Hello everyone new here. Question tow capacity

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Purpledawg

Purpledawg

Joined
Nov 11, 2025
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Location
Yosemite
Hi,
Someone suggested I need to be looking for a LC 100 LX 470. So happy to find this site much better than You Tubing for info. I had been searching for a gx 460/ 4 Runner have a small utility trailer to pull a quad, about 4000 lbs.
Need a truck to adventure pull trailer for retriever dog training do forest roads in Sierras etc.

Years ago I used a 92 Explorer and lost a drive shaft pulling through the foothills pulling a 19 ft RV 4400 lbs Truck was rated to 5500 lbs. So I went the over kill and bought a F350 diesel. It's really long, tried but the turns on tight fire /forest roads are tough. Fine for duck club if can find a way to turn around.

Been searching the used car apps for about 6 months. Found a low 1 owner 100K 2000 LC on Craiglist for 27K, seems high but then not. Would it be able to tow 5000 lbs and not break?
 
An Explorer breaking with 4400lbs seems odd. Likely maintenance related and not really an apples to apples comparison. Same is eventually valid with another 25 year old car.
search for "towing" and you'll find 100 thread about it. Here's one example. Overall summary: if nothing is bad with the vehicle the LC will tow it ;-)
Trunk Monkey

Post in thread 'Towing travel trailer'

2023316
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low mileage or not: I'd not pay 27k. Got mine with 250k for 8k... that leaves 19k for baselining :-D
 
Thanks for the shares on towing. It seems the LC 100 is great traveling vehicle and off roader not really able to do much more than the Explorer did for pulling RV's.
The 92 Explorer payload was exceeded with 2 labs, 2 people, gear and pulling a 19 ft Airstream generators. I was advised by the RV dealer it was enough V6 with a tow package but it struggled at the time had about 30K miles. A scary lesson learned always have extra cushion the F350 has so much tork. bigger brakes It;s just not a truck for the backroads.
 
Well, that is quite a jump going from a '92 Explorer to an F350 Diesel. Yes, the Explorer was probably very much at the edge of its capabilities with a 160 hp 220lb-ft V6 and 3500lb towing capacity. I didn't see a 5k rating for that... I had a '98 GMC Jimmy with the towing package (rated at 5500lb capacity) and 190hp 250lb-ft and it handled family, dog and a popup trailer, but it was not fun in the mountains. I went to a '14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland with the Hemi (360hp 390lb-ft) with the eight speed transmission, towing and off-road 2 packages, and that was much better and got much better fuel economy. It was a great vehicle. Too bad Jeep doesn't make anything comparable anymore. I miss that. I would highly recommend one of those. Other than the possibility of failing lifters, those things are actually very reliable. Mine was going strong at 75k miles with just routine maintenance when it went away a few years ago.

As far as the Land Cruiser (230hp, 320lbft) goes, it will be WAY more capable than the Explorer and has a 6500lb tow rating. The fuel economy will be awful pulling the trailer, and slightly less so when now, but it will be a much more pleasant experience. That said, looking at a 20+ year old vehicle for a tow rig may not be the best idea. YMMV
 
Look at the Nissan Armada or Infiniti QX80. 8,500lb towing capacity, and is in your budget. Very compliant ride, and could do all the off-roading you are asking for.
 
i know I’m still fairly new here, but these first time posts are becoming so tiresome.

My Tundra is my tow mule. My Land Cruiser is NOT.
 
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They'll tow but it a 100 wouldn't be my first choice. Especially the 4 speeds. Definitely wouldn't spend $30k on one either.
 
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