Four tonne towing for LandCruiser

A 4000kg towing upgrade for Australia’s favourite tow tug should be available soon
Owners of Toyota LandCruiser 200 Series wagons should soon be able to legally tow an additional 500kg with the fitment of a new, Australia-first towing upgrade kit from suspension specialists Lovells.

Due for release in the coming weeks, the 4000kg towing upgrade kit has been more than two years in development, including dynamic ‘destruction’ testing to ensure the LandCruiser’s chassis, drivetrain and other mechanical components are up to the job.

It will be available for LandCruiser 200 Series vehicles built from 2007, but only if already fitted with Lovells' 3800kg GVM upgrade (up from 3300kg).

The towing upgrade kit will include a four tonne-rated height adjustable hitch tongue and a Lovells’ approved trailer ‘swivel’ coupling.

There will be two kits available: 3500-3750kg and 3750-4000kg, with the latter incorporating a weight-distribution hitch. The kit can only be fitted by an approved Lovells’ installer.

The upgrade kit is expected to cost more than $3000, on top of around $3500 for the GVM upgrade.

Once final government approval is received in the next few weeks the 4000kg towing kit will be available nationally, a Lovells spokesperson said.

“We will be offering it on what’s called federal compliance, which is for brand new vehicles pre-registered. That way they’re recognised nationally and always will be,” he said.

The certification process also included verifying test data for US-delivered LandCruiser vehicles which have a towing capacity of up to 3856kg (8500lb), compared to the 3500kg maximum in Australia.

“We’ve tested them at more than four tonne, and the vehicle is more than capable,” the spokesperson said.

Lovells will recommend owners also fit an upgraded transmission cooling system for extensive off-road or ‘extreme’ towing. Other four tonne-rated upgrades to the trailer or caravan including heavy-duty, drawbar safety chains will also be required.

The NSW-based company is also planning to offer towing upgrades for other vehicles that it currently supplies GVM upgrades for, including the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger dual-cab utes.

However, while viewing it as a “major game changer”, outspoken Bushtracker Caravans boss Steven Gibbs warned that even with the upgrade a LandCruiser is still not as suitable for heavyweight towing as larger vehicles like the Dodge Ram, primarily due to the heavier and longer-wheel base American pick-up providing better stability when towing.

“This may make LandCruiser legal for loads over 3500 kg, but it will not make it better. In my opinion, money no object the American trucks are made for the job. Toyota can be made legal, but not better, or as safe,” he said on the Bushtracker forum.

However, he did clarify that “for those with a big van that are treading close to being over-loaded with a lot of water tanks filled, it will be a relief to not have to worry about it”.