Well, straight forward thread really. I'm surprised more people aren't using their LS's to tow more often! There is plenty of torque really. I own a Celsior and I'm hoping to have a heavy duty towbar retrofitted to it, so I can tow a caravan I hope to buy down the line. Can you say 'Hello car national car events!'. On another note, I have friends who use their LS's to tow drift cars! So it's definitely capable. Thoughts and opinions?

 

Member Kansas has extensive knowledge on this subject. Read some of his views in this old thread and maybe he'll chime in on this one.

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

 

CL member Kansas has extensive knowledge on a lot of things LS400, especially the kind of stuff no one else would know - weird factory options, obscure LS400 facts, just the kind of stumper questions that no one else can answer - especially things inside the car.

Kansas has taught me a lot on this forum, and that is something you won't often hear me say about anyone!

if there was a category of "LS400" on Jeopardy, Kansas would win it.

 

I'm very interested in this topic, for the very reason your friends use their cars haha. Do you know if they are running any additional mods in regards to the tow hitch (any transmission cooler)? Or perhaps any info on the cars they are towing?

 

This is all very true and he takes the time to write out a complete and very well thought out explanation!

 

One friend tows his Rotary powered AE86 and the other tows his RB powered 180SX (240sx over there I think?) the 86 owner has a transmission cooler just because, well, he can afford to throw money around. The other is just running a standard LS. Yet they make the hour drive to the local track no worries. I'm really surprised it hasn't been done over there more!

 

I'm just worried, they both run coilovers, whereas I have the factory bags. I'm hoping to find someone who can give me any info on towing with bags, will the weight ruin them? Etc

 

Looking at 20y/o bags will ruin them for no good reason!
If they are in great shape, why not. If you are already counting the days to replacing them... Not sure if I would risk it....

 

There's not much I could add that hasn't been said in the thread sha4000 mentioned. The biggest problem I've had when towing my utility trailer - even when fully loaded - is that I tend to look back a lot to verify that it is still attached to the car.

I've spent quite a lot of time in the U.K. and Europe where towing caravans with passenger cars is very common. I find it strange how people in the U.S. have "drunk the Koolaid" and think a trailer can only be towed with a truck.

 

My 94 Fleetwood has the 7000 lb (3175 kg) tow package, it has much more power (low end grunt is 335 lb-ft @ 2800 rpm, and over 300 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm) and a much tougher suspension and a little more gear than the LS, but the LS has better brakes. I was wondering this myself, I want to sell my K2500 Suburban 454, but I need something to tow with occasionally. I have a GS400, but no way I am putting a hitch on it.

 

Drove across america:

IMG_6877 by Dominant Engineering, on Flickr

Your LS should be able to tow both!