dengman

debating about if I should install a brake controller. Maybe one day I might decide to haul a boat or a 6x12 enclosed trailer..

after raising up my LS for winter. The car seems more practical. I mean sure it wouldnt take long to raise the car and swap wheels every time I want to do a heavy haul.
I suppose anything under 1500lbs would be totally fine slammed with my 5" rise receiver and 14k rear spring rate. Reason why i run 245/45/18 on my rear.

brake controller or no brake controller? Input, insight, criticism welcomed.

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

First question is... will the trailers you use have brakes Many boats don't and many smaller enclosed trailers don't either.

dengman

pretty sure most trailers I'd haul wouldnt have brakes. But the occasional car trailer and enclosed 6x12 will.. aluminum car trailer with 1200lb race car.

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

What's the tow rating on the LS400? Seems like an enclosed trailer + race car & extras (tools, tires, fuel, etc) would be pretty high for a car even with a lightweight spec car.

We use our Tundra to haul my wife's race car (M3 IP car ~2800 lbs) but know our total towed weight is more like 7,000 lbs once we have all the stuff loaded up in the enclosed 22 ft trailer we use.

dengman

hitch is rated for 3500lbs. I would be hauling just the chassis and trailer. Tires, tools, fuel etc would be in a different trailer or vehicle.

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

Yeah, but I think the car is rated for far less than that. I seem to recall 2000 lbs max towing capacity. Googling finds that same number for the LS400 (not a formal source but a pretty good one)
http://www.cars.com/lexus/ls-400/1999/specifications/

You can put a class IV or V hitch on my truck rated up to 18,000 lbs but the vehicle's rating doesn't change from the OEM rating of 10,800 lbs max because of that hitch being installed. Good rule of thumb is plan for 3/4 of the towing capacity as your max.

dengman

I dont quite remember where I saw/read but the ls400's towing capacity is much higher than what is stated in the US spec manuals.

dengman

http://www.ls400data.com/specification.html

2000kg

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

I suspect that's a mixup between lbs and kgs on that website

should have searched here as well, good info

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls4...8-trailer.html

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

'99 LS400 owner's manual claims absolute MAX tow rating of 2000lbs/907KG. Page 327
http://drivers.lexus.com/t3Portal/do...lsom/sec32.pdf

1200lbs dry + trailer (usually rather heavy) sounds too heavy, especially on coilovers that are threaded down.

edit: can't confirm without a euro manual, but i remember reading about an ~2000KG limit for euro models with aftermarket trans coolers fitted.

usoff89

iTrader: (2)

I have plans to throw a hitch on my LS, but would only be towing a small yard trailer once in awhile. I've seen honda's and camry's towing a car trailer before, but I wouldn't recommend it. MAYBE you could get away with it on struts, but I would think your asking for trouble with coils IMO.