Maximum Towing Weight

[da SLUG man]

Toyota say 2800kg for the new land cruiser, so i reckon the 3rd gen surf must be somewhere similar... maybe if you could get a colorado handbook it would say as they're the same chassis

[Uplander]

Hi,
It's a good post is this , you are getting very responsive and straight answers.....The crux seems to be -how often do you need the maximum tow capacity ? If it was very rarely say one a month over 500 miles a 3.0 td intercooled manual gearboxed surf would prolly do it. I would investigate a very hard duty rear suspension spring set up ie "a special". for as has been alluded to by other above, they (very heavily rear end loaded surfs) can be prone to be nose light, read a wee bit skittish....noticed this towing a very heavy boat trailer with friends car in highlands here....Ideally though if its more often you need it, go for Landcruiser set up...the 3.0 surf engine / drivetrain isn't in doubt, its the lightish weight body plus overhang IMHO....

[marky]

Us 2nd gen guys have got the 20% uprated rear springs & boy they do make a difference to the back end when towing.

[Andy Dawson]

All the proper Landrovers (ie not the freelander) are rated at 3.5 tonnes max towing weight. However if you uprate the brakes to assisted ( instead of over run) you can tow 7.5 tonnes.

I know that is a bit unbelievable, but as an ex-disco owner who was sad enough to read the whole landrover manual I know it to be true.

But the best solution would be to get a special hitch mount made up, fit stiffer rear springs and carry a 12mm spanner.

Thus you will be able to tow the trailer with a L/R then park up, remove rear seat bolsters (2 nuts each side) lay the seats flat and roll out the thermarest for a cosy night

I did look in to max towing weights when I was buying my Surf, and nothing comes really close to L/R I'm sorry to say.

[Bacon Sandwich]

Well guys, I'm impressed!

No other owners site came back with so much feedback so quickly!

You are right in thinking that the heavier cars will be few and far between but I don't want to be on the A66 and suddenly find out the Surf can't pull a Disco 3!

I guess the L/R will be the one to go for. There are so many around I can pick and choose. However, if funds allow it, I'll hunt around for a Landcruiser. Lets face it, where would you rather spend your working day???

Then again, I'm fickle and may fall in love with something else!

[Uplander]

Well guys, I'm impressed!

No other owners site came back with so much feedback so quickly!

You are right in thinking that the heavier cars will be few and far between but I don't want to be on the A66 and suddenly find out the Surf can't pull a Disco 3!

I guess the L/R will be the one to go for. There are so many around I can pick and choose. However, if funds allow it, I'll hunt around for a Landcruiser. Lets face it, where would you rather spend your working day???

Then again, I'm fickle and may fall in love with something else!

Well my extended family spend about a month each summer down your way East Devon, so we will be pleased if you eventually tell us on here, bit like old Cilla "what you went for / an what you paid" oh an "did it do IT for you " hahahaha....gud luk.

[sniper]

[Your comments would be greatly appreciated![/QUOTE]

I can't see how a (SWB) fourtrak with 98hp is rated to tow 3.5t which is lighter than a 3 litre surf with far less power and the old early eighties land cruiser is listed as weighing no more than a surf and with far less power but rates a higher towing limit at 3.5t.

[marky]

Stick with a Max towing weight @ 100% of the SURFS weight to be on the safe side for the time being.