Tweaking levelling to increase towing capacity? (1 Viewer)

[scottm]

I chatted with a dealer about buying the 2021 LC they have incoming, mentioned towing my boat was over capacity. He said they can increase the towing capacity by increasing the leveling through software. Sounds questionable, what do you guys say?

I'd be towing my 10,000+ pound boat about five miles slowly, twice a year, launching and retrieving. I think the stock 200 could handle it well, but not at normal road speeds as he claimed.
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[Broski]

Theirs no way I would want to pull that Bad Boy out of the water and up the ramp with anything less them a full size truck similar to whats in the picture. JMHO

The Lawyers would have a heyday if anything happened in that short 5mi. drive to the boat ramp, Just Sayin

 

[Sandroad]

Leveling via software to increase towing capacity? What was that dealer smoking? (Although I know perfectly well they will say anything to close a sale.)

Nice Great Lakes boat! That a Chris Craft?

 

[TeCKis300]

Hahha, leveling software. Nice one. Don't forget to upgrade the blinker fluid.

While it's outside of the stated capacities, if you must do it, I think there's some meaningful considerations. This is not condoning it and it's obviously at your own risk, but I've tow'd a 10k plus loaded dump trailer couple times and she did the deed. I liken the 200-series more to a HD SUV than a typical 1/2 ton SUV if there were such ratings.

It looks you live in the flatlands? 5 miles on largely flat ground at lower speeds is not unreasonable IMO. Lower speeds is key.

- How much tongue weight are we talking about with that trailer? Boats typically have less tongue weight than travel trailers, and I'm at 1200 lbs, albiet with WD hitch and AHC suspension. You may want to consider air bags if it's a heavy tongue, for the rare occasion you do this.

- Keep the ball as close and tight to the bumper as possible to minimize leverage and squat

- Air up those tires probably 4-8 psi over stock

- The 200-series has a curb weight overlapping with the lower end of HD trucks. More weight can help when on the dock, particularly weight ahead of the rear axle. Just to make sure the tow vehicle has enough ballast for traction. Obviously you'll want to be in low range and locked center.

Reminds me of this vid

 

[scottm]

Leveling via software to increase towing capacity? What was that dealer smoking? (Although I know perfectly well they will say anything to close a sale.)

Nice Great Lakes boat! That a Chris Craft?

Yup, 1974, the dealer never got around to selling it and it sat decades in storage. I guess that makes me the original owner.

I think a Samurai could pull this boat up the ramp in low-range with enough ballast. I considered that option, would love a reason to buy an old Sammy. And over the flat roads at 10-15mph, not very risky with a 200. Dealer made it sound like I could tow cross-country, which I doubt.

Not sure on tongue weight. Triple-axles, seemed like a lot of tongue weight when cranking on the jack, but when I lowered the tongue all the way, the jack foot lifted before the tongue hit the dirt.
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I have been renting trucks to move my boat, kind of a pita as they are an hour away and spendy.
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[JohnPW]

I’m guessing a 27’ Commander? They are very heavily built, my father had a 35’ for decades.

as stated above I would think you could pull this off, with airbags to deal with tongue weight. But I would suggest just renting a truck twice a year if that’s the only time it needs to be trailered. In the grand scheme of boating expenses that would be a minor cost.

 

[bloc]

A dealer that tells you it’s ok to tow well over GCWR is being very irresponsible and to me would be a huge red flag. They only care about selling that vehicle, and not about whether it’s right for your needs.

Nothing in the landcruiser software has anything to do with towing. It uses regular coil springs and “dumb” dampers and there is no electronic input, not even for the fancy auto disconnecting swaybars. At least not in the US.. The LX570 gets the auto-leveling suspension that will adjust for significant tongue weight.. in some markets that is available on landcruisers but not here in the US. Not that the dealer knows that.. this sounds typical of their level of knowledge on these pretty rare vehicles.

Technically 2016+ cruisers do have a height sensor on the rear axle but to my knowledge that is only to level the LED headlights which have a very sharp beam cutoff and will easily blind oncoming traffic if they aren’t adjusted correctly.

If their “software” tweak was for the engine or transmission that would also be news to us..

I’m really curious what this software is supposed to do.. maybe try to get some details and post them here, if you don’t mind embarrassing them a little.

 

[Cruisin911]

Dealer is crazy. I wouldn't attempt it, but I am sure it CAN be done. Im certain that it shouldn't be done. Just because they towed the space shuttle with a tundra doesn't mean that you should. I would keep renting a truck twice a year or just call someone at the marina and have them transport it for you. Safer and easier.

 

[afgman786]

Get that in writing from the dealer and if anything ever happens they get sued. Seems like a win to me. 200 can definitely pull the weight, being legal and other things is a different point.

 

[GordJ]

Hahha, leveling software. Nice one. Don't forget to upgrade the blinker fluid.

While it's outside of the stated capacities, if you must do it, I think there's some meaningful considerations. This is not condoning it and it's obviously at your own risk, but I've tow'd a 10k plus loaded dump trailer couple times and she did the deed. I liken the 200-series more to a HD SUV than a typical 1/2 ton SUV if there were such ratings.

It looks you live in the flatlands? 5 miles on largely flat ground at lower speeds is not unreasonable IMO. Lower speeds is key.

- How much tongue weight are we talking about with that trailer? Boats typically have less tongue weight than travel trailers, and I'm at 1200 lbs, albiet with WD hitch and AHC suspension. You may want to consider air bags if it's a heavy tongue, for the rare occasion you do this.

- Keep the ball as close and tight to the bumper as possible to minimize leverage and squat

- Air up those tires probably 4-8 psi over stock

- The 200-series has a curb weight overlapping with the lower end of HD trucks. More weight can help when on the dock, particularly weight ahead of the rear axle. Just to make sure the tow vehicle has enough ballast for traction. Obviously you'll want to be in low range and locked center.

Reminds me of this vid

I agree with everything teckis says. Boat trailers have way less tongue weight than travel trailers and a 5 mile trip at 30 mph is well within my comfort zone. The important factor, in my mind, is speed. Momentum is the dangerous factor and under 30 mph you can stop that load, even if you didn’t hook up the trailer brakes. Not suggesting the no brake thing but there is lots of rubber and braking in the LC if your speed is down. And, as you stated there is plenty of power to get it up and down the ramp.