Towing a travel trailer with an LX470?

[CSG]

My rig is rated to tow 6500# according to the manual. I've been thinking of getting rid of a large fifth wheel and HD GMC truck as our days of that sort of traveling are over. However, my wife would still like to have the amenities of a self contained RV. I know the best tow vehicle I own is my truck but I want to get rid of it and lighten our vehicle fleet.

The trailer I am focused on is a Nash 19B (OAL w/hitch is 21'3"). Dry weight of 4300# with a dry hitch weight of 400#. A realistic wet wet for this rig with partial water, propane, batteries and cargo will run around 4900-5100# based on my experience with not only the brand (this would be our third from this company) but how we have used a truck camper and two different fifth wheels over the last 20 years as well as where we'd go to and for how long.

I would install an WD hitch with sway bars like the Equal-i-zer and towing would be occasional as we will normally use our Pleasure-Way Traverse camping van which has a tow rating of 6000# (after conversion, 7400# before) and the usual tow package amenities).

While the LX has enough rating based on the manual, I do have some concerns about the 112" wheelbase and the AHC system. Our use would typically take us over a mountain range or two but mostly reasonably flat towing in the west. I'll call Lexus tomorrow and talk to them about this specific trailer and its specs but I was hoping to get some real world input from you guys. It would be nice to have an LX at our destination from time to time instead of the camping van.

I've read threads here and Mud and the consensus is rather mixed. Just looking for any additional input.

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/nash/model.php?id=584501759

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Your 2 biggest challenges are going to be:
1 - managing the 1200lb max on the AHC
2 - getting mirrors to work so you can see

I pulled a 5000lb boat with AHC and a couple of times with 3 people and hitting some dips at speed in the road the AHC would shut down. Air bags can get you around AHC limits depending on your set up.

I pulled a 3500lb travel trailer and could not find mirror extension to work never being able to see behind me. If you find something that works please PM me.

 

[mph]

I pull an Evolution E1 which is a high-clearance pop-up trailer. Probably weights 2500 lbs. loaded. The LC 100 works great. The only complaint I have is towing uphills the engine revs a little high (RPMs) at time. I think the 5-speed transmission fixes this but which came out '03. By the way, I have a 99 with OME heavy setup. My knowledge on the AHC is very limited.

 

[kjp1969]

Having lost a trailer and tow vehicle to sway, I can absolutely recommend one of these: www.nosway.comIts a game changer- it makes a tag trailer tow like a 5th wheel. The only downside is cost.

 

[CSG]

The Hensley's are too damn expensive for folks towing a small trailer a couple weeks a year. I'd go with the Equal-i-zer. What are you towing and with what vehicle?

 

[alexrex20]

112in wheelbase is not too terribly short, especially in a vehicle as wide, and with as much weight over the rear as the LX470. as long as you get the WD hitch and a sway brake, you should be ok. a 21ft trailer isn't all that long, so you may not even need the WD hitch. if you insist on a WD hitch, i would make sure to also get the sway brake because the WD hitch will take away a lot of that desirable tongue weight.

i wouldn't have any reservations towing a 6klb 21ft travel trailer with an LX470.

i bumper pull a 36ft enclosed car hauler (10klb heavy) behind my SRW regular cab pickup truck.

 

[Redline]

I think the load you are planning to tow with your LX is very moderate and reasonable, well within the limits of the tow vehicle. It also sounds like you have plenty of towing experience/skill. As you know, a regular (ball) travel trailer will not tow like a 5th wheel, but they are fine when hooked-up properly and driven correctly. Yes, a larger/longer truck is the 'ideal' or 'best' tow vehicle, but not the only tow vehicle one can use or choose.

As an example of what can be done...

My 110-in. wheelbase 4.7L V8 4Runner has suspension and gearing modifications that make it a much better tow vehicle than stock (4.88:1 gears on only 33-in tires), but with the moderate load you are considering I don't think my improvements matter much. A few times, including last month's deer hunting trip, I have towed my 30-ft, 7,500-lb 'wet/loaded' travel trailer with the 4Runner. Would I recommended this combination, definitely not, nor would I let someone else pilot this set-up. But I'm competent, confident, and careful (my 3 C's of towing). The car came with a 7,000-lb tow rating.

snip...

The trailer I am focused on is a Nash 19B (OAL w/hitch is 21'3"). Dry weight of 4300# with a dry hitch weight of 400#. A realistic wet wet for this rig with partial water, propane, batteries and cargo will run around 4900-5100# based on my experience with not only the brand (this would be our third from this company) but how we have used a truck camper and two different fifth wheels over the last 20 years as well as where we'd go to and for how long.

snip...

 

[alexrex20]

What's the incentive and motivation for getting rid of the GMC ECLB 2500HD?

 

[CSG]

Mostly because it's a vehicle I bought to first haul a slide-in camper and then pull two different fivers. Then something died in it and we've never been able to get the smell completely out in spite of our best efforts. If I was to keep it I would just get a smaller fiver or keep the behemoth we have. Another advantage is to recover some money and not pay insurance on a truck that mostly sits unused.

I'm not saying it's a done deal but I would buy a 20' trailer to tow behind a monster truck but I don't want anything bigger.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Nothing significant to add, but if you're only pulling the trailer two weeks per year, and find that the LC isn't up to the task, I'd say just rent a tow rig for those two weeks? I'd bet that's a lot cheaper than keeping the truck. To take that further, if you're using the trailer only two weeks per year, those RV rental places rent out at less than $100 per day. Just a thought...

 

[Klierslc]

I towed a similar load with my 80--Jayco hybrid with two pop out beds, 19 ft closed, roughly 4500 lbs with gear--no water on board for that trip. I found that the 80 was sufficient and comfortable. A 100 would have been wonderful. (the sequoia tows like the hundy, just a little better, but wasn't suited for this trip)

Anyhow, Airbags make towing a pleasure on my 80 (another reason the Sequoia stayed home) If you can install them, I highly recommend it. With that mod and figuring out the mirrors, you will be very happy with the 100 series as a tow vehicle.

 

[CSG]

Thanks for the input. I've talked to Lexus and double checked the numbers for cargo carrying etc. My rig has a 6500 tow rating with up to 975# tongue weight with a WD hitch like the Equal-i-zer. My vehicle weighs less than the given 5620# because I've removed both the jump seats and running boards and it has a cargo capacity of 1240# when the vehicle is at its normal weight (with the jump seats installed and the running boards attached).

As this rig will only be used to tow when I and maybe my kids are the passengers I can't see a way where I get overloaded with a trailer that will tow at around 5000# +/- 100# and the hitch will be hard pressed to weigh over 575# and that's with full propane and a couple G27 DC batteries.

My local dealer service manager tells me he gets feedback that they make fine towing platforms as long as you do things correctly.

 

[kjp1969]

Thanks for the input. I've talked to Lexus and double checked the numbers for cargo carrying etc. My rig has a 6500 tow rating with up to 975# tongue weight with a WD hitch like the Equal-i-zer. My vehicle weighs less than the given 5620# because I've removed both the jump seats and running boards and it has a cargo capacity of 1240# when the vehicle is at its normal weight (with the jump seats installed and the running boards attached).

As this rig will only be used to tow when I and maybe my kids are the passengers I can't see a way where I get overloaded with a trailer that will tow at around 5000# +/- 100# and the hitch will be hard pressed to weigh over 575# and that's with full propane and a couple G27 DC batteries.

My local dealer service manager tells me he gets feedback that they make fine towing platforms as long as you do things correctly.

I wouldn't get too hung up on the numbers, and I think that you'll find that your loaded trailer is much heavier than the manufacturer's published "dry" weight. If you have 2 3000lb axels on the trailer, I'd assume 6000lb loaded weight, and go from there.

More important for your tow vehicle is the suspension setup, hitch and tires. Make sure you can identify the early effects of sway, and know how to counter them, both dynamically and by trailer setup.

The Hensley's are too damn expensive for folks towing a small trailer a couple weeks a year.

They are very expensive, and very good. While smaller trailers may be less prone to sway, he's potentially towing a trailer that outweighs the tow vehicle. The number of weeks per year he tows is irrelevant.

 

[Klierslc]

They are very expensive, and very good. While smaller trailers may be less prone to sway, he's potentially towing a trailer that outweighs the tow vehicle. The number of weeks per year he tows is irrelevant.

I'd say that it is very relevant. If I pull a trailer twice a year, why would I drop 3k on an expensive hitch when slowing down 5 mph will net the same result? If you are towing a lot, then it makes sense to spend the money on expensive widgets that will make life easier. Furthermore, there are several other options that will work just fine in his situation without the wallet shock.

 

[alexrex20]

6klbs on a 21ft trailer with a <600lb tongue weight does not justify a weight distributing hitch. that 600lb tongue weight isn't going to overtax the AHC, but it will help prevent sway. by using a WD hitch, you're taking off a lot of that needed tongue weight. that's why i recommend a sway controller if you're using a WD hitch on such a light/small trailer.

i'd venture to say that the LX470 would best pull that trailer with a normal hitch, and helper air bags on the Lexus. keep the WD hitch and sway controller for trailers closer to 30ft in length, and with tongue weights at or over 1000lb.

the OP has been pulling trailers for 20yrs, including fifths. towing this "new" travel trailer will be a walk in the park, even without the WD hitch, sway brake, or helper bags.


CSG, get your trailer and try it first without the WD hitch. the RV dealer may even let you tool around with a trailer on the back of your LX470 for a few hours, so that you can better get an idea of how she'll drive, before making the purchase.