Towing with a 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser

[Artie]

Towing my 16' Wells Cargo across America.

Total trailer weight is about 5500 pounds.

I'm averaging 6.7mpg and need to stop for gas every 110 miles.

View attachment 4167391

That trailer has the same aerodynamics as a concrete block… 6.7 MPG is better than I’d expect haha

 

[linuxgod]

Towing my 16' Wells Cargo across America.

Total trailer weight is about 5500 pounds.

I'm averaging 6.7mpg and need to stop for gas every 110 miles.

View attachment 4167391

What’s your average speed on the highway?

 

[prwillard2]

What’s your average speed on the highway?

65-70mph

 

[prwillard2]

You have tires which are a size (diameter) or two up from stock?

Yes, 33's. 275/70r18, load range E

 

[TeCKis300]

Yes, 33's. 275/70r18, load range E

Is the MPG reported from the dash corrected for tire size? Or hand calculating at the pump?

That MPG is pretty low for that size trailer and predominant speeds.

Multiplying the dash mpg and odometer readout by 1.05 should be close.

If you haven't already, might bump up the tire pressures on the tow vehicle for better rolling resistance (and stability).

 

[Sandroad]

I didn’t find anything in this thread or recently on Mud about tightening a drawbar in the receiver. The design of the 200 receiver doesn’t work with standard tighteners because there is no ridge around the outer area of the receiver to hold on to a U-bolt. Any latest on how to reduce play in the space between the drawbar and receiver?

 

[prwillard2]

Is the MPG reported from the dash corrected for tire size? Or hand calculating at the pump?

That MPG is pretty low for that size trailer and predominant speeds.

Multiplying the dash mpg and odometer readout by 1.05 should be close.

If you haven't already, might bump up the tire pressures on the tow vehicle for better rolling resistance (and stability).

Hand calculated - mileage from odometer is multiplied by 1.05 then divided by my gallons used.

My rear tires are at 55psi, fronts 45. What do you recommend I go up to?

 

[linuxgod]

I just got back from a 2 week trip out west

3910 miles
7.2 mpg
44.2 mph avg (highway speeds of 72-76)
542 gallons of fuel
$2715.80 spent on fuel
$5.01 per gallon average cost

Probably 3500 miles of this was with the trailer attached.


88 hours 46 minutes of ass-in-seat driving time

 

[TeCKis300]

Hand calculated - mileage from odometer is multiplied by 1.05 then divided by my gallons used.

My rear tires are at 55psi, fronts 45. What do you recommend I go up to?

Dang. You're doing everything right. I was hoping for an easy button to explain the high consumption.

 

[2021 LC200]

Dang. You're doing everything right. I was hoping for an easy button to explain the high consumption.

Towing at more than 65 to 70 mph can get you there as well.

 

[TeCKis300]

Towing at more than 65 to 70 mph can get you there as well.

Yes. Aerodynamic drag is the square of velocity (V²). Practically, a speed increase from 55 mph to ~77 mph doubles the amount of drag the engine has to work against.

It pays to focus on aero of the tow vehicle and trailer. Personally, I try to minimize exterior accessories and avoid more squared off overlanding aesthetic type mods.

 

[2021 LC200]

Yes. Aerodynamic drag is the square of velocity (V²). Practically, a speed increase from 55 mph to ~77 mph doubles the amount of drag the engine has to work against.

It pays to focus on aero of the tow vehicle and trailer. Personally, I try to minimize exterior accessories and avoid more squared off overlanding aesthetic type mods.

Came by these air tabs and for a lot of towing like a square travel trailer that could be something to try, though our fuel “drunk” 200 series may not take much notice…

Still interesting for the engineering or science minded amongst us.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZHFVRVB?tag=ihco-20

 

[Artie]

Came by these air tabs and for a lot of towing like a square travel trailer that could be something to try, though our fuel “drunk” 200 series may not take much notice…

Still interesting for the engineering or science minded amongst us.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZHFVRVB?tag=ihco-20

I bet a couple sets of those and some chrome AutoZone spoilers would get me up to 10 MPG.

 

[RyanR]

This looks similar to our setup(not with an LC yet)!

Whats the tongue weight of that trailer?

Tongue weight is 715lbs.

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/ozark/2690BHK/12482

Leaving Thursday for a 2,000 mile/4-week road trip across OR and WA, will be my longest trip towing this setup so far.

 

[linuxgod]

Tongue weight is 715lbs.

https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/ozark/2690BHK/12482

Leaving Thursday for a 2,000 mile/4-week road trip across OR and WA, will be my longest trip towing this setup so far.

I can almost guarantee the tongue weight is more, nevermind how it grows once you’ve put anything in it. I had a 2005 Forest River with a 485# tongue weight that was like 700# on a scale.

 

[ETXLX450F]

I didn’t find anything in this thread or recently on Mud about tightening a drawbar in the receiver. The design of the 200 receiver doesn’t work with standard tighteners because there is no ridge around the outer area of the receiver to hold on to a U-bolt. Any latest on how to reduce play in the space between the drawbar and receiver?

I flip the U Bolt sideways when I use my motorcycle hitch carrier. Takes out the slop enough for my needs. Not sure about a draw bar though. Have considered having a small strip of metal welded to the bottom of the receiver to use other stabilizers.

 

[RyanR]

I can almost guarantee the tongue weight is more, nevermind how it grows once you’ve put anything in it. I had a 2005 Forest River with a 485# tongue weight that was like 700# on a scale.

That wouldn't surprise me. I haven't got it on a scale but if I hitch up with the vehicle off and the WD bars off it will drop the rear to the bump stops before th AHC kicks in and levels it out. I've put over 1k lbs of rubber gym flooring in the back before and it still didn't drop the rear to the bump stops before I closed the rear hatch and AHC did its thing.

 

[fj40alex]

200 pulling an 80 (for a friend). Total 850 miles. Averaged 11 mpg at 65-70 mph. Pulled much better than expected.

 

[SidZer0]

Let me start off by saying that this thread is the most useful and objectively informative resource on the site. Thank you to all that have contributed...strong work!

That being said, I've been towing a 2023 FR rPod 203 @ 4800 lbs dry with a 635 lbs tongue weight perfectly for the past 2 years.

My 2020 HE (minus 3rd row) has a 2" Dobinsons IMS lift and UCAs in the front, OME 2720 springs, stock shocks, Firestone airbags (30 psi) in the rear on 275/70/18 Falken AT4s. No armor, drawers, winches or other mods other than my Bud Built sliders have been installed. I'm also running a Curt brake controller along with a Blue Ox BXW1350 WD hitch.

Yesterday we upgraded our towable to a 2027 Brinkley Ix 20x @ 5900 lbs dry and a 525 lbs tongue weight. We pick it up on Saturday and I'm crossing my fingers for a stress free maiden voyage.

Anything that I should prepare for or expect with the +1100 lbs increase in towing load and -100 lbs tongue weight difference? Any drastic difference in towing behavior and or safety concerns other than to my already pitiful fuel consumption? Any recommendations on cargo weight distribution between the LC and camper would be helpful as well.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ratchey]

Let me start off by saying that this thread is the most useful and objectively informative resources on the site. Thank you to all that have contributed...strong work!

That being said, I've been towing a 2023 FR rPod 203 @ 4800 lbs dry with a 635 lbs tongue weight perfectly for the past 2 years.

My 2020 HE (minus 3rd row) has a 2" Dobinsons IMS lift with UCAs in the front, OME 2720s springs, stock shocks, Firestone airbags (30 psi) in the rear on 275/70/18 Falken AT4s. No armor, drawers, winches or other mods other than my Bud Built sliders have been installed. I'm also running a Curt brake controller along with a Blue Ox BXW1350 WD hitch.

Yesterday we upgraded our towable to a 2027 Brinkley Ix 20x @ 5900 lbs dry and a 525 lbs tongue weight. We pick it up on Saturday and I'm crossing my fingers for a stress free maiden voyage.

Anything that I should prepare for or expect with the +1100 lbs increase in towing load and -100 lbs tongue weight difference? Any drastic difference in towing behavior and or safety concerns other than to my already pitiful fuel consumption? Any recommendations on cargo weight distribution between the LC and camper would be helpful as well.

Thanks in advance.

I can almost guarantee that your tongue weight will be higher on the Brinkley. That weight is minus batteries and propane tanks and any cargo you add to the front of the trailer. I would bring a tongue weight scale to verify once you get everything on there to have a better understanding on where you are at. Then you can plan better for weight distribution in both the TV and trailer.