Can a Landcruiser replace my full size truck

[jhynesrockmtn]

My wife recently fully retired and I'm working part time close to home. We sold my daily driver Infiniti sedan and kept her Macan S. I drive my 914 or 356 when the weather permits but that won't work for winter. We also have a full size diesel 4*4 truck that used to tow my race car trailer (now sold) and still tows our 25foot travel trailer that is roughly 4,500 lbs dry.

I hate driving the truck for anything other than towing and have been looking at either a later series Landcruiser or it's Lexus sibling, the LX570.

Can the Landcruiser replace the truck as a tow vehicle/camping supply hauler? What compromises am I not considering? Also, can I safely buy a higher mileage one, like around 100k or so? The truck is a 2017 with only 50k on it.

[Dantilla]

Probably fine for normal towing.
Of course, longer wheelbase tow vehicles will be more stable than short wheelbase, especially when braking,

Nice thing about the pickup- I usually take the tailgate off when towing. Great visibility when backing.
Looking through the back window is much easier than backing using the mirrors.
Especially when backing down a boat ramp.
My little boat totally disappears below the tailgate. Remove the tailgate, and I can watch both trailer tires.

I use all eight feet of my pickup's box often enough that I won't consider any truck other than regular, short cab and eight foot box.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

Probably fine for normal towing.
Of course, longer wheelbase tow vehicles will be more stable than short wheelbase, especially when braking,

Nice thing about the pickup- I usually take the tailgate off when towing. Great visibility when backing.
Looking through the back window is much easier than backing using the mirrors.
Especially when backing down a boat ramp.
My little boat totally disappears below the tailgate. Remove the tailgate, and I can watch both trailer tires.

I use all eight feet of my pickup's box often enough that I won't consider any truck other than regular, short cab and eight foot box.

Bit off subject, but in my little '93 Ranger the PO painted the insides of the topper windows with black paint. So all I have is my side mirrors. Got a $75-ish backup camera off Amazon and set it up to be always on. Works great, no more blind spots. Highly recommended. Friend of ours saw it, wants multiples installed for both inside and on the back end of her horse trailer....

[LWJ]

Not sure about a late model LandCruiser, but I have a 100 series. I have towed an old Massey Ferguson tractor on a very heavy flatbed trailer with my cruiser. It did fine. But, the LandCruiser just isn’t a truck. It wasn’t particularly pleasant and not something that was stress-free. I would tow a smaller trailer no problem with one. I would check the tow rating. You may be pushing the abilities with a 4500# trailer. Certainly wind will be a consideration.

Good luck!

[Roswell]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

Also, can I safely buy a higher mileage one, like around 100k or so? ]

Absolutely, especially if the car has service records - especially oil changes consistent with Toyota recommendations. The V8's in the LC's are good for at least 300k, if properly maintained.

[rfuerst911sc]

For towing ability and safety it's hard to beat a strong frame and long wheelbase . I always think about panic stop situations from highway speeds . It's one thing to get the rig moving up to speed but it's another to emergency stop from 60 mph + .

Yes a lighter duty shorter wheelbase SUV will be fine for 98 % of situations . It's the 2 % that could be troubling . But only you know your trailer and the types of driving you do .

[Instrument 41]

Do you ever haul nasty dirty stiff in the bed? If so, then no, it will not replace your truck

[Ayles]

Maybe take a look at the Sequoia of the same generation, it has a higher towing capacity than the LC.

[911boost]

I have a 2012 F350 diesel 4x4 and a 2021 Land Cruiser. If you want to PM me contact info we can talk or I can send a detailed response here.

My travel trailer is a 26 foot bumper pull toy hauler and weighs 12.5k loaded, so I need the truck.

The LC I will never sell, it’s that awesome and I have towed the biggest uhaul trailer they have but it was not that heavy moving my daughter into college about 700 miles. I had a 2001 Tahoe and pulled a 1978 18’ camper that was heavy as hell and it did fine, so it can be done with an SUV.

Bill

[911boost]

I think the max towing for my 200 series is 8,100 pounds.

[Ayles]

2023 Sequoia is 9300 lbs.

[rfuerst911sc]

For hauling dirty or bulky crap you can always rent or buy a utility trailer . Assuming if you get rid of the pickup .

[Seahawk]

As you know, what you are towing is as important as the tow vehicle. I tow all the farm stuff with a 1/2 ton truck mainly because a horse trailer, my 18ft utility trailers and dump trailer need the truck...all locally now.

A 25ft trailer is a lot of “sail area” regardless of tow weight. The first time I towed a large box trailer, similar to a 25ft RV, I was surprised at the amount of movement, especially on the interstate in traffic...a semi passing me was a bounty of pressure waves and was very uncomfortable, at least to me. This was never an issue with my trailers, no sail area and dense, like towing your race car.

I would be reticent to tow an RV with a LC unless i could bound the problem.

I took the tow hitch off my Series 80, btw, available

[911boost]

I missed the 25ft trailer part. That is a lot of trailer to pull....

While I am sure my 200 Series has the power, I am not sure I would want to pull something that big for long distances. Of course I am biased because my F350 is a crew cab 8' bed so it is about as long of one as you can get and I spoiled by towing with it. A buddy of mine and I pulled my toy hauler from CO to FL in April when I was between jobs loaded with our Harleys and there was zero excitement, which is the best type of towing. Ended up being over 4,000 miles on that trip.

[CarreraDan]

Yes a series 200 Land Cruiser can pull your trailer just fine. We have towed our wakeboard boat multiple times with ours and it pulls it just fine (boat and trailer are 8000lbs). I will say the 200 will squat depending on what your tongue weight is. We normally pull our boat with my 1500 GMC Sierra Towmax, has 13000 lb rating with the 6.2L V8 and a heavy duty rear end and extra transmission coolers. The GMC handles better and doesn't squat with the boat at all. If I were going to tow 8000 lbs regularly I would add airbags to the rear of the Land Cruiser. Stopping, pulling and turning it does fine.

We bought our 2016 LC with 100k miles on it (full service records) and all highway miles as it was a mobile office for the PO. We now have 175k miles and it has been absolutely
bullet proof. Has been across the country twice and is a great basecamp/road trip vehicle. It will cruise 90-100mph without breaking a sweat and eats miles (and gas too if that really matters to you). With AT tires we get mid 18 mpg's on the trips and my wife averages 15 commuting. It will climb things and go places people in Jeeps will wonder how you made it all while your drinks are cold in the fridge and AC seats are on. It truly is the most capable stock vehicle I have owned. Seats in our Range Rover were better but mechanical reliability is nice when you are in the middle of nowhere.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Thanks for the information. It looks like maybe I'll be running my truck for a few more years and then either look at the new Tundra or Sequoia as a replacement. The new Sequoia, assuming the drive train proves reliable, has a 10 inch longer wheelbase and bigger towing capacity than the 200 series Landcruiser.

I'd love to scratch that Landcruiser itch but given how close I am to retiring and having to watch money more closely, I can't drop $40k plus on a 100k mileage 8 or 9 year old rig that does a so so job towing my camping rig. The sail area discussion probably being the biggest con. A really nice 2015 LC with 124k miles sold on BAT today for $39k. They really have held their value so well.