300 Series Toyota Landcruiser Sahara Caravan Tow Test

Caravan World gets the keys to the MY21 Landcruiser Sahara, the new 300 Series, for a Tow Test around Melbourne with a new Roadstar Safari Tamer Extreme Caravan.
The new 3.3L V6 proves powerful and more than capable but also thirsty with consumption above 23 litres per 100 km travelled. On the plus side, comfort is a massive step up on the outgoing 200 Series and the ride is as good as it gets.
To read more about it head to our full review here - caravan.hemax.com/News/13751/...

[@Sabumnim666]

The tech and comfort in a F150 platinum or the limited are so far ahead of the Toyotas it does not even bare comparison it is truly astounding how little we get in Australia when compared to the American trucks.

[@spudboy1328]

You could buy a lower spec 300 (like a GXL) which has a slightly higher payload (700Kg instead of 650Kg). If you wanted to go really basic, the GX has a payload of 785Kg, which is pretty good.

[@cwgolfandtravel]

Wow, payload is rubbish. Great review!

[@CaravanWorldMagazine]

It's not too dissimilar to a lot of seven-seater SUV's - Ti-L Patrol is 639kg, GXL Prado is 665kg, Isuzu LS-U is 625kg. A lot of Euro SUV's are higher like the BMW X5 which is up to 750kg and the Touareg which is up to 728kg. The bigger issue, and where people get caught out, is GVM. Your GVM takes into account ball weight which if you have a big, heavy van could be upwards of 300kg. That is taken out of the payload leaving not a lot but worse still, we Aussies love (some say need) to put bull bars on things as well as fridges in the back, bigger offroad tyres, the list goes on. All of a sudden, with a van on the back you could easily be over your GVM. Utes are popular for good reason, most have high payloads but then run into GCM issues which is a big part of why the big US utes are gaining popularity, they have decent payloads and good GCM's, typically.

[@paulmcintosh5589]

@@CaravanWorldMagazine compare a gxl with Til 😂👍

[@chrisandshazza01]

GCM upgrades are long gone mate - that’s common knowledge. Nice vid

[@frankguernier2280]

Any update on the revealed excessive oil consumption?

[@troyzaccagnini8553]

How does it stack up against the new Ford Everest Platinum?? Can we get a comparison please?

[@jamesm3723]

I saw the drive was to Macedon. I’ve done that and it’s slightly uphill the whole way and added about 1.5 liters per 100 on the way up and then was a lot less back to the city so I’d reckon it’s 21 liters per 100 there

[@peterj1376]

mate you've won the bet with that shirt. 🤣🤣🤣

[@stevegordon-hall2732]

I’m wondering what is it king of

[@chopiesel]

There’s a lot of reports of low to mid 20’s while towing coming out. Smug Toyota owners have shut up about the y62 the last few months.

[@BLAZEREN101]

Christ so you need a GVM upgrade right out of the box for a family vacay with a good camper and the car is $160-$170k sticker. Holy smokes that is insane.

[@timvanduyl9228]

Tim here, the bloke in the video. It is kind of insane, it shouldn't be like that but it is for so many SUVs. Marketers have us believe their cars are better than they are.

[@BLAZEREN101]

@@timvanduyl9228 what do think of the Land Rover 110 with a bit of modding for bigger tires or will electric Utes and SUV’s prevail in the next 5 years?

[@timvanduyl9228]

​@@BLAZEREN101 ​ As in the new 110? I've been out in a petrol-hybrid one for a long review and it was pretty good on fuel (17-18L/100 towing a 2500kg van) and really comfortable. It feels like a cheaper version of a Discovery (the feel in the seats, nice dash etc, just with a vinyl floor). Will electric utes/SUV's be an option here in five years? I don't think so. The first one that really started pushing towing is the F150 Lightning and its range, when towing a big load is around halved or maybe up to 300km. Thats not bad but then you're looking at long wait at a charger (it could be hours on a slow charger) which we don't have enough of yet. I reckon diesel/petrol will be the way to go for at least five years. In saying that, I just ordered a small EV SUV (Volvo XC40) that can tow small campers, Ill be giving it a redhot go off road/in the bush to see if the hype is real.

[@iandickinson342]

GCM upgrade? What planet does this?

[@paulbaker2056]

Why should you have to pay for a gvm upgrade and why wouldn’t Toyota offer this option? Be interesting to see how the new kid on the block Ineos Grenadier stacks up towing out of the box?

[@CaravanWorldMagazine]

Tim here, the lanky dude in the video. There is a lot to read online and I won't suggest I know it all but in short manufacturers set the limits with way more understanding of capabilities than we do plus what I think is the main driver of the low-limits, a really wide buyer base (a lot of LC's are used for driving kids to school, farm duties and touring too) that might not appreciate or drive the LC like we do. They have to set limits to avoid issues with uneducated drivers. On the INEOS, I got to drive a prototype - video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4KaoGyQotF9n9E&ab_channel=CaravanWorldMagazine - I rate the engine and gearbox highly and the diffs are the size of basketballs. It should go well here. On Payload, the team were cagey about telling me the goal but when pushed, they wouldn't say yes or no to around 750kg which is a good step on the LC but wouldn't we all love 800kg+?

[@CaravanWorldMagazine]

And to add, its not uncommon for dealers to work with companies like ARB and Lovells to do GVM upgrades pre-registration. The manufacturer might not endorse it but at lease some dealers are trying to help.

[@bakepl]

@@CaravanWorldMagazine thanks for the reply appreciate that. Looks like the Ineos will have a payload of 810kg for the diesel and more for the petrol, gvm 3550kg, towing 3500kg, ball download 350kg. With the quality of gear on them and as you said, rated engine and gearbox, I suspect they will sell well, at least once a little established. I'm a Toyota fanboy but they've lost me. I had an 80 series and now a 100 and all I wish for is a modern replacement for the 80, IG might just be it.

[@Klistern2]

For the price, this thing should take you to the moon. Let alone towing lol.

[@Phil_McAvity]

You can either afford one or you can’t.

[@simonclemence4662]

Might help if you put the towing mirrors on correctly.....! Just say'n....

[@mrcdem2]

You can get a gvm upgrade but you cant get a gcm upgrade !!

[@jackbarnes6929]

14 years in the making, 3-4 occupants, a few accessories, their luggage, and the 300 would exceed its GVM. Tow a large van (at or near the listed 3500Kg limit) and it is totally unroadworthy. The smaller engine asked to work harder than the old 4.5 V8 and who would have thought fuel consumption would increase? The icing on the cake Toyota significantly jacks up the prices... good review, sorry to say but the 300 is a big FAIL !

[@CaravanWorldMagazine]

We were hoping for a payload of over 800kg.

[@lonelywolf1480]

To avoid violating the GVM limit, add most of the luggage etc to the caravan itself not the LC. Also, when towing a caravan, it will have its own fridge and no need to carry an additional fridge on the LC.

[@frankguernier2280]

Caravan manufacturers lie about weights. When picking up your $100k plus van. Insist on a current at point of registration weigh bridge certificate.

[@ysgood]

Unfortunately 1500 tows heaps better than a 300, and no GCM upgrade allowed for a 300 or any car nationwide as far as I know.

[@iandibley8032]

Yes but the Ram 1500 isn't out of the woods with rear load either ,also a rear wheel bearing that runs directly on the axle no inner bearing ,if the bearing fails axle damage. Appears every towing option has issues, the big Ute's would be hard to live with on daily basis e.g. city parking garage size etc.

[@tempestv8]

The front ends of the American trucks are not very robustly made - apparently they can require front end rebuilds fairly often, and so they are costly to maintain.

[@frankguernier2280]

The Ram 1500 initially suffered from poor axle weights making it no better than a Toyo 200. Unless they have upped their game.

[@frankguernier2280]

Towing any more than the vehicles tare weight is lunacy.

[@paulbarry1044]

It isn't that much lighter than a 200.Weights are full of fuel,the 300 is around 30Kg less taking just the less fuel capacity into the equation.So pretty poor effort just around 80KG lighter,for most models.

[@paulmcintosh5589]

At least the caravan has a modern suspension. Shame toyota can’t keep up for that amount of money. Fools and their money are easily parted enough said.

[@stuartnewcombe9805]

Bad presentation probably due to poor research. So many incorrect "facts"!

[@tempestv8]

What was incorrectly presented?

[@stn7172]

Weak