cwmoser wrote:
24v, Durb, were the trucks you mentioned V6?
I might be a little too overly concerned about the towing capacity of my
V8 Lexus LX470 - its a large SUV like the Toyota Land Cruiser.
The Lexus can work . You might have to add some easy mods IF you don't already them. Your not being overly concerned, your being smart , just be educated about real numbers.
You have to choose a trailer that has a light enough tongue weight at the same time, have trailer tires and axles that are 'heavy enough' to support the trailers cargo load (payload) once you add all your personal stuff to it. You have to create a balance and this is often the place where people get into trouble.
Ex: Towing a boat is not the same as towing a TT . Frontal area is a factor. Transmission temp. might increase , so make sure you have a tow package and a transmission cooler. A trans.temp gauge might be a good idea if you don't already have one.
A cooler and gauge can be easily added and not too expensive , at the same time offering that extra margin of safety for vehicle protection by NOT cooking your transmission going up long hills on summer days.
This (Lexus) can done as a tow vehicle, but you have to understand its limits and how fast a trailers weight can increase once you start packing it.
**Being that the Lexus is an upgraded Toyota , I would ask a Lexus mechanic about towing with your vehicle to make sure there are no hidden surprises specific to the Lexus brand.
It "might" have a different type of suspension , like "air-ride" or whatever that might have limits regarding tongue weight that a Land Cruiser doesn't have . It might be a uni-body vehicle and not a stronger full frame vehicle.
You will need a weight distributing hitch (WDH) to allow the combo to ride level and at the same time, distributing hitch weight to the trailer as well as the tow vehicle.
The towing capacity (ex:6000-6500#'s) is not the only factor.
Ask about trailer tongue weight rating of the TV's (tow vehicle) as well as the payload rating of your Lexus. That will include all people and gear inside the TV. (be careful about carrying heavy items inside the Lexus behind the rear axle, that weight gets calculated into the hitch weight) . You are carrying this weight on the rear axle and rear tires which have individual ratings.
Tire weight ratings are stamped on the tire sidewall, add them together and that " might be " depending on your specific model tires, your weakest link regarding hitch weight of the trailer.
'LT' tires might be a good choice for you.
Because you are going to be very close regarding tongue weight, I would buy a Sherline trailer tongue scale (about $130.00-140.00 from 'etrailer or amazon') so you really know what your trailers tongue weight is. It will increase as you load your stuff into the trailer especially if you pack things in front of the trailer axles.
Evenly pack the trailer to distribute cargo weight and make sure the trailers tires have a 10-15% plus margin of safety for weight carrying payload.
A travel trailer with a dry 450# tongue weight might surprise you to find its really 700# or more, once you load up the trailer with all your stuff. Items you carry in the trailer in front of the axle will increase the tongue weight on the trailer and transferred to the TV .
This may very well max out your Lexus hitch weight rating before you max out its 6000# tow rating.
