Towing with an LX570

[mtnracer]

We are about to buy a travel trailer and I have some questions about the load capacity of the AHC system. The manual seems to contradict itself in a few places. Our 2010 has a max trailer capacity of 8500 lbs and max hitch capacity of 850 lbs. Total weight capacity seems to be around 1300lbs. The manual states that AHC may not work properly if there are 600 lbs of people plus 400 lbs of hitch weight. That's only 1000 lbs total and 300 lbs lower than maximum capacity. Also in the manual where they describe the AHC system, it states that AHC works fine until you reach the full load capacity of 1300 lbs.

Does anyone have real world trailer towing experience with the LX?

Our typical load will be my wife, my son and me which adds up to around 400 lbs. Add 150 lbs of luggage and "stuff" should leave us with 750 lbs of hitch weight capacity. Am I doing the math correctly? Is it reasonable to take the LX close to maximum load? Would it be better to store the luggage in the trailer and leave the weight in the LX as low as possible?

Thanks for any tips and advice.

 

[mtnracer]

So nobody tows with their LX or LC with AHC?

 

[mtnracer]

Does anyone have any tips or advice about towing and the AHC system in the LC200 or LX570?

 

[Footwork]

Might wanna try the guys in OZ on Lcool.org. They have a ton of information on 200. Been living in those forums for about a week.

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Bringing up an older thread to help anyone searching on towing...

So last week I towed my trailer (2013 Lance 2185) with a total weight of about 5300lbs (I have not weighed it yet) with the 2010 LX570 (Hamish). Suspension worked flawlessly and the 5.7L V8 was WONDERFUL going over Horseshoe Bend Hill, which is a substantial "hill", with the down side is a 7% grade at just over 1.5 miles. I am using a weight distribution hitch to help with the tongue weight.

Jonathan

 

[mtnracer]

Thank you. I have some updates as well. We bought a Coachmen 288BHS (30' long, 7000 lbs loaded) and towed it on several trips with our LX570. Power is not an issue and the air suspension had no problem handling the trailer, 4 adults, 1 baby in a car seat plus all the cargo you need for 4 days in Key Largo. We were using a Blue Ox WD hitch.

I will say that the wheel base is a bit short to handle such a large trailer. It was not bad by any means but we have since bought a Tundra as well and it clearly is a much steadier ride and more suited to towing a long trailer.

 

[Archtaan]

Great update, thanks for that. I tow an 8000# 26' toy hauler with my LC and without AHC it sucks. The rear really drops with that much tongue weight. Airbags helped, but kept having issues with them so I ditched them and just went with heavier rear springs. Been great. The short wheelbase does get a bit squirrelly sometimes but all in all it does great. Been cross country 2x with it. No issues except for single digit fuel economy!

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Yeah, with both the 100 series LC and the LX570, high single digits is about all I get too for fuel economy. I will say that I was a bit nervous at first with the AHC, but this last trip "sealed the deal" for me and I am loving it. With the 100, we went with an 2" OME heavy lift to accommodate the added tongue load, but with the LX we have not seen any issues.

 

[mtnracer]

Great update, thanks for that. I tow an 8000# 26' toy hauler with my LC and without AHC it sucks. The rear really drops with that much tongue weight. Airbags helped, but kept having issues with them so I ditched them and just went with heavier rear springs. Been great. The short wheelbase does get a bit squirrelly sometimes but all in all it does great. Been cross country 2x with it. No issues except for single digit fuel economy!

Toy haulers always seem to have really high tongue weights even with relatively small trailers. What is the tongue weight on yours?

The AHC on the LX570 is officially rated to handle up to 1400# (or just below that) of load (people, trailer tongue, luggage, etc) so even with AHC you may be over the limit. In that case the AHC defaults to the low setting which is not ideal.

Our Tundra CrewMax Platinum 4x4 is definitely much more adept at towing the trailer but gas mileage is horrible on both. I think we are getting 9-12 MPG cruising the flats at 60-70MPH.

On the LX570 / LC I would definitely recommend a sway control system with weight distribution where on the Tundra you could get away with weight distribution only.

 

[rnummi]

So nobody tows with their LX or LC with AHC?

We tow (and have extensively towed) an Airstream International Serenity 23D which weighs 6000 lbs and has a tongue weight of 750. No issues no problems.

 

[NKP Garage]

We tow with our 2009 LX570 regularly. I have towed everything form the smaller end of the scale around 3500 lbs to the heavy end with our 8500 lbs boat/trailer setup. AHC on the LX570 makes towing a breeze. Keeps your suspension geometry where it is supposed to be and the drive very stable. Make sure your tongue weight is close to correct based on your overall trailer weight. Make sure you have good tires that tow well. Towing with offroad tires in my experience is not always a great idea. Also, make sure your trailer has working functioning brakes to support its weight.

 

[bigezvol]

We tow with our 2009 LX570 regularly. I have towed everything form the smaller end of the scale around 3500 lbs to the heavy end with our 8500 lbs boat/trailer setup. AHC on the LX570 makes towing a breeze. Keeps your suspension geometry where it is supposed to be and the drive very stable. Make sure your tongue weight is close to correct based on your overall trailer weight. Make sure you have good tires that tow well. Towing with offroad tires in my experience is not always a great idea. Also, make sure your trailer has working functioning brakes to support its weight.

Do you use a weight distributing hitch when towing your 8500# setup? Just sold my F250 and picked up a 2013 LX. My setup is a 2600# car hauler loaded with a 5500# Fj80.

 

[NKP Garage]

Do you use a weight distributing hitch when towing your 8500# setup? Just sold my F250 and picked up a 2013 LX. My setup is a 2600# car hauler loaded with a 5500# Fj80.

Nope, just the standard hitch. The hydraulic autoleveling suspension on the LX570 helps a TON since it keeps all the suspension geometry in check and where it is designed to be.

 

[bigezvol]

Nope, just the standard hitch. The hydraulic autoleveling suspension on the LX570 helps a TON since it keeps all the suspension geometry in check and where it is designed to be.

Here we are. Completed a test tow of my '92 built 80 with LXLuther and very pleased with the results. Need to drop the hitch down a bit more to level out the trailer and move the 80 up a bit towards the tongue, but outside of that no issues.

Max sensor lift in the front only. Running 285/60/20 Falken WildPeaks.

I do belive I'll get a WD hitch with sway control just to play it safe.

 

[NKP Garage]

Here we are. Completed a test tow of my '92 built 80 with LXLuther and very pleased with the results. Need to drop the hitch down a bit more to level out the trailer and move the 80 up a bit towards the tongue, but outside of that no issues.

Max sensor lift in the front only. Running 285/60/20 Falken WildPeaks.

I do belive I'll get a WD hitch with sway control just to play it safe.

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Looks level. Nice 80!

One other thing to note for our experience towing with our LX570, Tires make a night and day difference. The factory Lattitude Tour tires were fine without any load, but while towing they were too squishy. When I moved to Michelin Defender LTX tires aired up to around 40psi it was a night and day difference while towing. Much more confident over bumps and turning.

 

[bigezvol]

Looks level. Nice 80!

One other thing to note for our experience towing with our LX570, Tires make a night and day difference. The factory Lattitude Tour tires were fine without any load, but while towing they were too squishy. When I moved to Michelin Defender LTX tires aired up to around 40psi it was a night and day difference while towing. Much more confident over bumps and turning.

Had the Falkens around 42-44psi. They ride great. Have them on my wife's '16 GX and couldn't be happier with them.

 

[NKP Garage]

Had the Falkens around 42-44psi. They ride great. Have them on my wife's '16 GX and couldn't be happier with them.

Nice! They look great too!

 

[TeCKis300]

Awesome rig. Good call on increasing tire pressures. Definitely a world of difference, especially the rears.

An opportunity to balance stability with ride quality is to run the front axle pressures lower by 3-4 PSI than the rears. Most of the load is in the rear axle, and actually transfers weight off the front. Still want additional air in the front to increase lateral stability, but it does help the front end ride better especially for the front row driver and passenger.

 

[desertwampa]

Had the Falkens around 42-44psi. They ride great. Have them on my wife's '16 GX and couldn't be happier with them.

I'm considering the same tires, what do you think about them for offroad use? Ever air them down?

 

[bigezvol]

I'm considering the same tires, what do you think about them for offroad use? Ever air them down?

I've heard them down to around 25. They're great for general off-road use. I wouldn't Rock crawl in them. But everything that you would take a LX on under 35s they will handle. They would handle it on 35s as well I just wouldn't do it on 20s.