid across the median ... You just never forget good times like that!

 

[Texas993]

I towed my rig 800 miles yesterday from Dallas to Boulder CO. First long trip towing a heavy trailer with the 200.

A few comments:

You may notice the Tundra 18" wheels with Hankook Dynapro 275/65/18 tires. Those are for offroading since the stock 20" wheels suck for that.

Trailer is 2000 lbs. Car is 3400 lbs. Stuff in the car is about 200 lbs.

LX contains 2 adults, 3 older kids, and 2 small dogs. Maybe 200 lbs of gear inside. 200 lbs of gear in roof box.

Still reading?

Yes, we are fully loaded. Notice the bike on top? The truck did great on the trip. I upped the air pressure a few lbs as they were a bit bouncy. AHC remained in the "N" mode and had no trouble. Smooth ride with plenty of power to maintain 60+ on the mountain passes.

I just wish that it had a gear 4.5. 5th gear often wasnt enough and 4th was too much. We managed 10-11 mpg at about 75 mph. (The posted speed limit).

Very comfortable for the passengers and driver.

 

[bjowett]

Your 4.5 gear statement is spot on.... it is the result of the stock 3.90 flat lander mileage gears. Some 4.10 or 4.30 gears will work wonders for towing. The Tundra and Sequoia models with 5.7 and tow package receive 4.30 gears, and they make a very noticeable difference.

Now stop showing off pictures of your air cooled Ruf.... no one around here want's to see that... or drive it.

 

[Texas993]

Now stop showing off pictures of your air cooled Ruf.... no one around here want's to see that... or drive it.

Good eye!

 

[ggroot30]

I tow a 26ft 6,000lb travel trailer with my 2010 LC, using a weight distributing hitch. Other than the miserable gas mileage (7-10 mpg), it has done great! From winding roads to mountain passes, to D.C. rush hour traffic i have had no complaints.

 

[imerp]

I have just got a 2008 LC and tow a 2005 25 ft airstream safari
I have both weight distributing hitch and anti swayway bar
I was concerned with conflicting weight data so weighed rig on certified scales and tongue weight
Results are with no passengers or driver
Front axle 2980 lb
Rear axle 3680 lb
Airstream tandem axles 5480lb
Tongue weight. 650 lb

I still want to tune the hitch a bit