Tow vehicle suitability

watsea · Guru

Tow vehicle suitability

vince56 · Senior Member

Geez Yobarr you don't let up do you?
The LC200 is designed to do many tasks well, as such is is NOT designed to be a pure tow car and nothing else, if it were then yes the wheelbase would probably be longer.
These beautiful pieces of engineering are revered the world over due to their ability to be a strong reliable vehicle for a multitude of tasks, including towing.
"Stupidly Short" wheelbase, no mate you've got it wrong.

Are We Lost · Guru

BarneyBDB wrote:
The first post asked if a 2 litre vehicle was suitable to tow....

Does anyone wish to comment on this engine instead of just re hashing the endless argument???

Yes, good point Barney. I know my focus was on safety and legality. I believe that should be paramount in any comparisons. Once eliminations have been made on that score, then move to driveability and performance.

I have the 3.2L Ranger with 6 speed. I had a 10 speed 2 litre bi-turbo as a loan car (no towing). It was quieter, smoother and felt more refined. I did not notice any difference in performance although the specs show it should be better. Of course it used the gears a lot more. Perhaps working it harder may have highlighted the benefit of increased torque.

But there are a few comments online that the bi-turbo is a bit slow off the mark when towing. It has much reduced engine braking which is virtually essential for towing heavy vans down steep hills. That comes back to safety. With substantially reduced engine braking it needs to rely a lot more on vehicle brakes, the opposite of what you want.

I have not driven the 3.0L V6 but from reports it is very noticeably better, particularly when towing. I have not seen any comments about fuel economy when towing and could imagine it consuming a bit more.

Bobdown · Guru

yobarr wrote:
No need to panic Bob. All legal, all safe . Legal on every axle at 1350kg steer, 2300kg rear axle, 3150kg on van axles. Right on factory GCM 6800kg. Cheers
P.S. Oh, almost forgot! Weight on wheels of car is 11.6% more than weight on wheels of van. All legal, all safe. Easy

Oh no, that's all we need.......6.8 ton of tractor, coming down the highway out of control at 100 kph, driven by a vertically challenged road train driver, not moving over for anyone.

Only joking Yobarr, I'm sure the seat goes forward enough for you to reach the pedals !!! smile smile

Cheers Bob

yobarr · Guru

Bobdown wrote:
yobarr wrote:
No need to panic Bob. All legal, all safe . Legal on every axle at 1350kg steer, 2300kg rear axle, 3150kg on van axles. Right on factory GCM 6800kg. Cheers
P.S. Oh, almost forgot! Weight on wheels of car is 11.6% more than weight on wheels of van. All legal, all safe. Easy

Oh no, that's all we need.......6.8 ton of tractor, coming down the highway out of control at 100 kph, driven by a vertically challenged road train driver, not moving over for anyone.
Only joking Yobarr, I'm sure the seat goes forward enough for you to reach the pedals !!!
Cheers Bob

On the contrary, Bob, with the seat hard against the back of the cab it is back just enough for me to be "comfortable". How you deduced that I am "vertically challenged" would be interesting to know as, at 175cm and 90kg I am not exactly small?
Rarely do I exceed 85kmh as I like to see things as I travel.

None of this "Gotta be there yesterday" stuff for me. Life's too short to waste.

Each day, as I drive the Roadtrain at around 100kmh, I am overtaken by caravanners travelling at ridiculous speeds. Indeed, just yesterday I was overtaken while travelling at 100kmh, around a blind, sweeping left hand bend, on unbroken white lines, by nothing less than a Triton towing a big van.

Perhaps he was so surprised that he was even able to reach 100kmh+ that he wanted to take full advantage of that? Who knows, but he was very lucky that the oncoming cars gave him room. Cheers.

-- Edited by yobarr on Tuesday 23rd of January 2024 06:02:32 PM

Greg 1 · Guru

My opinion on the 2 litre Everest/Ranger is that I would go for the V6. The old adage of there is no substitute for cubes is quite true for a tow vehicle. To obtain the same power out of a smaller engine the only way is to place it under greater stress. Compression ratio makes power which you can do by either raising the static CR or pumping more fuel and air into the engine via turbo or super charging. With a larger engine you are going to have to do less to produce the same hp so the stress on various components is going to be reduced. I would prefer the 3.2 5 cylinder engine to the 2 litre biturbo even though the 2 litre on paper produces slightly more power. Whatever case that is made for it the 2 litre is going to be working harder to do the same work as it's bigger siblings.

Bobdown · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Bobdown wrote:
yobarr wrote:
No need to panic Bob. All legal, all safe . Legal on every axle at 1350kg steer, 2300kg rear axle, 3150kg on van axles. Right on factory GCM 6800kg. Cheers
P.S. Oh, almost forgot! Weight on wheels of car is 11.6% more than weight on wheels of van. All legal, all safe. Easy

Oh no, that's all we need.......6.8 ton of tractor, coming down the highway out of control at 100 kph, driven by a vertically challenged road train driver, not moving over for anyone.
Only joking Yobarr, I'm sure the seat goes forward enough for you to reach the pedals !!!
Cheers Bob
On the contrary, Bob, with the seat hard against the back of the cab it is back just enough for me to be "comfortable". How you deduced that I am "vertically challenged" would be interesting to know as, at 175mm and 90kg I am not exactly small?
Rarely do I exceed 85kmh as I like to see things as I travel.
None of this "Gotta be there yesterday" stuff for me. Life's too short to waste.
Each day, as I drive the Roadtrain at around 100kmh, I am overtaken by caravanners travelling at ridiculous speeds. Indeed, just yesterday I was overtaken while travelling at 100kmh, around a blind, sweeping left hand bend, on unbroken white lines, by nothing less than a Triton towing a big van.
Perhaps he was so surprised that he was even able to reach 100kmh+ that he wanted to take full advantage of that? Who knows, but he was very lucky that the oncoming cars gave him room. Cheers.

Just pulling your leg Chris..........even though they are short. biggrin

You should get a LC 200, much more leg room.

yobarr · Guru

Bobdown wrote:

Just pulling your leg Chris ..........even though they are short.
You should get a LC 200, much more leg room.

Yes Bob, and I did realise that. All my brothers are well over 180cm tall, and built like brick outhouses!

As for purchasing an LC200 for more legroom, I'd be afraid that someone I know might see me. Anyway, I'd rather walk than be seen in one of those over-rated but underperforming show ponies!

My 530hp SSV now is on borrowed time too as it is in NSW and unlikely to be driven for some years.

Looks like it'll be the 79 for ever. Cheers

-- Edited by yobarr on Tuesday 23rd of January 2024 08:31:05 PM

AndyCap100 · Senior Member

All these posts and very few that give any usefull facts to US3 . Why do people have to waste dam time by bloody arguing . US3 needed plain facts ,not a dam argument between the same old few who get there knickers in a twist every time as to who`s right !! Rant over .

TheHeaths · Guru

AndyCap100 wrote:
All these posts and very few that give any usefull facts to US3 . Why do people have to waste dam time by bloody arguing . US3 needed plain facts ,not a dam argument between the same old few who get there knickers in a twist every time as to who`s right !! Rant over .

Good post Andy.

Lots regarding the unsuitability of LC200 for towing heavy weights, and lots of comments about something (I lost interest) only towing below 3100kg safely.

OP talks about his Jayco Journey with tare at 2200kg. Even with the Jayco approved factory lift in load to 600kg from standard 475kg, ATM van would be a maximum of 2800kg, and it is more likely to be 2675kg standard. Seems to me he will be fine towing this with the new vehicle weight wise, just taking standard precautions to load his van sensibly.

Are We Lost · Guru

TheHeaths wrote:
OP talks about his Jayco Journey with tare at 2200kg. Even with the Jayco approved factory lift in load to 600kg from standard 475kg, ATM van would be a maximum of 2800kg, and it is more likely to be 2675kg standard. Seems to me he will be fine towing this with the new vehicle weight wise, just taking standard precautions to load his van sensibly.

I don't agree. If you look at what the OP said, it appears he wants to carry a pile of goodies (although he did not confirm that). The Everest does not have the capacity to do that.

Anyway, without that information we are only guessing. He thanked us and said he was rethinking the whole idea of what they want to do and how, etc. Then he has not been back since. Not online since 22nd.

TheHeaths · Guru

Are We Lost wrote:
TheHeaths wrote:
OP talks about his Jayco Journey with tare at 2200kg. Even with the Jayco approved factory lift in load to 600kg from standard 475kg, ATM van would be a maximum of 2800kg, and it is more likely to be 2675kg standard. Seems to me he will be fine towing this with the new vehicle weight wise, just taking standard precautions to load his van sensibly.
I don't agree. If you look at what the OP said, it appears he wants to carry a pile of goodies (although he did not confirm that). The Everest does not have the capacity to do that.
Anyway, without that information we are only guessing. He thanked us and said he was rethinking the whole idea of what they want to do and how, etc. Then he has not been back since. Not online since 22nd.

With the 700kg payload, the Everest isnt an orphan in that. Landcruiser, Prado, Patrols, and many other wagons would lack the payload for an all the fruit trip.

Baes on the information the OP did present, & a bit of research re the ATM, the vehicle, if loaded sensibly as I said, would be okay.

Pradokakadudavid · Senior Member

I would keep the Prado.

Toyota underrate their 4x4 GVM as a safety precaution and the Prado has a 3.5 t GVM in other markets (not in Australia so they can flog more Landcruisers).

I agree with Yobarr that it is far safer for you to limit the weight you tow to less than the Prado's GVM capacity as people who tow 3.5 t with utes are idiots.

The figures (perhaps) may be legal but the physics are lethal!

Keep the caravan as light as possible (always less than the tow vehicle) as most beginning caravanners take all kinds of crap they don't need and sometimes their load gets lighter and lighter as they get smarter and smarter.

In my opinion, having previously owned a Prado 4 l, V6 Kakadu (best 4x4 I have ever owned) it is a very stable vehicle with a great footprint and a good tow vehicle.

I always opt for cubes rather than kws as I believe this contribtes to longivity (hence my 296 kw 5.6l V8!!!!).

Good luck and keep asking questions.

Regards

David

-- Edited by Pradokakadudavid on Monday 5th of February 2024 01:48:13 PM

-- Edited by Pradokakadudavid on Monday 5th of February 2024 01:48:51 PM