What can I tow with a 2003 Toyota Landcruiser?

[annieo]

I would like to buy a travel trailer and use my Landcruiser. It is a V8, 5 speed transmission, 235HP at 4,800, 4.7 liter, torque 320 lb-fl. 6500 tow weight. I want to make sure I can tow safely with this vehicle or look at buying a new vehicle. I have been looking at the Nomad 2011 Ultra Lite 210. 5,940 gvwr 22'5.

[Superslif]

Welcome to the IRV2 forums.....Before I bought my 05' Toyota 4-Runner, I test drove both a 04' Toyota Sequoia and a 04' 4-Runner both with the 4.7 V-8 (235 HP). Those two would have the same engine as your Landcruiser. I felt the 4.7 in the Sequoia was under powered....which I'm going to assume is about the same weight as your Landcruiser. Now in 05' they increased the HP in the 4.7 to 272 for the 4-Runner and 280 for the Sequoia. I assume the Landcruiser went to 280 HP also being their top of the line SUV. The 05' V-8 4-Runner is rated at 7200 towing for the 4x4 and 7500 for the 2x4. I tow a 3900 trailer dry, 4500-4600 wet with my 4-Runner. It handles all types of roads, but I would not try anything over 6000lbs. wet with it. The 4-Runner is a shorter wheelbase than your 04' Landcruiser.

The newer Sequoia and Landcruisers have either the 4.7 as the base engine or the 5.7 monster as big boy.....But with the big boy comes the big league price $$$$$. Now the new 4-Runners 10'-11' went back to only a V-6. (5000 towing) So the higher HP (272) 4-Runners were from 05' - 09'.

My Trailer Life 2010 towing guide list the 10' Landcruisers only with the 5.7 and 8500 towing limit.....

For the trailer your looking at, which is listed at 3900 dry, if you watch how you fill it, you should be OK with your 04' Landcruiser. My trailer is 24.5' and my combo works just fine. Having used this combo for 6 seasons and 300+ nights, I couldn't be happier..... 05' Aerolite hybrid and 05' 4-Runner

[annieo]

Thank you so much for the valuable info! I have never experienced a forum before and I'm very impressed. Enjoyed your photos and what a nice tt you have.

Annie

[Ray,IN]

Annnieo I could launch into a long reply, but this Travel Trailer Weight Calculator has all the answers to what your vehicle will safely tow. Just complete all the blanks and it does the rest.
FWIW, never go by the dry weight of a trailer unless that is the way you plan on traveling.

[Superslif]

One note....In a RV manufacture's brochure it will list the dry weight for that unit (model / floorplan). But in most cases that is without options. Usually somewhere on the actual trailer, there will be a weight sticker listing the weight of that unit as it left the factory with added options. My sticker was inside the first (upper) cabinet. Like mine, the brochure says 3700 lbs. The sticker says:3970 lbs. The more options, the less free weight that can be used for "stuff".

We all load our RV's differently, I watch what goes in every season. And I will inventory everything each spring to see if something is really needed or replace it with something that weighs less.

[TXiceman]

Yep and the number one rule of RV shopping is

NEVER BELIEVE THE RV SALESMAN.

Number two rule:

RV SALESMEN LIE.

HERE is a good site to learn about the RV weight terms and a spread sheet to help you with the calculations.

Ken

[Superslif]

Yes, I will second that "RV sales people will do whatever it takes to get the sale".

[NLOVNIT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superslif One note....In a RV manufacture's brochure it will list the dry weight for that unit (model / floorplan). But in most cases that is without options. Usually somewhere on the actual trailer, there will be a weight sticker listing the weight of that unit as it left the factory with added options.

That's very true. For our previous 5-r, the brochure listed the dry weight as 8060 lbs, but the weight sticker inside the cabinet read 8300 lbs. Quite a difference optioned out when it left the factory.

Another numbers querk: The brochure listed the length as 31'6", but the factory invoice listed the length as 28'0".

Lori-

[photoadjuster]

You might look into the Trailmanor trailers. You would be able to pull all but their largest model with ease.

[Randy the sly old fox]

How do you tell if a salesman is lying???? - his lips are moving

As for the weight issues, the advice given here is spot on. Something to take into account is that RV mfgs want to lie on the low side when it comes to weight and TV mfgs want to lie on the high side when it comes to tow capacity.

Something that has not been mentioned yet is wheelbase and length of TT. At 112" the LCs wheelbase is somewhat on the short side and the curb wt of around 5600 lbs is a bit on the light side. From experience, you will not be happy if your TT is much longer than 20' and weighs much more than 4500 lbs in ready to camp mode.

With a short WB TV, a long and heavy TT can cause the tail to wag the dog.

[Superslif]

Quote:

Something that has not been mentioned yet is wheelbase and length of TT. At 112" the LCs wheelbase is somewhat on the short side and the curb wt of around 5600 lbs is a bit on the light side. From experience, you will not be happy if your TT is much longer than 20' and weighs much more than 4500 lbs in ready to camp mode.

My 4-Runner is actually a medium sized SUV and is about 4500 lbs. and most likely a hair shorter than the Toyota LC....I use just a sway control, but do get sway above 65-67mph. I always travel at 58 -59 mph to get the most mileage (12-12.5) and the tach stays at 1750 rpm's. If I could afford a new LC I would jump on it. That is a nice vehicle....You see very few of them on the road...

[Dewfang]

Rides like a champ! 21" from ball to bumper.