GVWR - LC 250 limitations

[GR8Santini]

Keep your brakes and stability control in mind, they were designed for gvwr and below. Normal use might not be an issue, however high speed accident avoidence or extreme braking demands could be. Ideally, braking performance needs to be improved when significantly increasing the weight of vehicle.

Really good points on braking & handling. Lots to pause & consider as you take your LC into a ‘Experimental’ category. If you have the need then do what you need to do. But there are real complications beyond just technically if the item will fit to consider:

• Lights in front of the grill = reduced cooling, poor towing.
• “For Off-Road Use Only’” is first sentence on the instructions on your new winch bumper. Other parties Insurance may place some liability for you personally in a front end accident for your choice.
• ADAS settings. Because the larger tires, lift, bumper or gear went on the front end w/ no MIL light coming on, doesn’t mean your calibrated optimally. It’s both safety sensors & cruise that can be affected. Might want to get ADAS Pass Report from dealer & keep in glove box in case of accident.
• GAWR. That’s max weight by axle. Be careful as weight stacks up on the front axle w/ gear, & be careful w/ tongue weight & cargo in the rear when towing.
• What does your car insurance say about mods? There may be legal language that they require to notify them of what you’ve added on. You might have to fight for coverage after accident, or worse they may not provide coverage for you.
• Crumple zones. Your LC was designed to protect you & your passengers & those steel f/r bumpers can cause energy transference different than what was designed by Toyota.

I accept my risks. I have Ranch Hand full front bumper/grill guard & their steel towing bumper on my F250. I’ve been rear ended very slow speed in that truck & absolutely learned the definition of energy transference. Glad no one was w/ me for that landing!

 

[ColoradoWheelin]

This is incorrect and frankly very bad advice. GVWR is set by the factory and does not change because you add heavier springs, air bags, or a big brake kit. GVWR is on the door jamb of your vehicle and is determined at the factory.

You can change GVWR on some vehicles (generally commercial aftermarket RV companies can do this) but adding heavier springs to keep the suspension from sagging is only a very small piece of the legal part of it.

Again I don’t care what you do, and it seems like every Overland Toyota is over GVWR anyway, but I don’t want people to believe that exceeding the design limits on a vehicle is a good idea.

It’s not bad advice, genuinely upgrading your suspension, especially the springs will increase the total limit.

https://www.pedders.com.au/news/pedders-unleashes-massive-payload-increase-for-the-toyota-lc250-prado-with-new-gvm-upgrade-kit

Its not recognized in the US, and keep in mind if you go to crazy, it’s worth looking at a brake upgrade. but the physics don’t change.

 

[MSINAL]

It’s not bad advice, genuinely upgrading your suspension, especially the springs will increase the total limit.

https://www.pedders.com.au/news/pedders-unleashes-massive-payload-increase-for-the-toyota-lc250-prado-with-new-gvm-upgrade-kit

Its not recognized in the US, and keep in mind if you go to crazy, it’s worth looking at a brake upgrade. but the physics don’t change.

? Maybe I'm not understanding what you mean by physics dont change. In any physics calculation for vehicle dynamics or energy conversion, mass is a variable.