LX470 - Minor Build & Unexpected Challenge

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KMGHMG

KMGHMG

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Nov 14, 2010
Threads
28
Messages
172
Location
San Antonio, TX
Hey Guys,

I've had an 80 for three or four years now, and I added a 100 to the family this week. After searching for a couple of months, I picked up a 1999 LX470 with 120k on the clock here in San Antonio. It has spent pretty much its whole life here and has been dealer serviced the whole time. Very clean. All scheduled maintenance done. 100% stock. It even came with a transferrable extended warranty that the previous owner bought (which I'm sure I'll find a way to void if I haven't already). It has spent its whole life ferrying kids and groceries. That's about to change!

The plan is for this to be a project for my boys (ages 13 and 8) and me to have some fun with. We're pretty handy, but by no means are we LC experts.

I'll most likely make it my daily driver. (My '07 crew cab Silverado can't hold a candle to this.) We'd like to add a few things...sliders, roof rack, front bumper...maybe more if we have the time and gumption. And, I'm hoping you guys will have a solution to one particular challenge that I didn't expect. I think it's pretty unique/interesting. (More on that shortly.)

Within an hour of getting it home we had the running boards off. Within 24 hours she had new BFG 285/75R16's. Before and after pics are below.


Screen Shot 2014-08-18 at 10.19.32 PM.webp
Screen Shot 2014-08-19 at 10.38.05 PM.webp


Here's the unexpected challenge. We bought the 100 in part to tow behind an RV. I know it's no problem doing that. Many thanks to Christo Slee and others for proving it. BUT, we really want to replace the stock front bumper with something better. I assumed this would be simple, but it's not. The reason is that Christo told me today he knows of no way to install both a replacement bumper and the necessary hardware to hook up the tow bar to the front of the 100. I asked if there was any way he knew of to modify an ARB, Slee, or TJM bumper to work, and he said no. I figured if anyone knew, he would. Maybe it's simply not feasible. I'd really like to find a solution though.

Below is a diagram of the towing hardware that mounts to the front of the truck from Roadmaster, which was suggested by Christo. Below that you'll see an option from Blue Ox where I'd install a base plate. Maybe that'll work. I'm not certain that Christo knew about the Blue Ox base plate...I sure didn't.

ROADMASTER OPTION


Screen Shot 2014-08-19 at 11.28.46 PM.webp


BLUE OX OPTION

Below are two screen shots. The first is the Blue Ox base plate, and the second is the installation instructions.


Screen Shot 2014-08-20 at 12.03.25 AM.webp

Screen Shot 2014-08-20 at 12.04.21 AM.webp


My preference would be to install an ARB Combination Bar, but it doesn't matter to me that much...anything is better than stock! Any ideas on how we could make this happen?

Matt
 
Just an idea, but considering that some of the aftermarket bumpers out there come with bungs for adding D-rings (for EXTREME pulling mind you!), I don't see why you can't have a "Y" bar made with a coupler and a place to add some chain, then just pin it to both the bungs on the front of the bumper. Or if the bumper doesn't have them, get someone to weld on some 1/2" or 3/4" plate bungs with holes, on the front of the bumper at the frame mounting points.
Considering that off-road bumpers are made for yanking severally stuck vehicles out of mud, holes, etc. one would think that they should be able to tow from them.

Does this help?
 
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r2m - Sounds like a great suggestion. You mention that some of the bumpers come with bungs. I'll do my homework to see which ones would have that design. If you have any suggestions about which ones to look at specifically, please let me know.

dubitup - Thanks for the idea. I just emailed Mike to gauge his interest.

Overall, this seems like it would be pretty simple, but Christo immediately discounted the possibility...even when I mentioned modifying an existing bumper (ARB, Slee, etc.).

Thanks guys!

Matt
 
OR pick up a small aluminum trailer. Problem solved.
 
I can't see why something safe and appropriate could not be fabricated. Pretty much all the bumpers out there tie the recovery points directly to the frame in one way or another--instead of recovery points just have receiver slots for the tow hitch.
I'll second the recommendation to talk to Mike at BumpIt.
 
Engine er - Thanks for the idea. I gave that a lot of thought. The problem is that the trailer becomes a hassle once we're at our various destinations... Gotta find a place to put it. My folks travel in their RV pretty much full time and have advised us that having a trailer to deal with would be a problem at a lot of places.

Hayes - Thanks. I agree. Should be simple. Hoping to hear from Mike. Could be an interesting project for him.
 
I want to see the beast of the RV that will be towing a 100. Sounds like a sweet set-up. I am jealous.


...via IH8MUD app
 
To expand on what has already been posted I'd recommend you Google "bumper shackle mounts" and look at images. You can get an idea of what is available to potentially modify an already produced bumper, should you decide to pursue that option.

Good Luck. That would be incredibly cool!
 
I installed my tow bar minus all the brackets. Bolted the flat plates directly to my bumper frame. You could do this too. Would work just fine. I live full time in a greyhound coach converted into a home. I pull the truck all over without issues.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1408586403.353149.webp
 
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Dubitup - Mike at Bump It emailed back to say he is interested in trying to engineer something. I'll talk with him in a day or so (crazy schedule next two days). Thanks for the tip.

GaFJC - Haven't bought the RV yet but am looking every day for the right one. It will be in the 42-foot class with a 400-500 hp diesel. I was surprised to find that many in that class have 15,000 pound hitches and can very easily tow the 100.

Wasatch Jay - Thanks for the heads-up on the bumper shackles. Those look like a very good option. I'm having a hard time determining whether or not the ARB bumper (or similar) has thick enough steel to mount them to and then safely pull the 100 all over the place. Any thoughts? My 80 has an ARB, but it's sitting in a barn 200 miles away so I can't get my eyes on it.

Muddy Bean - Cool setup! Can you provide more details about the tow bar brand and model? Also, did you go back with the stock bumper, or do you have an ARB or similar bumper? Can you post a picture of the completed setup? Any details you can provide would be terrific.

Matt
 
dubitup said:
Matt,
Glad hear you spoke with Mike. I have custom front and rear bumpers coming my way from BIOR in a few weeks if not less. I have his sliders and diff drop now and his work is great.
Alex
Click to expand...
Great to know, Alex. Thanks!
 
I imagine that Christo turned you down, not because of the viability, but rather he would not want to be liable for any custom setup.

I like r2m's idea from a aesthetic and simplicity perspective. Would seem that something like the Slee Blueberry bumper would easily be up to the task. The winch is mounted with feet directly to the bumper on that model. And given the fact that it is incredibly overbuilt, with integrated bungs... That would be an easily workable option in my mind.
 
FWIW, I have towed a lot of different vehicles behind a RV so have a little experience with this. I would not modify any of the 2 piece bumpers to tow from unless the mounts are attached directly to the frame.

There is a chance to bolt the Blue Ox to the bottom of the frame on some of the bumpers. I was not aware they had a mount. That is going to be trail and error.

As for our Blueberry, the way it is constructed would not work very well for a tow setup. The height of the tow setup is pretty critical to the RV. The bottom of the bumper is not flat, so bolting something to it, to the factory spots would not work.

As for producing something like this, I thnk my liability insurance company might have a little problem with it.
 
But take another look at the Roadmaster kit designed for the 100. It doesn't even have a crossbar/plate. It's held on by 3 bolts per side. The tow bar attachment points are ~8" in front of the frame horn and about 2" lower.

Reposting the Roadmaster kit and then pics of your very own Blueberry for comparison.

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