More Comparison Questions LC/LX

[wngrog]

OK I have read the FAQ on the LX v LC and most of it is creature comfort stuff and how good the dealerships for Lexus are

Now, here are my thoughts from the information I have read hear and the experience I have had.

What I am looking for is a LC/LX for around $20,000. It will be used monthly as my tow vehicle. Mostly towing a 5000# load about 4 hours each way to go to the local wheeling spots.

I want a nice truck that I can tow with, take friends out to dinner in (I have two company cars now and they are gay), and do light wheeling (katemcy, Moab, Colorado, Camping in general)

I want to keep the stock tires to tow and get some 18" wheels and some Toyos to run around town with and to wheel.

The LX is attractive in that I can lower it, stick the trailer behind it and haul ass.

Get home, raise it up (bypass the deal like Christo did and run it in HIGH) and drive around on some Nitto 325/60/18's (33's)

Thoughts? Am I missing anything here?

Is it really worth it to get a 2000 for the traction control and the stereo?

There are lots of 1998/99 in my price range, yet very few 200's in my range.

I want to put a locker in the rear and leave the front open. (I was with Christo when he grenaded that CV in Canada )

Riding in Christo's LX through the backwoods of Canada REALLY sold me on the LX.

Those of you that are Die Hard LC fans, let me know what I am missing besides the fact that the 98/99 TLCs had lockers in the rear.

I really like the suspension on the LX and I saw how bad we thrashed the one in Canada with Christo and it held up like a champ.

Discuss

 

[SINCITY100]

If your ultimate goal is to PUT a locker in the rear...go with a 2000 w/trac and have the best of both worlds...

I think many will agree, TRAC by itself can tackle almost anything you put in front of a 100..add a rear locker and you have a superior rig with 90% of the capability of a front/rear locked 100...only you can EASILY steer it where you want to go..

I wouldnt trade my VSC/TRAC equipped 100 for anything, well OK maybe a 100 with VSC/TRAC AND the 5 speed !!

 

[wngrog]

So the locker is really not that necessary for a light wheeler with a 2000 model? Is the TRAC system in the LC and LX?

 

[dieselbigot]

Nolen,

As long as you don't want to tow more than 5,000lbs you will be a happy camper. I have posted before about the limits of the 100s when it comes to towing. My old buggy and trailer combo weighed in about 5,500 and that was the limit for sure. I towed 17hrs from Sacramento to Moab last May and it did pretty good....even through the really steep grades between SLC & Price UT.

What you are describing is exactly what I use my 100 for. It's the occasional tow rig, light duty wheeler, out to dinner w/ friends rig and I absolutley love it. In fact, I've had it about a year and I like it more each trip.

As for the LC vs LX....either would be great. In my mind there is probably less s*** to go wrong on the LC than the LX and on that alone I'd opt for the Cruiser, but then again...I am kinda a Cruiser snob

 

[wngrog]

Nolen,

As long as you don't want to tow more than 5,000lbs you will be a happy camper. I have posted before about the limits of the 100s when it comes to towing. My old buggy and trailer combo weighed in about 5,500 and that was the limit for sure. I towed 17hrs from Sacramento to Moab last May and it did pretty good....even through the really steep grades between SLC & Price UT.

What you are describing is exactly what I use my 100 for. It's the occasional tow rig, light duty wheeler, out to dinner w/ friends rig and I absolutley love it. In fact, I've had it about a year and I like it more each trip.

As for the LC vs LX....either would be great. In my mind there is probably less s*** to go wrong on the LC than the LX and on that alone I'd opt for the Cruiser, but then again...I am kinda a Cruiser snob

Yeah, I read all your excellent feedback during my thought buildup on this setup.

I, not being a Cruiser snob in the least , think that the adjustability of the suspension would be such a plus for what I do.

You tow with 33's right?

 

[wngrog]

Is the TRAC system in the LC and LX?

I think I figured this out as a "yes".............

 

[tabraha]

I tow with 33's and around 5000lbs without issue. I like the automatic leveling suspension too. It's nice to not be "lights in the sky" when having just a little tongue weight!

 

[wngrog]

I tow with 33's and around 5000lbs without issue. I like the automatic leveling suspension too. It's nice to not be "lights in the sky" when having just a little tongue weight!

Without issue........does it work extra hard though?

What size are the stock tires? 31's?

Do you tow in OD or in 3rd with 33's?

 

[tabraha]

Nolen, I don't even know what the stock sizes are, I changed to 285's a week after I bought it! I tow in OD with the 33's. The ECU is pretty good about knowing when to get out of OD. If I see a real steep grade I'll pop it out of OD. I don't feel that the vehicle works too hard at all.

I pulled 7000 pounds from Houston to South Carolina and while our Tundra pulled it's load (around 5000) alot easier, the LX hung in there. On that trip I drove from Houston to Alabama in OD without problem and from there on to SC I was in 3rd. 'Bama through to SC has some VERY steep pulls. I'd do it again if needed without hesitation. It's a pretty stout drivetrain IMO.

 

[Gene3x]

Nolen, I don't even know what the stock sizes are, I changed to 285's a week after I bought it! I tow in OD with the 33's. The ECU is pretty good about knowing when to get out of OD. If I see a real steep grade I'll pop it out of OD. I don't feel that the vehicle works too hard at all.

I pulled 7000 pounds from Houston to South Carolina and while our Tundra pulled it's load (around 5000) alot easier, the LX hung in there. On that trip I drove from Houston to Alabama in OD without problem and from there on to SC I was in 3rd. 'Bama through to SC has some VERY steep pulls. I'd do it again if needed without hesitation. It's a pretty stout drivetrain IMO.

I love to hear that! It puts my worries away for good about towing my heavy ass boat!

 

[Gene3x]

By the way has anyone without load leveling used those big black Timber bump stops or aftermarket bags in the rear springs?

 

[wngrog]

By the way has anyone without load leveling used those big black Timber bump stops or aftermarket bags in the rear springs?

I used air ride air bags with in cab controller on my FZJ-80 and they worked great when you leaded it down. The only problem is if you used it off road the hoses would pull out of the bags when you flexed the truck out.

 

[Gene3x]

Would longer hoses only cause problems?

 

[sleeoffroad]

I have a better idea, I bring down my 02 to roundup. I will put a OME in with airbags so you can tow. You can give me the check there and I will fly back

5k towing with a stock LX is not going to be fun. It can be done. Joe (white taco on 40's) tows his truck with a LX. Slow, but it works. Problem is the short wheelbase and the coil sprung rear end.

 

[Gohawks63]

By the way has anyone without load leveling used those big black Timber bump stops or aftermarket bags in the rear springs?

Where can I find more info on this? Are they easy to install/remove?

Do you install them only when needed and then remove them?

As I posted in another thread, the back end sags a bit when towing my boat. I can live with it towing in the short distance from my house to the lake. I only do that once or twice a year since the boat is kept at the lake and I only tow it home to clean it up at the beginning and end of season.

I'm more concerned is I'm taking it on a long trip.

 

[dieselbigot]

Yeah, I read all your excellent feedback during my thought buildup on this setup.

I, not being a Cruiser snob in the least , think that the adjustability of the suspension would be such a plus for what I do.

You tow with 33's right?

Yep...33's. The stock tires only lasted 24hrs after I bought it so I don't know what difference smaller tires would make

 

[Gene3x]

Where can I find more info on this? Are they easy to install/remove?

Do you install them only when needed and then remove them?

As I posted in another thread, the back end sags a bit when towing my boat. I can live with it towing in the short distance from my house to the lake. I only do that once or twice a year since the boat is kept at the lake and I only tow it home to clean it up at the beginning and end of season.

I'm more concerned is I'm taking it on a long trip.

I am in the same boat (no pun intended) as you and have the same stock rig as you. I put stiffer shocks, a stiffer torsion bar, and these Timber bump stops I found on my Trooper and it did wonders towing with the vehicle. Never have put Bags but I am sure that I will on my LC. You can look them up on the web many places.
The bags are made by two or three different companies which I cannot think of off the top of my head. They are orange and cylindrical in shape to fit inside the springs.

 

[wngrog]

Do all 98-99 Landcruisers come with the rear locker?

Does the 2000 LX come with the TRAC system?

Still trying to decide which to concentrate my efforts on looking for............

 

[calamaridog]

Do all 98-99 Landcruisers come with the rear locker?

No, but most I looked at had the locker.

Does the 2000 LX come with the TRAC system?

Yes.

Still trying to decide which to concentrate my efforts on looking for............

Buy the nicest one you can afford and make it work for you.

 

[wngrog]

Buy the nicest one you can afford and make it work for you.

It would be much easier to do that if I was not going to have to drop 5K at Slees the day I get it