Towing with a New Land Cruiser, Truly Irritating

wings&wheels

wings&wheels

Joined
Dec 5, 2003
Messages
4,694
Location
New England, USA
2024 Land Cruiser. If anyone considers this vehicle, research the process for towing and read reviews.

So as much as I enjoy the vehicle, I am seriously considering replacement with something comparable that is better for towing, as towing with this vehicle is irritating bordering on miserable. I do not tow often, but the experience so far has been awful.

The numerous safety features (auto brake, pre-collision, blind spot, etc.) all have to be turned off via buttons and multi-step menu actions. Even then, the vehicle will occasionally auto brake if it senses excessive speed in reverse. Once you get everything set up, the vehicle tows fine, brakes could be better but are adequate. However, when the vehicle is shut off, it reverts to default settings and you must go through the button and menu exercise again.... Same if the vehicle shuts itself off which it will do, unless you find that option and turn it off. To top it off, the trailer plug receptacle is adjacent to the exhaust so you either get a face full of hot gas or you shut the car off....and do the button/menu exercise again. Our Rover would default to tow mode when a trailer is plugged in and I see no reason why the Toyota doesn't allow this.

I am surprised that Toyota didn't do better here, and I should have looked into towing more before I bought one. I emailed Toyota customer support and received a somewhat canned answer that ended with "see your Dealer". I will, but probably a Rover dealer again...

Venting, but was a frustrating AM.
 
Wow, sorry to hear that and noted. I was considering one or a GX550 in 5-10 years, but I wont put up with that nonsense as I tow quite a bit for hobby/ranch activities.
 
Toyota - "You will do it our way and you will like it."

3 Toyota pet peeves.
They can't and won't do something as simple as a remote start on the key fob. If you have a remote start OE fob, when you open the door, the car shuts off.
When you turn off the car and exit, you get a dash warning and chime that the car door is open. Well duh.
When you're on cruise at 30 mph, and you accelerate to 50, hit the "- set" cruise button with cruise still active, it lowers the cruise speed by 1 mph to 29 mph.
I have a 2019 Hybrid RAV4, great on gas but the rest, meh.
 
wings&wheels said:
2024 Land Cruiser. If anyone considers this vehicle, research the process for towing and read reviews.

So as much as I enjoy the vehicle, I am seriously considering replacement with something comparable that is better for towing, as towing with this vehicle is irritating bordering on miserable. I do not tow often, but the experience so far has been awful.

The numerous safety features (auto brake, pre-collision, blind spot, etc.) all have to be turned off via buttons and multi-step menu actions. Even then, the vehicle will occasionally auto brake if it senses excessive speed in reverse. Once you get everything set up, the vehicle tows fine, brakes could be better but are adequate. However, when the vehicle is shut off, it reverts to default settings and you must go through the button and menu exercise again.... Same if the vehicle shuts itself off which it will do, unless you find that option and turn it off. To top it off, the trailer plug receptacle is adjacent to the exhaust so you either get a face full of hot gas or you shut the car off....and do the button/menu exercise again. Our Rover would default to tow mode when a trailer is plugged in and I see no reason why the Toyota doesn't allow this.

I am surprised that Toyota didn't do better here, and I should have looked into towing more before I bought one. I emailed Toyota customer support and received a somewhat canned answer that ended with "see your Dealer". I will, but probably a Rover dealer again...

Venting, but was a frustrating AM.
Click to expand...
That is typical Toyota. If there are no widespread complaints or an NHTSA order, they won't change a thing as long as they sell.
They had those weak hinges on Sienna through three generations, until people really started to take issue with it in 3rd generation, and they finally did (minimum) redesign in 4th generation.
But, you tow how often? Let me tell you how annoying that can be if you bicycle often (like every few days). You install a bike rack on the rear hitch. All gizmos go wild (RCTA). So you have to go into menu, then sub menu, then sub-sub menu, then scroll down, then turn off. THEN, you turn off the car, again, the same process: menu, sub menu, sub-sub menu, then scroll down.
Luckily, we rented a 2022 Sienna through Turo to see whether that would be OK. Once I found out all new Toyotas have that ridiculous system, I just crossed them off the list.
Used Sequoia it is.
 
wings&wheels said:
2024 Land Cruiser. If anyone considers this vehicle, research the process for towing and read reviews.

So as much as I enjoy the vehicle, I am seriously considering replacement with something comparable that is better for towing, as towing with this vehicle is irritating bordering on miserable. I do not tow often, but the experience so far has been awful.

The numerous safety features (auto brake, pre-collision, blind spot, etc.) all have to be turned off via buttons and multi-step menu actions. Even then, the vehicle will occasionally auto brake if it senses excessive speed in reverse. Once you get everything set up, the vehicle tows fine, brakes could be better but are adequate. However, when the vehicle is shut off, it reverts to default settings and you must go through the button and menu exercise again.... Same if the vehicle shuts itself off which it will do, unless you find that option and turn it off. To top it off, the trailer plug receptacle is adjacent to the exhaust so you either get a face full of hot gas or you shut the car off....and do the button/menu exercise again. Our Rover would default to tow mode when a trailer is plugged in and I see no reason why the Toyota doesn't allow this.

I am surprised that Toyota didn't do better here, and I should have looked into towing more before I bought one. I emailed Toyota customer support and received a somewhat canned answer that ended with "see your Dealer". I will, but probably a Rover dealer again...

Venting, but was a frustrating AM.
Click to expand...
Can you find a local shop with Toyota software to disable this?
 
Install a cut off switch to an ABS wheel sensor? Then maybe all the electronic stuff just gives up and it defaults to "driver with a brain mode"? Cover the gauge cluster with a black sheet of paper to avoid the christmas lights, put a ultra gauge in front of it, with some actual information, and have some useful alarms set, and carry on...
Or maybe now vehicles just "brick" themselves...
 
wings&wheels said:
2024 Land Cruiser. If anyone considers this vehicle, research the process for towing and read reviews.

So as much as I enjoy the vehicle, I am seriously considering replacement with something comparable that is better for towing, as towing with this vehicle is irritating bordering on miserable. I do not tow often, but the experience so far has been awful.

The numerous safety features (auto brake, pre-collision, blind spot, etc.) all have to be turned off via buttons and multi-step menu actions. Even then, the vehicle will occasionally auto brake if it senses excessive speed in reverse. Once you get everything set up, the vehicle tows fine, brakes could be better but are adequate. However, when the vehicle is shut off, it reverts to default settings and you must go through the button and menu exercise again.... Same if the vehicle shuts itself off which it will do, unless you find that option and turn it off. To top it off, the trailer plug receptacle is adjacent to the exhaust so you either get a face full of hot gas or you shut the car off....and do the button/menu exercise again. Our Rover would default to tow mode when a trailer is plugged in and I see no reason why the Toyota doesn't allow this.

I am surprised that Toyota didn't do better here, and I should have looked into towing more before I bought one. I emailed Toyota customer support and received a somewhat canned answer that ended with "see your Dealer". I will, but probably a Rover dealer again...

Venting, but was a frustrating AM.
Click to expand...
Go back to the dealer you bought it from. Explain the problem. They may be able to "fix" it like you want it. 02
 
CKN said:
My Son's girlfriend has a new Sequoia. Close cousin to the Land Cruiser.That thing is a (expensive) piece of garbage.
Click to expand...

Meh, different class of chassis. Tundra class vs Tacoma class. I don't think they have a whole lot in common. One is built around turbo 4cl, the other around turbo V6. Different GVWR classes for frames, too.
 
Can you make these changes with the right Autel Scan Tool? (or another adequate one)
I have an X-Tool D8 and it's "ok", but need a better one.

Otherwise, like was said, a dealer who values your business might try to help you.
 
Hohn said:
Meh, different class of chassis. Tundra class vs Tacoma class. I don't think they have a whole lot in common. One is built around turbo 4cl, the other around turbo V6. Different GVWR classes for frames, too.
Click to expand...
They are all on the TNGA-F platform. There are differences based on vehicle, but many similarities.
 
JohnnyJohnson said:
LOL all that Technology how did we live without it?
How did I ever manage towing my 38' DRV fifth wheel without this?
Click to expand...
Others resolved that much better. I had RCTA on VW Atlas, never had this problem.
I would not be surprised if it is same supplier of that equipment but manufacturer of vehicle programmed different.
I also have older system on 2018 Sequoia and doesn’t make this. You can switch it off with single button.
 
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