Towing with a 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser (9 Viewers)

[Artie]

I think the cupping is not psi related. That’s balance and alignment related.

If you are within the GVWR and rear axle weight rating, I think your tires are fine at their RTIP. Beyond that, I would go on comfort and handling to make changes.

Are you really running a few hundred miles in 4lo on dirt?

Yes. If I run in 4h my trans temps are very high. Plus, 4Lo on any steep or long down hill saves the brakes. So far this trip we’ve done a couple 50 mile stints but on a trip in WY we did days on end on dirt and stayed in 4Lo for most of that, it ended up being 4-500 miles over one stretch. Long slopes where the converter doesn’t lock up is a hot mess… literally hot converter.

Editing to add: I’m towing on dirt ( mostly 1’s and 2’d but often 3 rated trails) and the Cruiser has a weight problem.

 

[Sandroad]

Yes. If I run in 4h my trans temps are very high. Plus, 4Lo on any steep or long down hill saves the brakes. So far this trip we’ve done a couple 50 mile stints but on a trip in WY we did days on end on dirt and stayed in 4Lo for most of that, it ended up being 4-500 miles over one stretch. Long slopes where the converter doesn’t lock up is a hot mess… literally hot converter.

Editing to add: I’m towing on dirt ( mostly 1’s and 2’d but often 3 rated trails) and the Cruiser has a weight problem.

Wow. I understand the use of 4lo to keep the trans temps in check. But 400 miles of towing on dirt roads in 4lo with a heavy cruiser must mean what your towing is your own personal gas station.

 

[Artie]

Wow. I understand the use of 4lo to keep the trans temps in check. But 400 miles of towing on dirt roads in 4lo with a heavy cruiser must mean what your towing is your own personal gas station.

40 gallon LRA is our gas station. We average 9.5 mpg and our range is roughly 550. Honestly, 4Lo or 4H are about the same, just sucky.

 

[GordJ]

40 gallon LRA is our gas station. We average 9.5 mpg and our range is roughly 550. Honestly, 4Lo or 4H are about the same, just sucky.

My best mileage towing was when i did 300 km’s at 40 miles per hour on a muddy road. I believe that punching a hole in the wind is the biggest influence on mileage, far more than weight imo.

 

[Artie]

My best mileage towing was when i did 300 km’s at 40 miles per hour on a muddy road. I believe that punching a hole in the wind is the biggest influence on mileage, far more than weight imo.

100% correct. Diminishing returns begin around 60 MPH for me unless there is a tailwind or I’m going down hill. The instant mpg gauge on the OBD fusion thing is a fun gauge to watch on most drives as long as you can stomach the thirst of these things.

 

[skrypj]

Yeah those 30 mph headwinds doing 65-70 mph have me down in the 6’s usually. The 5.7L can’t really comfortably maintain those speeds in me experience though. My Ecoboost could.

 

[TeCKis300]

Yeah those 30 mph headwinds doing 65-70 mph have me down in the 6’s usually. The 5.7L can’t really comfortably maintain those speeds in me experience though. My Ecoboost could.

We know you love your Ecoboost. But enough of that already?

I've been on the side of the freeway waiting on friends troubleshoot their EBs. While I'm towing a heavier load out.

 

[eatSleepWoof]

Yeah those 30 mph headwinds doing 65-70 mph have me down in the 6’s usually. The 5.7L can’t really comfortably maintain those speeds in me experience though. My Ecoboost could.

That's why I tow at 80.

 

[Artie]

That's why I tow at 80.

I’ve debated on cutting a hole in the floor so I could press the skinny peddle further. WFO, baby!

 

[eatSleepWoof]

I’ve debated on cutting a hole in the floor so I could press the skinny peddle further. WFO, baby!

Modern problems require modern solutions.

 

[skrypj]

I’m sorry. It was a comment about how the 5.7L can’t really consume fuel that quickly, comfortably. In a 30 mph headwind my LX was dropping down to 60mph or less spinning 3400 rpm.

If you’re that sensitive, Block my account so you don’t have to read my posts.

 

[TeCKis300]

I’m sorry. It was a comment about how the 5.7L can’t really consume fuel that quickly, comfortably. In a 30 mph headwind my LX was dropping down to 60mph or less spinning 3400 rpm.

If you’re that sensitive, Block my account so you don’t have to read my posts.

Not sure what you mean about consuming fuel quickly? It maybe that you're use to driving a turbo and driving a N/A V8 is different as the power band is more linear and needs RPM. Turbo motors have more midrange HP, with torque being elastic with boost . When towing on hills and against wind, 3400rpm is not where you want to be on the 5.7L.

Not being sensitive but the EB isn't something to aspire to. It has its Achilles heals with numerous recalls, with new ones a decade after release. Not something worthy in place of the 5.7L. It doesn't have as much work to do as it comes in a throwaway truck that's over 1k lbs lighter. Doesn't have full time 4WD. That's rear axle could fall off when towing in more extreme use. Or have catastrophic failure of turbos, transmission, motors. I didn't make those up as those are real anecdotes experienced with friends that own them.

 

[skrypj]

Not sure what you mean about consuming fuel quickly? It maybe that you're use to driving a turbo and driving a N/A V8 is different as the power band is more linear and needs RPM. Turbo motors have more midrange HP, with torque being elastic with boost . When towing on hills and against wind, 3400rpm is not where you want to be on the 5.7L.

Not being sensitive but the EB isn't something to aspire to. It has its Achilles heals with numerous recalls, with new ones a decade after release. Not something worthy in place of the 5.7L. It doesn't have as much work to do as it comes in a throwaway truck that's over 1k lbs lighter. Doesn't have full time 4WD. That's rear axle could fall off when towing in more extreme use. Or have catastrophic failure of turbos, transmission, motors. I didn't make those up as those are real anecdotes experienced with friends that own them.

you’re the one who keeps going there and ranting on an on about phasers and transmissions and turbos and your friends Ecoboost breaking down. Any post I’ve made about the Ecoboost was factual and never ever stated it was “better” than the 5.7. I said they don’t blow up at 20k miles like the V35 likes to do, And I’ve said they make a lot of torque and tow very well. Thats it.

The Ecoboost makes more power at low rpm and does it with less effort from the driver than the 5.7L. It can consume fuel at a faster rate more comfortably. The 5.7L is not making 480 ft-lbs at 2500 rpm, and in my experience, won’t comfortably consume lower than ~7.5 mpg.

I wasn’t talking about being on hills at 3400 rpm. That was flat ground.

 

[TeCKis300]

you’re the one who keeps going there and ranting on an on about phasers and transmissions and turbos and your friends Ecoboost breaking down. Any post I’ve made about the Ecoboost was factual and never ever stated it was “better” than the 5.7. I said they don’t blow up at 20k miles like the V35 likes to do, And I’ve said they make a lot of torque and tow very well. Thats it.

The Ecoboost makes more power at low rpm and does it with less effort from the driver than the 5.7L. It can consume fuel at a faster rate more comfortably. The 5.7L is not making 480 ft-lbs at 2500 rpm, and in my experience, won’t comfortably consume lower than ~7.5 mpg.

I wasn’t talking about being on hills at 3400 rpm. That was flat ground.

So my experiences with friends F150 having issues, while on the same trips I'm on, is not factual?

The grass is not greener. Just look at all the ongoing recalls and class actions with the EBs. As one owner said, the gift that keeps gifting thanks to the "engineering geniuses who created this junk motor."

Maybe that's why you're in a 200-series.

 

[LX Cruiser]

So my experiences with friends F150 having issues, while on the same trips I'm on, is not factual?

The grass is not greener. Just look at all the ongoing recalls and class actions with the EBs. As one owner said, the gift that keeps gifting thanks to the "engineering geniuses who created this junk motor."

Maybe that's why you're in a 200-series.

All of my friends’ EB experiences mirror yours as well. It pulls super strong—no one is debating that—but as nearly every single person who owns one into the 100k mile range knows, those F150s get to be very needy. You don’t even have overtune it and blow up the engine like skrypj did with his.

I don’t expect 3.5EB torque out of my 5.7, and I sure don’t expect 5.7 longevity out of a 3.5EB.

There’s just no such thing as a free lunch. Buy gas, or buy parts.

 

[Artie]

I achieved the coveted 2nd gear torque converter lock up yesterday while towing over Dixie National Forest… what do I win?

 

[eatSleepWoof]

I achieved the coveted 2nd gear torque converter lock up yesterday while towing over Dixie National Forest… what do I win?

If it's not on instragram, it didn't happen. #ProofOrBan!

 

[TeCKis300]

I achieved the coveted 2nd gear torque converter lock up yesterday while towing over Dixie National Forest… what do I win?

Putting her to work!!

 

[Artie]

Putting her to work!!

We don’t drive it often but when we do we make it count.

 

[Artie]

If it's not on instragram, it didn't happen. #ProofOrBan!

We have another climb coming up, I’ll get a shot of it for all the doubters