Towing with a 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser (3 Viewers)

[TeCKis300]

Thanks coleAK. The AS is a bit different in that there's nothing really structural to mount to externally. Unless you use of one their super fancy $$$ proprietary racks. So I'm fabbing my own undermount hitch that ties into the frame cross-braces. It's coming along.

 

[coleAK]

awsome, Great work On the hitch. Yeah when we had our AS had a truck so never needed to consider bumper mounts for cargo.

 

[Sandroad]

Thanks coleAK. The AS is a bit different in that there's nothing really structural to mount to externally. Unless you use of one their super fancy $$$ proprietary racks. So I'm fabbing my own undermount hitch that ties into the frame cross-braces. It's coming along.

I know you’re saavy enough to think about clearances, but I figured I should mention that last month I destroyed my sewer tube holder that was mounted under the rear bumper on my trailer when I went over a deep dip in the road to the visitor center at Glacier NP. YMMV with your setup, but watch those dips.

 

[linuxgod]

@coleAK, I assume your bumper is welded through the frame, not just tacked on? Bikes bounce the trailer a lot when hanging off the back, and I've seen photos of bumpers breaking free if the hitch is just bolted to it.

I've been considering one of these to mount over the trailer tongue. I can get the 3 kids bikes in the rear storage area in my Lance, but right now I'm just throwing a blanket over the bed and bungee-ing our 2 adult bikes to it.

https://www.amazon.com/STROMBER-CC275-Bike-Rack-Trailer/dp/B01IC61QYC
and
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001VO1YY/

My main concerns with this are additional tongue weight (which i think I can handle) and reduced clearance when turning (I'd hate for the bikes to hit the D pillars on the LC).

 

[Sandroad]

@coleAK, I assume your bumper is welded through the frame, not just tacked on? Bikes bounce the trailer a lot when hanging off the back, and I've seen photos of bumpers breaking free if the hitch is just bolted to it.

I've been considering one of these to mount over the trailer tongue. I can get the 3 kids bikes in the rear storage area in my Lance, but right now I'm just throwing a blanket over the bed and bungee-ing our 2 adult bikes to it.

https://www.amazon.com/STROMBER-CC275-Bike-Rack-Trailer/dp/B01IC61QYC
and
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0001VO1YY/

My main concerns with this are additional tongue weight (which i think I can handle) and reduced clearance when turning (I'd hate for the bikes to hit the D pillars on the LC).

I can't use a rear bumper mounted hitch because the bumper is aluminum and can't take the massive torque of bouncing bikes. I found someone with that tongue mounted Stromberg mount and did some measuring. With my Yakima 2 bike rack, the bikes would not have turning clearance, plus, my battery box is in the way of the Stromberg mount. So, I gave up on regular bikes and bought 2 Giant Expressway folding bikes and toss them in the Land Cruiser for our trips.

 

[coleAK]

Linux. Yes my bumper is welded through the frame. I’ve had the hitch mount for 4 summers and also use a cargo tray when we fish for my big 150 qt cooler.

 

[TeCKis300]

Seems like a common situation to need provisions to carry bikes. It's because of our SUV thing right? Yet I don't want a pickup!

@linuxgod , yeah, I've seen some nasty pictures of failed mounts and racks. The dynamic loads on the rear end of travel trailer are something wicked. All the vertical suspension movements projected to the back end is likely double! Most racks aren't even rated for the job. I'm using a Yakima FourTimer 4 bike rack that should have plenty of structure to handle two bikes.

@Sandroad , clearance was most definitely a consideration. On a stock Airstream, it would be a huge concern as dragging tail is a regular accurance. I've lifted mine 3" which has reduced ground strikes to zero. Just the same, being mounted ont he very rear, I'm keeping things high and tight to the degree possible.

I'm done with the rack! Woohoo. The bike rack I'm using is actually modified to accommodate the long wheelbase of my tandem.

Right up and tight against the bumper to minimize weight distribution effects and maximize clearance

 

[Sandroad]

With the Firestone airbags in the rear springs, Anderson WDH, and that magnificent engine, towing in the mountains going up the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies this summer was a breeze. Everything was so settled and stable and easy that I was able to enjoy the scenery and let the LC do its thing with no drama.

 

[Romer]

I got the new receiver. It is just 2 inches shorter from the hitch pin to the ball so that should provide some improvement. I know I could drill a hole closer, but will go with this for now. Was towing fine before, just a little sway at very high speeds



View attachment 1773906

Just got back from wheeling my Trailer

I made a bad assumption in swapping out the receiver that the ball bolt hole would be the same size. I didn't check to see if the bolt hole for the hitch ball would be the same size I ASSumed and was wrong.

The first night at camp I noticed that the Tregg hitch was separating from the receiver and turns out the hole is as big as the nut and washer. Since I installed the Tregg part on the truck I didnt notice and have learned to always flip it over to take a look

After contemplating it for a while we figured the metal bracket off my Hi-Lift was the perfect size and ran with that the whole rest of the trip without issues. Took it apart and can see the whole is much bigger. The Reeves receiver hole matches the bolt so I will either go back to that one or look for a sleeve of some sort

 

[ryanCA]

^^

Wow

 

[TeCKis300]

Doh! I'm a bit confused what happened there, but sure glad you caught it before it turned into something more serious. I know you have a different receiver, but I'm always surprised at the required torque spec on the balls. Something like 350 ft/lbs.

 

[Romer]

what happened is the Toyota hitch hole for the ball is much bigger causing the nut to slip into the hole which could have caused the ball (I have a Tregg) coming off the truck

 

[Dan Higgins]

Thanks for the reminder to check everything “inside and out”. And great job jury rigging a solution on the trail! You were obviously taking your trailer to places I would never be able to based on that first picture!

 

[krice118]

@Romer Your Kamper is sure to increase in value since Kimberly is in liquidation.

 

[linuxgod]

Doh! I'm a bit confused what happened there, but sure glad you caught it before it turned into something more serious. I know you have a different receiver, but I'm always surprised at the required torque spec on the balls. Something like 350 ft/lbs.

Romer if you need a 1” to 1 1/4” sleeve I have one I can send you. I can measure height to make sure it’d work for you.

Side Note: My BlueOx hitch has a 1 1/4” ball mount designed for a 15-20k# rated ball. There’s a sleeve for people who use a 1” shank, which is the stock 6-10k# ball. The 1” has a 250 ft/lb torque spec, while the 1 1/4” has a ridiculous 450 ft/lb requirement. I went with the 1 1/4” ball, so I don’t need the sleeve. I’ll say that torquing to 450# was a challenge as that rating seems to require a 1” drive socket.

 

[Romer]

@Romer Your Kamper is sure to increase in value since Kimberly is in liquidation.

Rumor has it someone bought the company and will restart by the end of the month.

 

[Romer]

Romer if you need a 1” to 1 1/4” sleeve I have one I can send you. I can measure height to make sure it’d work for you.

Side Note: My BlueOx hitch has a 1 1/4” ball mount designed for a 15-20k# rated ball. There’s a sleeve for people who use a 1” shank, which is the stock 6-10k# ball. The 1” has a 250 ft/lb torque spec, while the 1 1/4” has a ridiculous 450 ft/lb requirement. I went with the 1 1/4” ball, so I don’t need the sleeve. I’ll say that torquing to 450# was a challenge as that rating seems to require a 1” drive socket.

Thanks, I appreciate it

Let me see how easy it is to get locally to avoid having to ship something

 

[linuxgod]

Thanks, I appreciate it

Let me see how easy it is to get locally to avoid having to ship something

Ok if you can't find it let me know if you need it. It's just a metal sleeve about 1-2" long, so it'll probably cost me a whopping $1 to mail

 

[Romer]

Ok if you can't find it let me know if you need it. It's just a metal sleeve about 1-2" long, so it'll probably cost me a whopping $1 to mail

I found a sleeve. and it still was a bit loose. What I needed was a washer big enough as the sleeve would not fix the washer and nut fitting into the hole. Even if I got a washer the bolt has more movement than in the original receiver

I took a step back and thought about what I was fixing. My only comment was sometimes it would sway at 85 to 90 mph. That happened with this shorter one as well. The sway is really telling me 85-90 mph is too fast for the road bumps and turns at the time so slow down to , OMG to 80 mph

I decided I am spending time, energy and $$ fixing a non issue and increasing risk. Had I not seen the problem on my off road trip with the hitch angling off the receiver, I could have lost the trailer.

I went back to the original receiver and am no longer looking to make this Toyota one work. Let me know if anyone wants to buy it

 

[TeCKis300]

Sorry if I sent you on a wild goose chase!