utter the phrase “If you mention the Land Cruiser to almost anyone, they will instantly picture one of the most capable and long-lasting sport-utility vehicles ever off-roading and overlanding. When you mention the 8,100-pound towing capability of the 2021 Land Cruiser, you’ll get a puzzled face and a blank stare “I mean, really, will it pull that much?
I experienced the same surprise while investigating the final model year of Toyota’s 200-series Land Cruiser. The Land Cruiser may have a large V8 and be a body-on-frame SUV, but its soft suspension and short wheelbaseboth of which are good for off-road drivingmust make it a wretched mess when towing a huge enclosed trailer. Toyota handed over a 2021 Land Cruiser Heritage Edition for the week to test whether that was the case. After taking delivery, I towed my enclosed trailer to Virginia International Raceway in five hours after attaching it to the hitch in about thirty minutes.
In This Article...
What Is It?
This is a Heritage Edition 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser. The 2021 model year is the last one for the “Toyota asserts that the 200-series Land Cruiser, which has been on sale since 2008, is the final Land Cruiser to be sold in the United States. Consumer preferences appear to appreciate the concept of “The large Toyota has struggled in sales compared to the more family-friendly, more affordable, more durable Sequoia, which can tow almost as much anyhow.
The “A distinctive front grille treatment, bronze BBS wheels, and retro-style badging on the C-pillar make up the Heritage Edition’s eye-catching visual package. It also has a Yakima roof rack, which adds to the truck’s overall height, which is almost seven feet tall and barely fits in parking garages.
The omnipresent 5.7-liter V8 engine from Toyota powers every 2021 Land Cruiser, generating 381 horsepower and 401 lb-ft of torque. The Land Cruiser comes with an 8-speed automatic transmission, which has two more gears than the other Toyota vehicles with this engine (the Sequoia and Tundra). A full-time four-wheel drive system with low range and many off-road technology that I didn’t use receives power.
Toyota comes with a standard “Beyond an engine oil cooler, brake controller wire under the dashboard, and the hitch out back, the Trailer Tow package isn’t particularly complete. There isn’t a built-in trailer brake controller; you’ll either need to connect an aftermarket controller or use something in-line, like my Tekonsha Prodigy RF.
Hooking Up a Trailer
In general, connecting a trailer is straightforward, but just like with the Lexus LX 570, the Land Cruiser’s sibling vehicle, I had to use a flathead screwdriver to reveal the trailer hitch. One of the producers who conceal their hitch under a painted, plastic body panel is Toyota. While other manufacturers just use finger-friendly tabs to secure the panel, Toyota uses a push-in plastic fastener, which gives it a cleaner appearance when not towing. To remove the fastener, I had to pull out the flathead screwdriver from the toolkit that came with it. Even though it was simple (almost), I pondered how soon I would misplace or break the fastener if I were the owner of this Land Cruiser.
Hook-up was simple after the hitch was revealed. Because there isn’t much space for the hitch pin, if you use a locking pin (like I do), be ready to go through some trial and error as you figure out how to make it fit. After loading the BMW onto the trailer a few hours into my drive, I did add weight distribution due to the weight of my trailer.
Toyotas and Lexuses
has kept the Land Cruiser’s right rear seven-pin trailer electrical connector tucked up and at an angle. This helps protect the connector from harm during off-roading, but finding it requires crouching or lying flat on the ground.
Towing an Enclosed TrailerCan the 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Do It?
I peered under the driver’s door jamb to inspect the payload sticker before hooking up. Toyota estimated the payload capacity of my specific Land Cruiser at around 1,320 pounds; keep in mind that this amount must account for the driver and any passengers, all of your belongings, and the tongue weight of the trailer. With my BMW M3 inside, my aluminum enclosed trailer weighs between 6,500 and 7,000 pounds. I assumed a tongue weight of 700 pounds, which, when I slid behind the wheel, left around 190 pounds of cargo. In the Land Cruiser, I could have transported a passenger or a set of wheels and tires, but not both.
Once we were moving, the Land Cruiser’s towing abilities caught me off guardmostly in a good way. Although not as much as I’d anticipated, the truck might be pushed around due to its short 112.2 wheelbase and soft suspension. It only took a steady hand on the wheel to stay straight, but it took more concentration in those situations than, say, in a Tundra. The worst-performing fleet were large flatbed trucks “The Land Cruiser was harmed by the wind wake effect; 18-wheelers didn’t bother it as much.
Toyota’s “The Land Cruiser’s Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, which is essentially a pair of hydraulic, adjustable sway bars, helped it maintain control through turns. To reduce body roll, the system can stiffen the sway bars; alternatively, it can completely disconnect the bars to allow for better wheel mobility when off-roading.
The Land Cruiser-exclusive (for now) eight-speed automatic’s transmission gearing wasn’t the best. Toyota doesn’t offer a tow/haul mode, and even when I kept the transmission in the “Sport” and “ECT Power” modes, it still tried to upshift out of first too soon, followed by a second gear that was too long. Similar sluggish highway acceleration was experienced, and the transmission would not downshift unless the throttle was almost mashed. Other tow vehicles use similar power and torque levels more effectively because to smarter transmission technology. With my trailer brakes being controlled by the Prodigy RF, the Land Cruiser’s finicky unloaded brakes gave enough of easily manipulated stopping force.
With my (boxy, aerodynamically-poor) trailer hitched, fuel economy was comparable to other gasoline V8-powered tow vehicles I’ve tried, coming in between 9 and 10 miles per gallon. The Land Cruiser let me down in terms of tank capacity. I had to stop for gas every 200 miles with my 24.6 gallons. Most people wouldn’t have a problem with this because the Land Cruiser gets 17 MPG when it’s empty and should get around 14 with an open trailer.
So, in a pinch, the Toyota Land Cruiser of 2021 can tow a closed trailer. Would I suggest it for frequent travels with a closed-off on the hitch? Most likely not. Toyota’s own Sequoia is significantly less expensive and significantly more adept at handling the aerodynamics of an enclosed trailer. But if you have a trailer that is open, go for it.
Final Thoughts
It’s unfortunate that Toyota decided to stop selling the Land Cruiser in America. The Land Cruiser has a very subtle sex appeal that matches the weekend adventurer persona that many aspire to and some actually live up to. However, regrettably, Americans have determined that they desire higher-end products at price points closer to $100,000 than $50,000 “luxury should have a deeper meaning than just longevity. They desire “luxury is often associated with a surplus of power and technology. The Land Cruiser now only manages to sell a few thousand cars annually, which is just not enough for any business that bases its decisions on facts rather than gut instincts.
Visit a Toyota dealership in the interim if you’re interested in purchasing a 2021 Toyota Land Cruiser Heritage Edition. Everyone is aware of how well the 200-series performs off-road, and should you need to tow with yours, it will do so fairly successfully.
A Toyota Land Cruiser can pull how much weight?
The 2021 Toyota Landcruiser is capable of towing up to 3500kg. This is a braked value; if a vehicle is rated to tow that much in the first place, its maximum weight without employing trailer brakes is 750 kg. If you wish to know the tow rating in tonnes, merely divide the kilogram value by 1000. Kilograms can alternatively be written as kilos. To be sure that your 2021 Toyota Landcruiser is compatible with the example given here, check with the manufacturer or your owner’s manual before attempting to tow with any car, ute, van, SUV, or 4×4.
A camper can a land cruiser tow, right?
Since its introduction in 1951, the Toyota Land Cruiser has a reputation for transporting intrepid travelers to some of the planet’s most remote regions. The legendary Land Cruiser is still running strong after all these years. The 2020 Land Cruiser delivers outstanding performance, big and opulent interior, a wide range of high-end luxuries, and cutting-edge technologies. It also has exceptional off-road capabilities. The 2020 Land Cruiser is also very strong when it comes to towing.
Toyota Land Cruiser Towing Capacity
Would you prefer to tow your camping trailer far into the woods? Maybe you want to pull your boat up close to your preferred fishing location. All of these things are possible because to the Land Cruiser’s outstanding towing capacity. The Trailer Towing Package is standard on every 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser model, giving the SUV a 8,100-pound towing capacity. Additionally, you’ll have the assurance of confident and secure towing even in windy conditions and on curving roads thanks to the Trailer Sway Control feature.
A LandCruiser is 4.5 tonnes towable.
The 200 series Landcruiser’s factory braked tow capacity can be increased from 3500kg to 4000kg. Lovells offers two kits: a Stage 1 kit and a Stage 2 kit. Your Braked Towing Capacity will actually increase to 4000kg with both the Stage 1 and Stage 2 equipment. Each kit differs in its components as well as its benefits and drawbacks. You will need to upgrade your GVM using the Lovells Toyota Landcruiser 200 series GVM upgrade as the first step to making this possible. The most crucial step after that is to decide whether you want the Stage 1 or Stage 2 4000kg Braked Towing Capacity equipment. It must be clearly understood that the Lovells Braked Towing Capacity Upgrade to 4000kg is a choice between Stage 1 or Stage 2. Because switching from a Stage 1 kit to a Stage 2 kit may have cost repercussions, it is crucial that the appropriate choice be made in this regard. For additional details about Stage 1 and Stage 2 BTC ugprade, see the section below.
Important: Only a Lovells GVM upgrade and a Lovells Braked Towing Capacity (BTC) upgrade can be installed on a vehicle. These Lovells GVM upgrade items are compatible with the BTC upgrade:
Can a vehicle’s towing capacity be increased?
You’ve been putting money down for years to purchase a 24-foot (7.3-meter), mint-condition bass fishing boat. You’ve decided on a name, a model, and even a new tackle box to go with it. Its considerable weight is the only drawback. Your old dinghy was easy to transport with your modest truck and trailer, but this new boat resembles the Titanic in comparison to the previous one.
The boat weights 5,000 pounds (2,267 kilograms), according to its owner’s manual, and that’s before you add the weight of the supplies and food you intend to stow away. Much to your dismay, you find out through reading your truck’s owner’s manual that the towing capacity is only 4,000 pounds (1,814 kilograms). But if you think increasing the truck’s towing capability will solve the issue, you’re out of luck.
What does towing capacity really mean? Vehicles are constructed by manufacturers to adhere to a specified Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The weight of the trailer and the payload weight inside the vehicles are specified by this rating. According to that GVWR, the wheel axles, suspension, braking system, steering capabilities, and other internal controls are built. Because towing capacities are built into automobiles specifically, the rating cannot be changed without re-engineering the vehicle. Additionally, some vehicles might not even have a towing rating. In that circumstance, you could not add to their hauling capacity.
Let’s examine the three main criteria that determine the GVWR in order to better grasp what goes into it:
A 1979 Land Cruiser can pull how much weight?
The Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series has so been in existence for an incredibly long time, especially among durable utes. The modest 70 debuted in 1985, giving it enough time to fade out of style and then come back into it. The only LandCruiser models offered in 1985 were the single-cab ute and the troop carrier (although around then there were more offshoots overseas, such as the Prado 70, the precursor to the Prado 90, which arrived in Oz in 1996).
Toyota has repeatedly updated the LandCruiser 70, so it’s not like they completely forgot about it. In 2007, significant revisions were made, including a new front end, a new 76 Series wagon type, and the replacement of the 1HZ inline six with a 4.5-liter V8. The 70 acquired dual front airbags and ABS brakes as standard equipment in 2009, more than ten years after nearly every other Toyota 4WD did. The dual-cab ute model we’re reviewing today first appeared in 2014, and all 70 Series variants received electronic brake force distribution, hill-start assist, brake assist, stability control, traction control, and hill-start assistance in addition to taller second and fifth gear ratios, a DPF filter, and piezoelectric injectors in 2016. The 70 is now, in part, on par with any 2010 ute in terms of modernity.
The 79 Series is pricey for what it is; it costs $71,740 (with on-road charges) in addition to $2580 for the heavy-duty alloy tray option and $887 for the tow bar and wiring kit (prices include fitting), which are also installed here. You’re looking at $75,707 once you add in an aftermarket electric brake controller (around $500). (plus on-roads).
The LandCruiser’s body is remarkably identical to the 1985 model. The overall appearance is pretty retro even though the nose is from the Naughtys. Either you’ll adore it or you won’t. For a $80k ute, the inside is quite functionalthere is no sat nav, no heating, not even power-adjustable side mirrors. How about a backup camera? No, neither of those exist in it.
The dash was upgraded 11 years ago, thus it is very “contemporary” and only covers the essentials. The driver’s seat fore-aft and steering height are the sole changes available. The front buckets, which were new for the GXL 70 Series in roughly 2002, are actually rather comfortable, and there is still enough there for the majority of individuals to get into a decent driving posture. Very nice front and side views are available from the driver’s seat (although, like most utes without a rear camera or sensors, reverse parking is not easy in tight spots).
The back seat is not uncomfortable despite having the standard truck upright backrest because there is considerable head and leg room. In addition to looking and feeling dated, driving the 1979 Series takes you back in time. Though a three-point turn in a city street may wind up being a seven-point turn, you must account for its enormous turning circle (14.4 meters). The Toyota was 2.2 meters tall with the tray attached, making some multi-story carparks off-limits.
The LandCruiser’s riding quality accentuates its truck-like demeanor when maneuvering in the city. It’s a little abrupt, but that shouldn’t be surprising given that the vehicle has load-carrying leaf springs in the rear suspension and live axles up front and back.
The turbo-diesel V8 engine has almost little turbo lag and produces a lot of torque at low revs. First gear continues to appear absurdly short, even if second and fifth gear have taller ratios than before. You can take off quickly when not loaded and facing downhill. The actual shifting is a little sluggish and notchy.
However, this particular engine is not one of the modern turbo-diesels that can be very smooth and free-revving, almost like a nice petrol engine. Even though the engine’s max power is reached at 3400 rpm, above about 3000 rpm, the engine starts to strain and become noisy. Redline starts at 4500 rpm, but there is no use getting even close to it.
At highway speeds, wind noise is also annoying since it enters the cabin through the offside A-pillar in particular. The (typical) snorkel appears to be the main offender. In relation to the snorkel, the 79 is a truck you wouldn’t be hesitant to send out into the woods right out of the box. Sure, it would benefit from better off-road tires, like many 4WDs, but other from that, not much would need to be done. It is a very reliable and capable off-road vehicle.
Despite all of these flaws, the 79 is entertaining to drive and has personality. It’s one of the few vehicles left where you still feel a part of the movement of the car as it travels down the road. You’re a part of it. Driving it gives off an old truck-like feeling, which it actually is. It’s only still available brand new.
The LandCruiser 79 Series can tow a maximum of 3500 kg while braked (with a maximum 350kg on the tow ball). When the Toyota ute is loaded to its maximum GVM, you can tow a 3500kg caravan behind it thanks to its 6800kg GCM. To properly test the LandCruiser, we used a 3000kg tandem-axle Avida Rock off-road tandem van.
With the 300 kg of ball weight poured onto its tow ball, the Toyota only moved forward 10 millimeters and backward 20 millimeters. The Toyota performed similarly when towing as when it was carrying no weight. It responded nicely at speeds under roughly 80 km/h, but after that it was slow. When in fifth gear, even a little climb would cause the “Cruiser” to swiftly lose momentum. When towing, you should generally avoid driving in fifth since you risk damaging the gearbox. However, when you shift into fourth, the engine starts to work hard, spinning at roughly 2600 rpm at 100 km/h.
Being an unhappy engine that revs frequently worked in its favor with engine braking because it was excellent at pegging speed downward. 18.4 liters per 100 kilometers were used on average to tow the Avida at a speed of mostly 100 km/h on the freeway. That average is actually rather good for pulling a van that weight. Based on our normal usage, you can go about 650 kilometers before needing to refuel with its 130-liter fuel tank.
With the large van trailing behind it, the ‘Cruiser felt firmly anchored; there was little pitching and no sign of sway. The only drawback to its towing behavior was the poor ride quality; on some roadway surfaces, it got rather twitchy.
VERDICT The LandCruiser 79 isn’t fast (especially going up hills), it’s retro, some people won’t find it comfortable, and it’s expensive compared to other vehicles in its class. But the old 79 still has some life left in it if you want a good, sturdy, reliable tow vehicle that is also excellent off-road.
CONS: Insufficient power when hauling; uncomfortable ride on some conditions; slow gearshifts