Anyone pull a 23V with a Toyota?

[sdbdo]

I need to purchase a vehicle to pull my 23V. I am planning to purchase a Lexus GX470 which is built on the 4runner platform. It has a high enough tow capacity rating but I was just curious if anyone had any experience pulling a 23V or 24V with a Toyota V8.

[GIZMO]

I pull a 20v with a 4.7L tundra and it does great. I also have v6 4-runner and the 20v at 3800 lbs is too much for it. It can pull it but its not fun.

[poohpotta]

I like towing my American made boat with my American made Dodge!

[hotrod]

I pull my 2002 22i with a 2003 toyota 4runner 4.7 v8 and it does very well. I would suggest you should ask the dealer to let you take one home and take it for a test pull. Thats what I did and the dealer was very accomadating. Good luck:cool:

[GIZMO]

I like pulling my buddies German daimlerchrysler (Dodge) with my american made toyota.

[raythompson]

Originally posted by sdbdo
I need to purchase a vehicle to pull my 23V. I am planning to purchase a Lexus GX470 which is built on the 4runner platform. It has a high enough tow capacity rating but I was just curious if anyone had any experience pulling a 23V or 24V with a Toyota V8.
The biggest problem in any towing job is not moving the load forward, but stopping the load. Heavier vehicles will not be as prone to having the trailer push the tow vehicle. With that in mind trailer brakes are mandatory on anything over 2000 pounds for safe towing.

My trailer is being fitted with disc brakes on both axles rather than the standard single axle brakes. I tow with a Ford F-150 that has the towing package and is rated for 6500 pounds. Part of this package is a transmission oil cooler and an auxilary engine oil cooler. I also have the 4.55 rearend to assist in the towing duties. And this also provides the necessary trailer wiring integrated into the vehicle.

Get a vehicle that is tow rated at 20% over your towing load. Get brakes on the trailer, even consider brakes on both axles. Make sure that you have a transmission oil cooler (seperate, not integrated into the radiator) as the heat generated by towing can cook a transmission. Also an engine oil cooler helps keep the internals of the engine cool. Oh, and get an automatic transmission as the load on a manual clutch when pulling up a ramp is really tough.

Also make sure that your towing attachment is up to the task. A frame mounted receiver hitch is mandatory as bumper mounted hitches are not rated for the load. Keep about 150 pounds weight on the tow bar otherwise vehicle handling will be adversely affected.

[Tequilasun]

Originally posted by raythompson
The biggest problem in any towing job is not moving the load forward, but stopping the load. Heavier vehicles will not be as prone to having the trailer push the tow vehicle. With that in mind trailer brakes are mandatory on anything over 2000 pounds for safe towing....




Amen....

"You mean I can't use my Geo Tracker to pull my 22V?" :confused:

[raythompson]

Originally posted by draginass
"You mean I can't use my Geo Tracker to pull my 22V?"
Oh yeah you can pull it, however, stopping becomes an adventure.

I used to pull my old boat and trailer up and down the driveway with my Sears lawn tractor when I just needed to move the boat a short distance. Of course speeds were not high and stopping was more a matter of just letting the boat come to a stop, which it did within a foot of travel (rolling resistance and all that stuff.)

[poohpotta]

GIZMO Touché!

Sounds like ray is taking us to school for a lesson on Newtons second law!

[GIZMO]

poohpotta, if your pulling a Tige with that Dodge your cool with me.

[RZMike]

I pull my 23V with a Dodge 1500 Ram. The Dodge has the 5.2L in it. I wish for two things.

1. My Dodge had the 5.9L or a Cummings Diesel

2. I had disc brakes on both axles instead of just one.

The 23V in a heavy boat. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 4300lbs. - dry. Then you add trailer, gear, tower, gas, ect.

In short, get the biggest vehicle you can afford.:D

[kskjbuzz]

Amen to that one. I have pulled lots of different things over the past years. Including a 5th wheel that weighs in at 12,000 lbs. loaded. I have the GMC duramax diesel, with the allison transmission. In tow haul mode the tranmission has a tourque shift. This is by far the best motor and trany i've had. I love pulling my tige with this rig. The better the rig is equiped for the towing the SAFER you will be. #1 Rule no matter what rig, is to slow down & keep your distance. Even trailer with brakes on your trailers you stil need more time to stop.

With that, safe boating to all this 2005 season.

[Tip]

Good point about the automatic transmission. Having a manual transmission will significantly reduce the max towing capacity in the owners manual.

[exphotoguy]

We pull our 2000 23V (with 600lbs lead and another couple hundred pounds of extras) with a 98 Toyota Landcruiser. Same thing as the Lexus LX470. You will want to get an air shock setup for inside the rear coil suspension, but other than that, it pulls it great. Maybe not like a dually diesel, but as good as any 1/2 ton truck. My trailer has just the hydraulic drum brakes, but they work plenty well. In fact, with the trailer brakes, I don't think the stopping distance is that far off of what it is without the boat.

[exphotoguy]

Just realized you said GX - that might be a different story. Does that have the same I-Force motor? If so still might not be too bad for short trips, but you might get pushed around a bit.

[sdbdo]

Just a follow-up. I took a Lexus GX out on demo and pulled my 23V as suggested. It handled the job remarkably well. The GX/4 Runner actually has better tow capabilities than the LX/Land Cruiser. The GX has an air ride set-up which automatically adjusted/leveled when I hooked up the boat. To be quite honest the GX pulled my boat better than my brother's 2000 3/4 ton big block 2500 Chevy pick-up I pulled it with previously. I also intentionally came to an abrupt stop both from 45 and 60 mph and with the surge brakes on the trailer it stopped nearly as well as without the boat. I am picking my GX up this week. Thanks to all for the recommendations and interesting discussion.

[Ruune]

I like towing my American made boat with my American made Dodge!

Hm... well the new Toyota truck assembly plant is being built in San Antonio- how about a TEXAS built boat, towed by a TEXAS built truck?:eek:

[GIZMO]

I think they look good together:cool:

[Ruune]

yeah... that looks great!