GX Twin Turbo or LC 250 hybrid engine

[Romer]

I'm always surprise how much talk of towing there is on this forum. Obviously it's important to a good contingent of folks here, but I don't know that I've ever seen an 80 or 100 series on the road towing anything of serious weight. Actually, I almost only see trucks exclusively towing larger trailers, so I'm somewhat surprised to hear that tow rating is a significant factor for anyone considering this size SUV in the first place. I guess I feel "if you want to tow, get a full size truck and stop talking about the LC 250 / GX". It'd be like me being upset it's 0-60 time isn't under 5 seconds... well, that's not what it's intended for.

You can criticize anything on personal preference, but I think a lot of these threads fail to discuss is "how will it meet the demands for which it is intended" vice just complaining it's not something else. It outperforms the Bronco, Wrang/Glad/Cherokee, and 4 Runner in towing which are some main competitors to the LC Prado. Why are we upset about these numbers again?

I do use my cruiser for what it was intended for and tow a heavy Australian Camper. Most of the Australian owners also use a Cruiser (200 or Prado) as a tow vehicle. Some diesel and some petrol

It is a personal preference thing and my only concern with towing with the 250 is going over Eisenhower and Vail Passes in Colorado, which I do multiple times a year. In Fact Tuesday I am heading out to enjoy the San Rafael Swell in Utah. I will keep my 200 series for a while and wait until there is a year or two of real time data on both. I am really interested to see what the GX550 V6 Hybrid will be in a couple of years they have teased.

 

[Land Caesar]

I do use my cruiser for what it was intended for and tow a heavy Australian Camper. Most of the Australian owners also use a Cruiser (200 or Prado) as a tow vehicle. Some diesel and some petrol

It is a personal preference thing and my only concern with towing with the 250 is going over Eisenhower and Vail Passes in Colorado, which I do multiple times a year. In Fact Tuesday I am heading out to enjoy the San Rafael Swell in Utah. I will keep my 200 series for a while and wait until there is a year or two of real time data on both. I am really interested to see what the GX550 V6 Hybrid will be in a couple of years they have teased.
View attachment 3439687View attachment 3439689View attachment 3439697View attachment 3439699

What camper is that?
Can you show please

I want to use the 250 to tow
As it should be able to

I think the point was… if real deal towing rig is needed, best to obtain a Tundra .

I’m willing to bet the trailer you use, its under 6,000lbs ?

 

[Corbet]

Ken can answer more accurately but I believe his is 3700 dry, 5500 GVWR

Hybrid Off Road Caravans | Kimberley Kampers

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[Romer]

What camper is that?
Can you show please

I want to use the 250 to tow
As it should be able to

I think the point was… if real deal towing rig is needed, best to obtain a Tundra .

I’m willing to bet the trailer you use, its under 6,000lbs ?

Ken can answer more accurately but I believe his is 3700 dry, 5500 GVWR

Hybrid Off Road Caravans | Kimberley Kampers

Hybrid Off Road Caravans Offer the Perfect Blend of Robustness and Luxury for Your Adventures. Explore How You Can Travel Without Limits.

kimberleykampers.com.au

Corbet is correct

There is also a link to it in my signature

it is under 6000 pounds. You do want margin in that. Again my concern with the 250 is the steep up hill Mtn passes where the Hybrid Battery will deplete with a long way to go. It likely will still get me over the pass at a much lower speed than I care for That is why I have the 200 instead of the 100 series LC I had when I bought the camper.

 

[Rednexus]

Nope, never did buy one. But many thousands of miles in multiple prius’ and a Camry hybrid. Never had any interest in owning a hybrid in a car, and would never dream of an SUV or truck with one. The math doesn’t add up environmentally or fiscally. I’m probably one of those people that will resist it until I’m taxed out of an ICE.

Funny, reading your post reminded me of a post I made on BikeForums a 10+ years ago questioning and lamenting the advent of hydraulic disc brakes on road/gravel bikes. Something along the lines of "why bother....cable brakes work well enough....easy to fix....no need to change fluid.....no risk of overheating and boiling the fluid".

This past weekend I was again amazed at the insane stopping power and modulation (and safety) of the hydraulic disc brakes on my gravel bike on multiple wicked-steep, loose gravel descents. Turns out the engineers were right - the new system was better and the benefits far outweighed the detractions. I can't imagine going back to the old system, and it took all of 2 rides with the new to convert me.

 

[Land Caesar]

Funny, reading your post reminded me of a post I made on BikeForums a 10+ years ago questioning and lamenting the advent of hydraulic disc brakes on road/gravel bikes. Something along the lines of "why bother....cable brakes work well enough....easy to fix....no need to change fluid.....no risk of overheating and boiling the fluid".

This past weekend I was again amazed at the insane stopping power and modulation (and safety) of the hydraulic disc brakes on my gravel bike on multiple wicked-steep, loose gravel descents. Turns out the engineers were right - the new system was better and the benefits far outweighed the detractions. I can't imagine going back to the old system, and it took all of 2 rides with the new to convert me.

It’s been said.. and I say it again

Those that don’t own a Hybrid… don’t know.

The Battery dosnt deplete up a incline.

And then… it drops in power.

That’s not how the system works.

Say what you will… yet drive a hybrid/ full and loaded up an incline.

Pay attention to the power system display.

 

[on the rocks]

I do use my cruiser for what it was intended for and tow a heavy Australian Camper. Most of the Australian owners also use a Cruiser (200 or Prado) as a tow vehicle. Some diesel and some petrol

It is a personal preference thing and my only concern with towing with the 250 is going over Eisenhower and Vail Passes in Colorado, which I do multiple times a year. In Fact Tuesday I am heading out to enjoy the San Rafael Swell in Utah. I will keep my 200 series for a while and wait until there is a year or two of real time data on both. I am really interested to see what the GX550 V6 Hybrid will be in a couple of years they have teased.

X2, I think the TT6 hybrid would be something to get if anything like the LX is suggesting. Even de-tuned.

After looking at your post I used my good buddy google so no idea on accuracy but if they use the same formula for the 250 as they did on the 200, they leave room for human and cargo weigh. 12% tongue weight of a 8500lb towing capacity comes in @ 1020 leaving 600lbs of payload to use on top of the trailer for the 200.
Still not sure I would long-haul a loaded 6000# 250 if that is their final tow number but seeing this it looks more promising.

 

[Romer]

with all the armor tools and spare parts, I likely exceed that number on my 200

 

[JohnPW]

I'm always surprise how much talk of towing there is on this forum. Obviously it's important to a good contingent of folks here, but I don't know that I've ever seen an 80 or 100 series on the road towing anything of serious weight. Actually, I almost only see trucks exclusively towing larger trailers, so I'm somewhat surprised to hear that tow rating is a significant factor for anyone considering this size SUV in the first place. I guess I feel "if you want to tow, get a full size truck and stop talking about the LC 250 / GX". It'd be like me being upset it's 0-60 time isn't under 5 seconds... well, that's not what it's intended for.

You can criticize anything on personal preference, but I think a lot of these threads fail to discuss is "how will it meet the demands for which it is intended" vice just complaining it's not something else. It outperforms the Bronco, Wrang/Glad/Cherokee, and 4 Runner in towing which are some main competitors to the LC Prado. Why are we upset about these numbers again?

Come to Florida, you will see SUV’s of all descriptions towing trailers and especially boats. I bought my LC200 specifically to be my tow vehicle for a 21’ fishing boat (the LC200 replaced a Chevy Tahoe). I didn’t need or want a full size pickup, and I utilize the interior space of the LC with family and gear. I think regional differences come into play in how much towing an SUV is likely to do. If I ever replace my 200 it will probably be the GX550 because of towing capability.

 

[Phillyd2]

Florida towing is nothing like Colorado or even Pennsylvania towing.

 

[TWILLY]

Sequoia is now Toyota's wagon for heavier towing duty.

 

[JohnPW]

Florida towing is nothing like Colorado or even Pennsylvania towing.

Sure. Flat as can be here, easy towing. But big boats are being towed by SUV’s regularly. 4Runners towing at capacity. A 23’ deep vee boat will weigh 6 or 7000 lbs loaded with full fuel and gear, being towed by v8 SUV’s all the time down here. The LC200 tows great. Not sure about a LC250.

 

[Corbet]

Sure. Flat as can be here, easy towing. But big boats are being towed by SUV’s regularly. 4Runners towing at capacity. A 23’ deep vee boat will weigh 6 or 7000 lbs loaded with full fuel and gear, being towed by v8 SUV’s all the time down here. The LC200 tows great. Not sure about a LC250.

Flat and at sea level. I’m sure the LC-250 will do anything asked of it FL. Pulling a trailer up I-70 out of Denver at 80MPH for 40 miles uphill is a completely different task. I’m still feeling pretty good about it. The turbo will make up a lot of ground over the normally aspirated old V8 when over 10,000’ in elevation. The only question I have is if pushed hard enough will you actually drain the battery and where is that line? For me I’m sure it will offer more power than my turbo’ed 1FZ, and 4 more transmission gears.

 

[Corbet]

Here is a mountain towing test of the Tundra that I thought was pretty good. On I-70 from Silverthorn to the tunnel. 10,000lbs and the Tundra didn’t seem to struggle at all. What was strange to me was that the dash did not indicate any electric assist after initial acceleration. I have no idea if that is normal or if the battery was too drained. It was always at or above 50% charge. If the 250 can do the same with 6000lbs you all should be happy. Everyone‘s expectations are different.

 

[Jetboy]

It should tow at least as well as a 3rd gen 4Runner/Prado 90 right? I saw this in Houston on the highway. Not sure how it ever stops. What we can learn here: Tow a wagon instead of a trailer = payload problem solved!!

 

[Rednexus]

It should tow at least as well as a 3rd gen 4Runner/Prado 90 right? I saw this in Houston on the highway. Not sure how it ever stops. What we can learn here: Tow a wagon instead of a trailer = payload problem solved!!
View attachment 3440346

LOL, where in live in eastern Missouri is on one of the major routes from TX (DFW/Houston/Dallas/etc) up towards Chicago/Ohio/MI/etc. I see those guys heading south ALL THE TIME, usually with 3-4 junker rigs daisy chained together. Frankly a 3rd gen 4Runner is a better tow rig than they usually have, often it's something like a wrecked CRV towing a Kia Soul, with a Ford Focus behind the Soul. The seem sketchy AF....I have no idea how it is legal. Guessing they are buying these rusty junkers at auto auctions up north and flipping them to unsuspecting Texans who don't know to look for rust/crustiness.

 

[elbarto]

North? lol I’ve always assumed these caravans went south into Mexico

 

[Cortez the Killer]

I have a ‘22 Tundra SR5 TRD OR TTV6 non hybrid. You have NOTHING to worry about that power train pulling a trailer up I70. My truck is rated for something like 11,500 lbs. Now there is much more that just the engine when dealing with towing capacity, but the GX version will be a much better towing machine I would reckon.

What I am not understanding is why anyone would or would not be buying a 250 based on towing capacity. It’s fine for it’s class of vehicle. It’s not a Sequoia or 300.

 

[Land Caesar]

My 100 series towed everything I needed. Including a 5500lbs dump trailer full of logs… on the Highway. Up incline it was working, yet did it. All with 33’s

The new 250, has more horses and ft lbs.
I’d suspect it will tow moderately without much issue.

 

[Brown98LC]

we will be getting the non hybrid version of the 250 here in the Middle East, at least for the time being.
What do you guys think? Would you have gotten the non hybrid version if it was available in your market?

that torque difference is huge!

we will get the diesel as well but without the 48v system and no power difference