Towing with a 200-series Toyota Land Cruiser

[linuxgod]

Aussies tow with their 200 series quite extensively. Lovells released a package that allows 4 ton towing capacity. Lovells Suspension - For The Ride of Your Life - Company Profile - Products: GVM Upgrades - Toyota Landcruiser 200 Series

It's too bad you can't buy this unless Lowells installs it. Also sucks they don't offer a version with a mild lift :-(

Seems like their GVM upgrade is just heavy front and rear springs, plus some new labels, based on the website. GVWR in the US is different than GVM. I wonder if any US manufacturers certify (or simply purport) to increase your GWVR with their lift kits?

In the US GVWR can only be set by the mfr. In Australia it can be changed anytime before initial registration. However in Australia you have to register the vehicle and there are fines if you exceed GVM, whereas in the US I'm pretty sure you can exceed the labeled GVWR if you've done sufficient aftermarket upgrades. Precisely what that entails I'm not entirely sure (maybe engineering certifications?) - I tried to browse the federal rules on this one "for fun" but it wasn't clear to me.

 

[Dan Higgins]

Good towing test this past weekend. Took the trailer (2017 Lance 2285, 6000#, just under 27’) over Monarch Pass in Colorado (~12,000’, 7-9 miles of 6% grade on each side with lots of curves on the west side). Going up was easy. Was able to maintain ~40mph and there were plenty of passing lanes. Even passed another RV. Going down was a bit more tricky as there were lots of curves. Put it into S2 and was able to maintain ~30 mph or less with only an occasional tap on the brake. Very pleased. I don’t have to do passes like this very often but when I do its good to know it works.

 

[mud400]

Has anyone found mirror extensions they like? I know in Aussie they sell some really nice complete mirrors, but they drive on the wrong side.

 

[kevinfoutch]

@TexAZ and @Markuson have mirrors you might be interested to see - gents?

 

[linuxgod]

I have some 2" convex blind spot mirrors on my rig that work very well. Best $7 I ever spent. They won't get you better visibility behind the trailer like secondary trailer mirrors you attach or the manually extendable kind that the Aussies get, but they've served me well when towing on multiple vehicles over the last 15 years.

 

[Markuson]

@TexAZ and @Markuson have mirrors you might be interested to see - gents?

Clearview Mirrors of Australia make fantastic towing mirrors.
They are full replacement units, meaning you remove your factory mirrors and install these.
I'll try to dig up photos of them on my truck...

See here:
LANDCRUISER 200 SERIES

 

[linuxgod]

For those with 2013 or newer, you do lose a number of features though

 

[TeCKis300]

Has anyone found mirror extensions they like? I know in Aussie they sell some really nice complete mirrors, but they drive on the wrong side.

I personally have had good success with these Milenco Grand Aero clamp on's. Just came back from a 2300 mile trip and no issues with it coming off or anything. Having auto fold in mirrors is really really nice, as they do stick out a lot and it's just asking to bump into them when parked.

I have to run both sides at full extension to see around my travel trailer - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019YJCBF4/?tag=ihco-20

 

[mud400]

For those with 2013 or newer, you do lose a number of features though

View attachment 1544835

They sure do look nice though.

 

[Dan Higgins]

I personally have had good success with these Milenco Grand Aero clamp on's. Just came back from a 2300 mile trip and no issues with it coming off or anything. Having auto fold in mirrors is really really nice, as they do stick out a lot and it's just asking to bump into them when parked.

I have to run both sides at full extension to see around my travel trailer - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019YJCBF4/?tag=ihco-20

View attachment 1544843

I use the very same mirrors. If you don’t want a permanent extension then these are great. Very light. Very easy to install and remove. Once you get them adjusted the first time then they are pretty much set for the next time. Combined with my regular mirrors they give me decent visibility of my blind spots and my trailer wheels. They don’t show you if some one is dumb enough to tailgate right behind you when you are on a straight road. But I don’t believe any mirror will do that.

 

[TeCKis300]

I've been toying with the idea of getting a rear view camera that integrates with a cell phone that can be hung over the rear view mirror. It's not a must have in my travels, but it's a nicety.

Certain times of day, I can rely on the shadow cast to the sides to know there's a vehicle hiding close behind me. Other times, I've used a technique that big rigs use to see directly behind, which is to do a gentle S turn within my lane, from one side to another. This give me just enough sight lines to peak at whomever is behind me. Though most that don't know what I'm doing, assume I'm not paying attention at the wheel and making a correction. Now that I'm aware of this technique, I can certainly see it being deliberately done by big rigs, rather than assuming they are making a correction for inattention too.

 

[Sandroad]

I use a wireless rear view camera setup when towing. i went with a dedicated monitor on the dash with an excellent wireless connection to the camera. It's really really great to see clearly and all the time exactly what's behind. There are probably even better units now, but here's the one I installed 2 years ago. In combination with the OEM LC mirrors, I get a full rear view.

https://www.amazon.com/Voyager-WVOS541-Observation-microphone-Resolution/dp/B01BDWLUNY/?tag=ihco-20

 

[LCHardriver_02]

I personally have had good success with these Milenco Grand Aero clamp on's. Just came back from a 2300 mile trip and no issues with it coming off or anything. Having auto fold in mirrors is really really nice, as they do stick out a lot and it's just asking to bump into them when parked.

I have to run both sides at full extension to see around my travel trailer - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019YJCBF4/?tag=ihco-20

View attachment 1544843

I like the looks of these and may buy a set, but I have a quick question on the mount: do these scratch or do anything to the paint on the mirrors where they mount?

Thanks!

 

[mud400]

I personally have had good success with these Milenco Grand Aero clamp on's. Just came back from a 2300 mile trip and no issues with it coming off or anything. Having auto fold in mirrors is really really nice, as they do stick out a lot and it's just asking to bump into them when parked.

I have to run both sides at full extension to see around my travel trailer - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019YJCBF4/?tag=ihco-20

View attachment 1544843

I am going to give these a shot.
I also tow using a camera on the back of my trailer. With the stock mirrors and the camera I can see quite a bit, but it would be nice to have that little extra that I usually have to lean forward a bit to see with the stock mirrors.

 

[tirewater]

Well, I've had no success with the clip on mirror extensions I bought from NAPA. They looked like this:

Dual Head XLR Ratchet Clip-On Mirror

On a two lane road the wind from an oncoming semi caused the my driver side mirror to fold inward. After that the mirror couldn't hold the extension without folding inwards. Fortunately it seems fine without the extension on.

The extensions didn't really help much anyway. I was towing a 19' airstream, and its fat bulbous body prohibited peeks behind it. The shortness of the trailer let cars hide behind it easily.

 

[Dan Higgins]

I like the looks of these and may buy a set, but I have a quick question on the mount: do these scratch or do anything to the paint on the mirrors where they mount?

Thanks!

I haven’t had any issues on my mirrors. If you crank them down too hard you could possibly crack the plastic of the mirror housing but I don’t need to tighten that much for them to hold steady. There is a thin layer of rubber padding that contacts the surface of the mirror housing. It will take some playing with them the first time to find the location for the 2 clamps. After that it is pretty easy.

@TeCKis300, I may try that swerving technique (if not one is coming the other way and I’m on a straight road.). It might also flush out any bumper huggers behind me. .

@Sandroad, I like the idea of swerving to check behind though we have enough curves in our roads here in CO it happens often enough as a matter of course. Then again, swerving might flush out the bumper hugger behind me so that I can see them.

Never any issues with wind using these extensions. They bolt on tight. I’ve been using them for 2 years. Lots of 2-lane highways with all sorts of vehicles passing. Also lots of wind here in the high country of CO. Other clip one may be different but these have worked well. And though they don’t allow me to see “behind” me on a straight road, they do offer more perspective than the standard mirrors of the trailer, the road and with a slight curve I can see who is coming. Then again, I try to avoid roads with lots of lanes and lots of traffic an the need for lots of lane changing.

 

[linuxgod]

...Then again, I try to avoid roads with lots of lanes and lots of traffic an the need for lots of lane changing.

I don't fear lane changes. Pick and lane, check the blind spot mirrors, and go. In my experience people get out of your way when a trailer starts coming into their lane :-D

I've never tried the swerving technique but I'll have to keep that in mind. Truthfully I try to stay out of the passing lanes, so if someone wants to hang out behind me they can have at it.

 

[Dan Higgins]

I don’t fear lane changes. I just like to keep them at a minimum. What bothers me (not fear, just frustration) is the rare but occasional idiot who jumps into my lane right in front of me or crosses in front of me from the passing lane to an exit lane as if I can and should stop on a dime. All because he didn’t want to pull in behind me and wait a split second longer to get to the exit.

Like you, I avoid the passing lanes. I actually prefer to go the speed limit and sometimes slower (long climbs, high winds) so I’ll stay in the right lane and keep an eye on any traffic build up behind me. I have no problem pulling over to let folks pass or going slower in the passing lanes to let as much of the backed up traffic get by me as possible. Backed up traffic is unavoidable on our mountain roads in CO. But I am certainly not the only one occasionally backing up traffic. Nor am I the worst. The one thing I do need to be careful with is that some of the slow vehicle pullouts have a pretty good drop from the pavement to gravel and my trailer (and therefore hitch and WD bars) ride pretty low.

 

[TeCKis300]

I like the looks of these and may buy a set, but I have a quick question on the mount: do these scratch or do anything to the paint on the mirrors where they mount?

Thanks!

Similar experience to Dan. No issues at all with the clamps. They have a somewhat tacky rubber pad where it contacts the mirror. And so I just make sure the mirror housing on the car is clean before I clamp them on. It's quite easy once they've been setup once.

The extensions didn't really help much anyway. I was towing a 19' airstream, and its fat bulbous body prohibited peeks behind it. The shortness of the trailer let cars hide behind it easily.

Sorry to hear the NAPA mirrors didn't work for you. They do look a bit bulkier so I can see them catching the wind and folding in. I believe your airstream is 8' wide? I've towed a similar width AS 23D and the width is more forgiving for sight lines from the stock mirror. My 27FB being 8.5' wide, make the sides completely blind from the stock mirrors. Having these clip on's have been essential for me and do give a great view down the sides of the trailer. Highly recommended as I can comfortably change lanes having full view to the sides.

 

[TeCKis300]

Here's a somewhat more direct on view. The horizontal bars make it such that you can adjust the mirror width wise. I literally have it out as far as possible to see around my camper. So whatever clip-on one chooses, make sure they can extend out far enough for your model trailer to be useful.

I took a little excursion away from the trailer. You can see that I don't bother taking off the mirrors.