Landcruiser for towing / 4WD - KDSS or not

I could not have explained it any better than Boobook.
I have KDSS with ARB suspension, car still has slight lean now with third battery and fridge on one side but evens out with me in it and loaded up for touring. Im not concerned currently.
Regards
Angus.

Thanks Boobook. Good explanation. There are always 2 sides to the story. I have read about the bleed being required. Not really an issue. All I really wanted to do is not pass up KDSS if infact its a really good system overall and from what you say, and have experienced, it is! Thks. And yes, I will join LCOOL.

Boobook (and Athol). I have tried to join LCOOL.org but there seems to be a problem with the form registration process. ie complete it, hit send and it directs to a website saying the form management system has changed and the administrator needs to amend.

Thought I would mention if you are on there regularly.

Cheers

Forget last post. Just received email that the issue is being sorted. Timing so coincidental to my last post...haha

I always tow in 5th, 4th is too low for 110 k/ph.

Would agree with 4th if you like sticking to 90 k/ph.

I am not sure I understand this - surely a good auto gearbox will select the right gear depending on load, throttle setting etc - so if it thinks the load is too high it changes down to the relevant gear.

I my Landie I tow in drive and it just selects what gear is needed for the conditions - rarely gets into 6th in hilly country and tends to stay in 5th most of the time at cruising speeds. My only concession to towing is that I tow in sport mode as the change spots are better when there is a bit of load.

Garry

Gronk, I think you are a danger to yourself and other travellers.

Alan, we have a LC200 MY16 and found we have to tow mainly in 4th to keep the auto transmission temp low because the torque converter would lock up, but wouldn't lock up in 5th. (We measure the temp with a ScanGuage).
Hubby got a torque converter lock up kit fitted and although we haven't towed with it yet, we find it already works really well. The torque converter stays locked up in 5th and keeps transmission temps low. Apparently we should also enjoy better fuel economy. There's lots of discussion on the LCOOL forum and caravanning forum.
We also have the KDSS fitted. Although we have nothing to compare it to, we do notice it sits very flat on cornering and has very little roll. We don't have any intentions on upgrading suspension though, so can't be of much help to you in setting yours up.

Thoroughly recommend the LCOOL site. Absolutely a great source of information for everything 200 Series. With respect to gear selection when towing and when using cruise control 4th is ideal in slightly undulating country in that with the power of the V8 the transmission will remain locked and thus run cooler. On flat country 5th can be used successfully. Recommend the ScanGauge. Excellent addition to the 200 Series.

Thx Athol;

You raise a couple of interesting points.
1. Can you join LCOOL before becoming an owner. Think it wise to get as much information before I do any additional work on the car.
2. I hadn't heard abou the castor angle issue....not surprising as I have really only finally decided on getting a LC200 recently and frankly this was determined by the Van size and intended length of our journey......all being well , so Vehicle set up is important to me for sure. Should I get the acstors done as I do want to lift the car and set it up as a 4WD capable unit.
3. Scangauge 11 and additional oil cooler also very sound advice.

Another question, given your experience. What do you know/think of the Steinbauer Performance upgrade and would you think it necessary if only towing and medium level 4WD planned?

OMG , the $ spend never seems to end!

Cheers

Tony, you can join LCOOL without owing a Landcruiser, lots of people join while they are buying.

BUT read the intro stuff carefully and ALWAYS do a search and existing threads before starting new ones or you will get stomped on from a great height. There are tons of newbie threads.

Also unless you go for a large lift the standard upper control arm will be fine the great majority of the time. It is generally only used for over 2" lists. Though some people may have had a need or want to use them for less lifts. I think that is pretty rare though.

I don't tow over 2t but I would seriously check into the need for a oil cooler before spending the dosh. Again LCOOL is the place to go for that. I may not have paid much attention but I would guess it is the exception rather than the rule. It could be a precautionary measure.

Tony.

No. 1 Yes you can join Lcool before you have a Landcruiser, and there is heaps of information there.

No 2. Whilst big lifts do require replacement of the UCA's, I fitted the smallest lift that ARB sold for the front (supposed to be 25mm, but was actually 50mm above the new vehicle spec of 500mm from centre of wheel to wheel arch, and I had a winch and steel bar fitted after the original vehicle height was measured) and this was sufficient to reduce the castor from the desirable 2 deg 26 min to a maximum attainable 0 deg 21 min, and this did affect the driveability of the vehicle.

No 3. I, and also the dealer that I purchased the vehicle from, consider that the additional transmission cooler IS ESSENTIAL if extensive caravan towing is anticipated. The major power (and fuel) use is to defeat the wind resistance and is not related to the towing weight, the gross weight does affect the power requirements when it comes to hills.

My highest fuel consumption occurred on relatively flat and level roads when there was strong headwinds (Stuart Highway from Elliott to Three Ways, also Broome to Port Headland) and if left in 5th gear at 100kph the trans temp would climb to over 120deg. but in 4th gear stayed below 70deg, fuel consumption was the same in either gear at the time)

Remember that for every 10 degrees that you can remove from the transmission temperature then you double the life of the transmission, so having sufficient cooling capacity for the work being done and also driving the vehicle in a manner (read gear) that will reduce the heat build up will have a substantial effect on the long term operating costs.

no 4. I am not in favour of fitting any performance chip that only increases the quantity of fuel being delivered to the engine, and any chip that increases the fuel rail pressure is doing just that. I am very wary of any chip that alters the injection timing, as pressures and combustion temps can rapidly increase, and either of these chips can increase Exhaust Gas Temps, and any increase can result in melted pistons. The engine manufacturer has spent many millions of dollars developing the engine with both performance and reliability/durability in mind.

I consider that the performance of the 200TTD is more than adequate to tow a van of 3t, and it will do so up almost all the hills that you encounter at or above the posted speed limits. I think that the $1500.00 would be better in your pocket.

I have also read somewhere that the transmission used in the 200ttd has a designed maximum input torque of 650nm, and if this is correct then the fitting of any chip could easily exceed this design parameter.

Hope this helps.
Athol

Thanks Athol. I really appreciate the input and will take heed of your comments as I progress this . Cheers .

Hi Tony
We have the LC79 Series, considered a chip however found a company in WA that does remapping of the ECU.
100 addional nm of torque
60 kw extra power or was it hp (not sure)
Better fuel economy
And the EGR temp is about 100 cooler.
The only down side was I had to put in a heavy duty clutch original clutch kept slipping in 3rd and 4th
Towinf a Spinifex va 3.5t and averaging 20-21L /100