Towing question/dilemma

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greenbeast

greenbeast

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I own a 2006 100 series. I found a small Lance travel trailer and am curious about my options.I have reviewed the towing capacity and tongue weight. Here are my options:

Lance 1685. Its around 18" long GVWR 5400 lbs, Dry Weight 3823

Lance 1885 Its around 21 foot long. GVWR 5700, dry weight 4143 lbs

I very confident the 1685 is probably our best option to pull around the mountains but the 1885 is very tempting.

I'm curious to hear from those who have towed some with their 100 series. Whats everyones opinions on pulling one of these.
 
I would say that the towing experience power wise for a 2006/07 vs earlier years is very different. I've personally towed 5500 lbs and my LX shrugged it off like nothing, even climbing hills on 33's. Length shouldn't be an issues either at 21' long for the cruiser.

The weights are pretty darn close for two models, and still within the 6500 rating of the landy, which IMO is conservative. I've personally been considering 25' airstreams which based on my research shouldn't be a problem. While I don't anticipate power or stability problems, there's always additional mods that can improve either aspect. Hensley type hitch for sway. Headers, gears, downsize overall diameter of tires for power.

I say get what you really want, if you really want the extra space.

My towing experience here - https://forum.ih8mud.com/100-series-cruisers/518589-lx470-tows-effortlessly.html
 
We tow this with our 2000 Landcruiser

DSC_9902.JPG


GVWR 5800 lbs, Dry Weight 4200

As long as there isn't a strong headwind its fine. With a strong headwind I got 7 mpg at 60mph. Otherwise more like 8-9 mpg. I don't think the weight between your 2 choices will make much difference with a proper WDH and brake controller setup - the frontal surface of the trailer makes the biggest difference at speed.
 
We tow our boat with our 2000 LX. Boat+trailer is about 4500ish dry. With a full tank of fuel and all the crap in the boat/added to it, Id say it comes in around 5000-5500 . I would say it pulls it fairly well. Its stable and doesnt really have any trouble stopping the extra weight. On the highway, it seems to be working kinda hard.

On hills, it definitely struggles. If your towing in the mountains being lighter is definitely the way to go IMO, unless you dont mind going really slow and downshifting.
 
I think towing in the mountains is going to stink with either trailer but thats why they make passing lanes.
I'm gonna go this weekend and take test nap on each bed of each model as thats the only difference besides length.
I'm so use to pulling something with my 3/4 ton ford diesel the cruiser is new territory.

Gas mileage is something I don't even care about. If I really was concerned the trailer wouldnt be an option. Gotta pay a little price to have some fun!
 
The issue with gas mileage is less about the cost of the gas and more about how often you have to stop and fill the tank!

I see that you are in Steamboat. Last year I towed my car trailer, roof box, gear for a month, 5 people and 2 dogs with my former LX470. It did great. I even pulled it over Independence Pass (both ways) as well as other passes along the way. It pulled fine and I was always able to maintain the speed limit.

This year I will make the same trip in the LX570. It should be even better!
 
Once you get over the pass from here its literally downhill most of the way anywhere else. It just stinks going home!

Once you have driven a 62 halfway across the country the 100 is nothing on the filling up! We just pulled our little m416, loaded down anbd car packed to hilt with dogs and kids and crap and more crap to Moab and back. Never even knew it was back there.

Im sure it will do fine within reason with trailer and life will be much more comfortable with the kids and dogs.
 
greenbeast said:
I think towing in the mountains is going to stink with either trailer but thats why they make passing lanes.
I'm gonna go this weekend and take test nap on each bed of each model as thats the only difference besides length.
I'm so use to pulling something with my 3/4 ton ford diesel the cruiser is new territory.

Gas mileage is something I don't even care about. If I really was concerned the trailer wouldnt be an option. Gotta pay a little price to have some fun!
Click to expand...

You will be just fine. Steep hills will slow you down but it's really not bad and this is coming from someone who sold a 500hp Cummins to tow with my 100. My 40 and trailer combo weighs more than either trailer you are looking at and I have no problem with it. Airbags (AirLift 1000) are very worth it. So are trailer brakes.

ResizedImage951362457062616_zpscac45d1e.jpg
 
Tongue weight and size/shape/lenght of the trailer are the main roles/factors when it comes to towing.
 
Yep gonna check on the airbags fr sure and the trailer brakes are very important especially in mountains. Everyone has been very helpful and I'm leaning towards the 21 footer.
Thanks
 
I tow my boat about 40 miles every weekend with my lx, on stock ahc with 260k on it, no hassles EVER, I'm on 33's as well. The cruiser literally shrugs it off, it's no biggy for the truck, only thing is make sure the trailer brakes are good to go, which has been stated already, otherwise you'll warp your rotors fast. This is a 24ft chapperralll, total weight is about 4300lbs, I also throw in 6 people into the cruiser and go. Incredibly reliable towing truck.

image-926072928.webp
 
Not trying to highjack you thread bu I have bought a '77 Toyota pickup truck a couple of days ago. I want to trailer it back so I went to U Haul to rent a trailer.

They do not recommend that I use my 2006 Lexus LX470.. WTH? My trailer hitch is rated at 6500lb. The pickup truck is something like 2500 lb. If I add the trailer, I would be well withing my towing limit. He started babbling about that a car trailer is tongue heavy and that I would loose my rear bumper (I have AHC) and cook my transmission.
What is he on about? Should I just ignore him, rent a trailer anyway and pick up the pickup?
 
Yeah, that's what I thought too. He also said the the important thing is the tongue weight. And car trailers are tongue heavy. He asked me about the tongue weight limit of my LX and I didn't know. So he suggested that it might be 3500lb. If you take the weight of the pickup truck (2500lb) then add the trailer (something like 1500lb) you will be way over my tongue limit. I am calling b.s. on this one.
The thing is though that he showed me his computer screen and it said 'not recommended' in red. So no matter which U Haul shop I go, they will all give me the same answer.
 
No way a loaded car trailer has a tounge weight of 3500 lbs. Assuming its a double axle car trailer. The trailer is designed to carry the majority of the load over the trailers axles and slightly forward. I think the max tounge weight for a LX is around 800lbs. Assuming the loaded trailer weights 5000lbs, and 15% of the weight is at the tongue, that will be 750lbs of tounge weight.
 
DeltaT,

Not sure why, but sounds like the dude is smoking crack.

I have an '06 and rented the U-haul carrier to tow my IS300 (~3500lbs) to the racetrack with no problems. Their online system had no issue validating the combination. My only thought is that U-haul has two varieties of car carriers - an older steel unit and a newer all aluminum unit. You'll probably want the aluminum one to maximize your carrying ability. The truck at 2500lbs shouldn't even need that though.

The LX470 will tow it with aplomb and the dude has no idea what he's talking about.

Exhibit A:
p126681789-4.jpg
 
Whatta idiot. You will be fine. I have a 30 ft trailer that weighs 5500 dry and has a tongue weight of 650 lbs. I tow it with my 1/2 ton tundra regularly, but have been forced MANY a time to drag it around with my LC and have had no problems. I would laugh in that guys face.
 
Man-o-man, I have finally rented a trailer for next Saturday. :rolleyes:

:mad: :mad: [start rant]

My experience with U Haul is very unpleasant I must say.

I started the trailer hunt yesterday. I arrived at a U Haul depot in Brockville, which is about 30 minutes from where I live. Turned out to be a sleazy 2nd hand car lot with scary tattooed neanderthals. But I did not want to judge people on appearance so I entered the 'office' and asked for help. The lot owner could (or did) not help me and said that the rent guy was at the bank. He told me to wait. I waited for 10 minutes and then decided to do some groceries instead. I returned after 20 minutes but the guy was still not back from the bank. I gave them my name and number so they could call me a.s.a.p., which they of course never did. Very unprofessional.

So today I decided to go the next U haul depot in Athens. But they stopped renting out stuff and told me to go back to Brockville. Friendly folks in Athens but no trailers.

So I went back and had to deal with this crack smoking idiot (no, not the mayor of Toronto) Apparently he was back from his bank trip. But as said, he refused me to rent me a car trailer.

So off I went to Portland this time. I like this gas station and always fill up my vehicles there, but I don't think they ever rented out a trailer before. The friendly person (from India) had no clue what I was taking about and to be honest I didn't really understand what he was talking about either. But there was no trailer on their lot. If I wanted to leave my phone number so they could call me. I thanked him and left.

So off I go to Kingston (another 40 minute drive) to a bigger U haul place. They have lots of rentals but the person there was just about the rudest person I have ever met. Just plain nasty.
I would say beginning 30s and the general manager at that. I wanted to help him with spelling my name (which is always a problem) so I offered him my drivers license but he shouted: You already told me your name !
I asked if it was a long day of work for him and he just replied NO.
I swallowed my aggravation, made the reservation and said goodbye. All he answered NEXT!....
I thought it might have been me after a day like this but my wife agreed that he had no friendly genes in his body. I should've / would've walked away but with 6 visits to U haul depots I had enough of it. Way to go U Haul.

[/rant over] :mad::mad:

pfffff. I feel better already, thank you.
 
DeltaT said:
Man-o-man, I have finally rented a trailer for next Saturday. :rolleyes:

:mad: :mad: [start rant]

My experience with U Haul is very unpleasant I must say.

I started the trailer hunt yesterday. I arrived at a U Haul depot in Brockville, which is about 30 minutes from where I live. Turned out to be a sleazy 2nd hand car lot with scary tattooed neanderthals. But I did not want to judge people on appearance so I entered the 'office' and asked for help. The lot owner could (or did) not help me and said that the rent guy was at the bank. He told me to wait. I waited for 10 minutes and then decided to do some groceries instead. I returned after 20 minutes but the guy was still not back from the bank. I gave them my name and number so they could call me a.s.a.p., which they of course never did. Very unprofessional.

So today I decided to go the next U haul depot in Athens. But they stopped renting out stuff and told me to go back to Brockville. Friendly folks in Athens but no trailers.

So I went back and had to deal with this crack smoking idiot (no, not the mayor of Toronto) Apparently he was back from his bank trip. But as said, he refused me to rent me a car trailer.

So off I went to Portland this time. I like this gas station and always fill up my vehicles there, but I don't think they ever rented out a trailer before. The friendly person (from India) had no clue what I was taking about and to be honest I didn't really understand what he was talking about either. But there was no trailer on their lot. If I wanted to leave my phone number so they could call me. I thanked him and left.

So off I go to Kingston (another 40 minute drive) to a bigger U haul place. They have lots of rentals but the person there was just about the rudest person I have ever met. Just plain nasty.
I would say beginning 30s and the general manager at that. I wanted to help him with spelling my name (which is always a problem) so I offered him my drivers license but he shouted: You already told me your name !
I asked if it was a long day of work for him and he just replied NO.
I swallowed my aggravation, made the reservation and said goodbye. All he answered NEXT!....
I thought it might have been me after a day like this but my wife agreed that he had no friendly genes in his body. I should've / would've walked away but with 6 visits to U haul depots I had enough of it. Way to go U Haul.

[/rant over] :mad::mad:

pfffff. I feel better already, thank you.
Click to expand...

Wow, pitiful. Uhual is always a pain in the ass for me but their people being a-holes on top of be incompetent is reprehensible.

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD
 
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