275/70/18 is max due to a structural bar that is needed for crash/impacts. Quick short vid below @ 30sec mark
Towing with the LX700h OT - Toyota apologists move along
- Thread starter Canyonero
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Thanks. Looks like it needs some trimming there to get larger tires to fit. Pretty typical of the past gen Toyotas to cut and trim that body mount. I did that on my last 4Runner just to fit a 34" tire.
Edit - that must be removeable or something. The OEM Warrior package includes 295/70/8 tires (roughly 35s).
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OP could have simply put that picture up of the monstrosity he’s trying to tow in the first post and everyone would have agreed with his experience and steered him toward a vehicle that can actually handle that thing.
With its height, I can’t see that thing being settled behind anything but a 3/4 or 1 ton.
With its height, I can’t see that thing being settled behind anything but a 3/4 or 1 ton.
Travel trailers are pretty awful as far as trailers go - high polar moment, high frontal area, poor aerodynamics, high COG, and relatively short tongue to axle vs load distribution ratio. Basically all the worst things you could come up with in one package.
But the LX should be able to tow a midsize one pretty well. On paper it matches up pretty comparably to my last F250. I had an 06 F250 crewcab diesel 4x4. Awful truck - like unbelievably awful reliability. But it towed pretty darn well. When it was running... Anyway the LX700 has more power, more torque, is heavier, has similar brake size. AHC should be excellent at locking down the suspension and self leveling. I do question if Toyota tuned it correctly for that use to firm up enough. Pretty much everything except the overall rear suspension design (narrow spring spacing) and the short wheelbase (probably the biggest issue here) points to a pretty solid tow vehicle.
I know this is the LX forum - but might be worth noting here that Toyota appears to be building a more legit raptor competitor. Some spy shots going around. Looks like maybe 37s on the test mule. If they do a matching Sequoia it might be the size up off-roader some of us with families have wanted. Wouldn't hold my breath for Toyota to actually build it.
But the LX should be able to tow a midsize one pretty well. On paper it matches up pretty comparably to my last F250. I had an 06 F250 crewcab diesel 4x4. Awful truck - like unbelievably awful reliability. But it towed pretty darn well. When it was running... Anyway the LX700 has more power, more torque, is heavier, has similar brake size. AHC should be excellent at locking down the suspension and self leveling. I do question if Toyota tuned it correctly for that use to firm up enough. Pretty much everything except the overall rear suspension design (narrow spring spacing) and the short wheelbase (probably the biggest issue here) points to a pretty solid tow vehicle.
I know this is the LX forum - but might be worth noting here that Toyota appears to be building a more legit raptor competitor. Some spy shots going around. Looks like maybe 37s on the test mule. If they do a matching Sequoia it might be the size up off-roader some of us with families have wanted. Wouldn't hold my breath for Toyota to actually build it.
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The 60” of wheelbase difference had that f250 planted.
I needed to tow almost 10k recently and even though my Tundra says it can do it on paper, I could not sleep comfortably until I rented a 2500 dodge. That dodge had no idea it was even towing 10,000 pounds of Unimog.
The wheelbase makes a big difference for sure. I probably wouldn't stress too much about towing 10k with my Tundra occasionally, but I probably wouldn't want to do it every day. Mostly the engine and gearing isn't setup super well for that kind of load. Not without a turbo if I were going into the mountains. Chassis wise - it feels pretty similar to my F250. I looks a lot like Toyota used the 04+ F250 with a 5.4L gasser as a benchmark for the Gen2 Tundra - they're surprisingly similar across the spec sheet. IIRC they even share some transfer case parts on the 14+ models. My Tundra does have airbags which helps with the spring rate issue though. The rear springs are really soft.
If I had to pick a truck that feels really really similar - that would be my 01 GMC HD2500. They are very similar in driving and towing feel. I had the 8.1 gasser. Power and delivery feel really close, steering feels similar. Even the cheap hard leather feels the same. haha.
The LX towing 10k for me would depend a lot on the trailer. 3 yards of sand in a dump trailer? Easy peasy. 32 foot bumper pull? Maybe not. But everyone has different experiences and risk tolerance. I used to tow 8-10k lbs with a 1984 F250 diesel that had 190hp and 300 ft lbs of torque and 12.5" brake rotors. By that standard a late model Tacoma would probably both out-pull and out-stop it. But the world has changed a lot and going 35mph up mountain passes isn't normal anymore. I just looked it up and that truck was rated for 14,000lbs - I'm not entirely sure it would even physically pull that much up some steeper passes unless you were in 1st gear.
This is really interesting. I have towed my 10k dump trailer with the 700H a few times and had no issues at all. In fact I would say because of the rear suspension it is better in a way than my 2500 power wagon. I have also looked at old towing stats as an interesting point of reference. The margin of error sure seems to be higher in the US than in some places and also seems to be higher in modern times than in days gone by, probably for good reason. Having said that, with a braked dump trailer even overloaded to 11k (which might happen on occasion) I feel quite safe towing with the LX shorts distances to the dump or quarry and back.
Probably more of an issue with the trailer brakes than the tow vehicle right? The trailer brakes should be stopping the trailer. Always better to have some reserve braking for emergencies though. Something I have found is that Toyota's OEM brake controller software is pretty terrible. I only used mine a few times before going back to my wireless controller. All of the domestic OEM controllers I've used are so much better I'm not sure why Toyota can't figure this out. I think that's part of the issue here too - it seems like the LX has the parts to tow better but may not have the right software to make it work as well as it could.
The Tundra and LX both sit in that in between weight class. They're about half way between a domestic half ton and 3/4 ton in weight. LX is actually pretty close to a Ram 2500 4x4.
A Crewcab Chevy 1500 4x4 is 5,130lbs.
A Tundra crewmax is 6,015 lbs
LX700h is 6,290lbs
Ram 2500 crewcab 4x4 6.4L Hemi is 6,650.
And then a maxed out Ram 2500 Cummins megacab is way heavier at 9,036 lbs. It may need (maybe has?) upgraded brakes just for stopping the truck itself.
you are most likely 100% correct. Though it was a brand new dump trailer. I probably didn’t have my controller set up correctly. 3/4 squarebody. With 1ton drivetrain and a turbo diesel. A lot of factors could have contributed to what happened.
Weight and wheelbase seem to be equally important to me. But, you guys tow A LOT more than I do.
I think a found a decent option for these rigs, well under 4000 lbs, sleeps four, fairly small overall. The company is actually an aircraft company which switched to campers during the pandemic.
mammothoverland.com
TL – Mammoth Overland
mammothoverland.com
Might as well look at new airstreams at that price point. Bit spicy for my blood.I think a found a decent option for these rigs, well under 4000 lbs, sleeps four, fairly small overall. The company is actually an aircraft company which switched to campers during the pandemic.
TL – Mammoth Overland
Definitely cool however.
the 2025 LX600, if main display put on Mode 2, you can edit it to display (top to bottom on the attached photo) Oil Temp, Transmission Temp, Oil Pressure, Engine & Temp. No numbers though, but still a helpful graph bar
Canyonero
Beating up Land Cruisers since 2015
- Thread starter
- #135
the 2025 LX600, if main display put on Mode 2, you can edit it to display (top to bottom on the attached photo) Oil Temp, Transmission Temp, Oil Pressure, Engine & Temp. No numbers though, but still a helpful graph bar
View attachment 3969638
I appreciate that - and yes, I have configured mine similarly. I'm not sure why they can't tell us actual temps, that's standard in the industry in 2025. I don't have any real interest in a "vague idea" of what all my temps are doing.
Your car's temp is between Hot and Cold.
Canyonero
Beating up Land Cruisers since 2015
- Thread starter
- #137
OP here. No need to "steer me toward a vehicle that can actually handle that thing."
My post was not me asking for help or guidance.
One more time for anyone in the cheap seats: that "monstrosity" is handled just fine by my Raptor - a 1/2 ton truck with the same OEM tow rating.
The Raptor, sitting on factory 37" tires, is basically a street-legal trophy truck with 14-15" of suspension travel.
It's unfazed when towing the same trailer, so I'm not going to blame the trailer for how the LX performs.
In fact, on a recent attempted camping trip in the LX, we turned back after just 5 minutes on the highway. My wife was immediately uncomfortable with the tail-wagging-the-dog situation, and asked that we use the Raptor instead.
We went back to the house, unhooked the LX (parked it in the corner and told it to think about what it had done), hooked up the Raptor, and off we went, stress-free.
The point of posting in here wasn't to get pity, or help, or guidance. It's simply to offer a firsthand account of towing a heavier travel trailer to anyone thinking about buying an LX and using it the same way. I've had a few people come forward and offer gratitude for the info, so that tells me it's not all in vain. I can weather a few slings and arrows to get the truth out there.
If you read my original post, I've towed once or twice before.
I would gladly go back to a bigger truck, such as an F-250, if the Raptor weren't so much damned fun.
Yeah if I didn’t need an F250 the best driving truck is a basic F150 regular cab. I have snagged one and daily’d it for work and around town.
Park it on the street overnight or crappy areas no worries. Scratch it, no worries.
Compromise- not a cool truck.
F250 is a lumbering beast around town. But I need one truck that can tow 17k gooseneck and 15k conventional.
Anyway….
There is a pretty wide void in Travel Trailers between what a ‘halfton’ can do and what a ‘3/4 ton’ can do. From what I am seeing that trailer is on the heavy side of the halfton arena.
Park it on the street overnight or crappy areas no worries. Scratch it, no worries.
Compromise- not a cool truck.
F250 is a lumbering beast around town. But I need one truck that can tow 17k gooseneck and 15k conventional.
Anyway….
There is a pretty wide void in Travel Trailers between what a ‘halfton’ can do and what a ‘3/4 ton’ can do. From what I am seeing that trailer is on the heavy side of the halfton arena.
bjowett
Supporting Vendor
Toyota might slap an 8000 lb rating on it, and almost everything else on the truck is well up to the task…. But needless to say here, the 112.2” wheelbase is always going to be a 112.2” wheelbase. Having towed the same and similar loads between my wife’s old 200 Series, and 2nd Gen Tundras with both the 145.7” and extra long 164.6”, it’s easy to say again, that wheelbase is everything. The latter in my list was absolutely amazing, even when comparing it to the 145.7”, which does very well, the massive length just shrugs it off.
