Towing capacity

[deltapine1]

As I originally posted IMO that is a bigger load than a 60 should pull. I will add I did not feel uncomfortable about braking. I have all new brake compnents and silicone fluid and it does well. The load I pulled yesterday was heavier than the buggy.

 

[Elbert]

Thanks for the input, guys.
the following things are in the works right now for the tow rig conversion

400hp Z06 LS1
4L80E tranny with heavy duty external cooler as well as the one in the custom aluminum radiator
custom width dana 60 with disc brakes for the rear
prodigy brake controller
rear air bags
weight distributing hitch
the FJ already has ome heavy duty springs on it front and rear and ARB lockers
I also took out the interior and put dynamat and rv aluminum backed jute pad throughout the entire Cruiser and I have a set of ambulance doors on the way from down under. I also retro fitted new gauges in the dash so every thing would work with the computer on the LS1 and still look stock
here are a few pics
thanks again for the input

where are you on this engine swap? will the hood close given where the picture shows the radiator?

 

[sporty]

I dont know what's the problem towing with a 60/62 over there, here we got a towweight of 4000kg on the vehicleregistrationpapers on a hj61 and it hauls other 60s from all over europe. Some even get 7000kg with a pinhitch and airbrakes. Landcruisers are the most wanted heavy haulers in europe.

 

[lehiguy]

You need power, brakes and adequate suspension. I have towed 5000 to 7000 pounds on many ocasions without issue, but I have all of the above-mentioned pre-requisites. I once towed a Kubota tractor on a tandem axle trailer with the stock drivetrain. The OME heavies did thier job, I just struggled like crazy to get the load under way with the anemic 2F and the stupid-tall first gear ratio of the stock box. Stopping was no fun either. I got the feeling that I incurred more wear and tear in those ten miles than I had in the previous two years.

 

[kim]

I towed 6000 lbs covering a distance of 15,000 km (9,000 miles) over the course of 6 weeks on a trip from the west coast of Canada to the east coast of Canada and back in a stock HJ60. I had NO breaking issues but the trailer had trailer brakes. I had no suspension issues. The truck wasn't pushed around at all.

The only issues I had were electronic, 24v to 12v converter providing lighting to the trailer and this turned out to be related to a 5 to 4 wire converter. The other 'issue' was lack of horse power. I had all kinds of torque, pick a gear and you'll go. However, I used 2 low on one particular mountain pass. I also never saw 60 miles per hour on any portion of the trip.

If you aren't in a big hurry, you'll be fine, IMO.

YMMV.

 

[Elbert]

I don't think there are as many 3/4 ton and 1 ton pickup trucks in Europe as there are in the US.

Regardless of what a vehcicle can move its just as important that it be able to stop. In regard to stopping the FJ60 land cruiser is not a heavy hauler in my view at all. If you have to gear down from 4th to 3rd with no load at all to climbs hills on the interstate then thats an issue too.



My point is partially safety and partially power levels. Its not safe to tow heavy loads with a FJ60.... or HF61... I say good luck to the guys who do that... I dont' want to be in front of a person in a FJ60 coming down any kind of major hill or mountain road with them towing something heavy.



You can't exceed the tow capacity of the hitch, the reciver, the ball, and the vehicle and be safe.

 

[sporty]

Well that's true! we dont have a lot of U.S 1ton trucks over here and every trailer above 750kg has a brake system and a registration.
And the 4ton rating is a factory (toyota) classification over here.

 

[ntsqd]

I think that we are spoiled over here. We're so used to having trucks of that size and ability that we tend to think that we need a truck of that size and ability to move much of anything. The rest of the world doesn't have nearly as many of them and they seem to get along just fine.

I'm willing to bet part of the weight classification difference is the full float vs. semi float rear axle. Except in later Suburbans and some vans, semi-floats are 1/2t only axles. 3/4t and 1t trucks have full floats.

 

[Elbert]

I'm sure the rules are different in the US vs. Europe... but in any case you can put a lot of weight on a trailer (which may or may not have the proper brakes on it) and you still have a tow vehicle that has inadequate power and inadequate brakes itself. Then you start to look around as to what trailer hitch systems even support the Land cruiser (frame mounted hitches), rear spring rates...etc

Notice all the discussions on this board about the stock brakes for the 60 and the lack of power for the 60...all of which I agree with. So given that...at least in my mind...how does the same vehicle become a good tow vehicle?

TO me towing is moving the weight safely....which means I should be able to do the speed limit or at least a reasonable speed, maintain control of the vehicle at all times and be able to stop safety.


Just where I'm coming from.

 

[ntsqd]

I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm simply pointing out that other localities seem to be able get things done without having the type of trucks available to the general population that we in the US have. How they do it I've no idea, but it seems reasonable that vehicles like FJ60's do some of that work that we here would sooner use a 3/4t or 1ton to do. So someone's view of what is safe and viable is skewed, and perhaps both are.

 

[172heavy]

I do not own a cruiser yet, I have a 2003 jeep wrangler which I love. I am considering getting rid of it for a cruiser because it will not tow over 2k lbs. Is the legal limit 3500 lbs? I will never exceed the legal limit due to the fact that in the US if you cause an accident while going against the OEM limits you will be charged with negligent homicide if someone is killed.

Will these things tow a small boat or camper safely?

 

[Mace]

I'm not disagreeing with you, I'm simply pointing out that other localities seem to be able get things done without having the type of trucks available to the general population that we in the US have. How they do it I've no idea, but it seems reasonable that vehicles like FJ60's do some of that work that we here would sooner use a 3/4t or 1ton to do. So someone's view of what is safe and viable is skewed, and perhaps both are.

Same logic that allows some medications to be sold overseas and not here.

If you are towing 8K with a cruiser and get in an accident, the police can give you a citation for exceeding the weight rating. Even if the accident is not your fault.