How do I increase lawful towing capacity of a 200 series
Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 11:27
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MADOG
I think am looking for an engineer in
Melbourne who is a specialist in 4WD
suspension modifications as I am wanting to have my 200 series lawful towing capacity of 3.5t increased by a couple hundred kgs. This would permit me to be 100% legal when departing for the bush with a full payload of food and
water on board as currently the offroad van fully loaded exceeds the 3.5t specified towing capacity.
I am unsure as to what is required to achieve this; even if it is permitted by VicRoads and would appreciate any advice to set me in the right direction.
Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 11:54
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 11:54
It probably will not be just a
suspension person you want. What is the limiting factor with the 3,500 kg towing limit? Is it the
suspension, transmission, engine, cooling or the body? There are lots of things to take into consideration for maximum towing limits. A point in case is the Nissan Patrol, the auto 3.0 diesel uses a different gear box to the other autos and that limits its towing ability.
PeterD
AnswerID:
331195
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 11:59
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 11:59
Tow bar mounting point is another issue.
FollowupID:
598962
Reply By: Rossc0 - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 12:53
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 12:53
Easy to do.
Trade the LC200 in on an Ford F250 :)
Cheers
Ross
AnswerID:
331200
Reply By: Member - Lionel A (WA) - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 14:49
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 14:49
Madog, as far as Im aware, towing capacity is set by the manufacturer of the vehicle and can not be increased.
Cheers.....Lionel.
AnswerID:
331220
Reply By: Flywest - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 15:11
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 15:11
Got rid of my cruiser for a F 250 for just that reason.
Brakes capacity also has a bearing - best I know you cannot increase the capacity of the towing vehicle but you CAN decrease the weight of the van!
Most likely thats your answer.
The latest O/lander magazine (Nov) claims to have an article about aftermarket mods to LC200 series where long range tanls have a solution to the carrying capacity with aftermarke
suspension lift etc - and supposedly it's an engineer certified mod - but even that won't increase the towing capacity.
More often than not - the tow hitch is the starting place - you'll need breakaway vacuum brakes, a 70mm ball and hitch, load levelers, disc brakes on both axels of your van, and so on it goes.
I just got the F 250 and be done with it! (4250 kilos tow capacity).
Cheers
AnswerID:
331225
Reply By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 15:29
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 15:29
Madog ,
I was going to do it to my 100 Series , but the auto engineer who was going to process the upgrade, wanted $2000 for it and at the time I could not afford it .
He was going to upgrade the towing limit without any further modification - I had already put in a heavy duty
suspension and had tyres that he was happy with.
I think there is a few people who do it . Ring ARB and ask if they can recommend anyone .
Willie .
AnswerID:
331229
Follow Up By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 15:33
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 15:33
PS
Don't go that F250 / F350 way if you are going off road. They don't fit down tracks too
well and you cannot follow in wheel tracks offroad - lots of staked tyres etc
Willie
FollowupID:
598987
Follow Up By: Rossc0 - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 19:02
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 19:02
Yeah that's probably the only drawback with the f-series trucks but given that he's looking at towing a 3.5 ton caravan I doubt the van would be able to do that anyway.
Having had an f truck now for about 18 months (previous 4x4's were all Landcruisers and Landrovers) I have yet to stake a tyre. Havn't tried it in spinifex country yet but plenty of the other
places we've taken it if driven inappropriately would have possibly ended up with tyre damage.
Also have had to rescue a couple of smaller 4x4's (Toyota and Nissan) with damaged tyres because they thought they did not have to worry about staking tyres and just hurtled on through without a care for what was on the track.
It doesn't worry me if I have to take more time and care when offroad as it is less damaging to the truck and possibly to the terrain.
Cheers
Ross
FollowupID:
599031
Reply By: Member - Old Girl (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 23:00
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 23:00
Madog
Rang Toyota yesterday about our 92 Cruiser. Most of you will know our dilemma with just that said. I said we had a kamar tow bar rated at 3500kg is there anything we can do to up grade the towing capacity with brakes etc..? Their reply was Go buy a smaller van or buy a newer car. Two months out of our trip yeah right. Decided to not travel with
water tanks full and take minimal gear. Pack the tin cans in the rear of the car no push bikes and oh bugger no beer stacked in the van. I better be careful.
Sharon
AnswerID:
331343
Follow Up By: Angler - Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 23:50
Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008 at 23:50
Remember as far as insurance goes it is the little plate that determines the ATM of the van, not the actual weight.
If that plate says the van has an ATM of 3550Kg then that is to heavy for the cruiser. If it says 3450Kg then it is legal and insurable to tow with your cruiser.
I have seen quite a few vans that were obviously very much overweight however the plate said it is OK. In the event of a major crash I don't think the insurance company will pick up every bit of the wreck and weight it. I could be wrong however.
Pooley
FollowupID:
599110
Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 17:50
Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 17:50
Running with empty tanks is not an option. If there is a problem down the track the insurance companies will deem the tanks were full and then subsequently emptied.
PeterD
FollowupID:
599237
Reply By: Boobook2 - Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 06:35
Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 06:35
Madog,
I think you will find that the 3.5t is an ADR limit for Passenger vehicles with a GVM of 4t or less. The 200 is rated at 8500 lbs in the US which is 3.8t. It is the same design for the tow bar mounting in the rear chasis rail so there is no reason it would not be 3.8t unless it hit the Australian limit.
I think the F250 has a GVM over 4t hence higher towing capacity.
http://www.toyota.com/landcruiser/specs.html
AnswerID:
331359
Reply By: wheeler - Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 06:36
Thursday, Oct 23, 2008 at 06:36
ARB do an 3800 kg gvm upgrade foir the 200 series.
AnswerID:
331360
Follow Up By: GlenJ - Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 07:49
Saturday, Oct 25, 2008 at 07:49
Don't think this upgades tow capacity though
But as a previous post points out a possible rule for passenger cars under 3500 kg might be a limiting factor?
it might be possible to have the 3800gvm upgrade done, then go to an engineer and show him the US specs for higher towing capacity and he would be satisfied the chassis etc can handle this tow weight
Then you just might get it done because your car may no longer be subject to some rule for passenger cars under 3500kg
FollowupID:
599580