Small Off-Road Adventure Trailer Talk

SKLC · Dec 19, 2024

We lost our 4x4 sprinter van in Hurricane Helene. Decided to rethink our overland setup when we got our our new LC. Went with the Aussie MDC brand XT12HR off-road caravan trailer.
The fit and finish and off-road capability of this caravan is incredible. 4500#, and the LC tows it with no problem.

Dragoon · Dec 21, 2024

That's a slick setup! I've heard of the Black Series trailers, but this is the first time I've heard of the MDC trailers. I'm glad to hear that the Land Cruiser pulls it well.

SKLC · Dec 22, 2024

Dragoon said:
That's a slick setup! I've heard of the Black Series trailers, but this is the first time I've heard of the MDC trailers. I'm glad to hear that the Land Cruiser pulls it well.

Thanks looking forward to hitting some trails after a few upgrades to dial everything in. The MDC Forte9 model would have been a nice setup with the LC but wifey wanted the full toilet/shower.

radmoonrising · Jan 3, 2025

A few years ago we picked up a Mammoth Overland HT trailer. We drove up to WA to pick it up in our 05 4Runner. This last September we purchased our Land Cruiser had have been loving towing and offroading with it. Coming from a V8 4Runner this new LC platform tows our trailer so much better! The only thing we didn't know which is a bit of a bummer is when the LC detects a 7-pin connection it kills any driving aids other than standard cruise control, I understand Toyota does this for safety reasons but many other trucks do not do this, not a big enough bummer through. Still love the truck.

BuzzedOnTacos · Mar 2, 2025

My buddy just bought a Summit. He let me tow it to see. The LC did amazing with the tow. I’m In love!!

agjake01 · Mar 2, 2025

radmoonrising said:
A few years ago we picked up a Mammoth Overland HT trailer. We drove up to WA to pick it up in our 05 4Runner. This last September we purchased our Land Cruiser had have been loving towing and offroading with it. Coming from a V8 4Runner this new LC platform tows our trailer so much better! The only thing we didn't know which is a bit of a bummer is when the LC detects a 7-pin connection it kills any driving aids other than standard cruise control, I understand Toyota does this for safety reasons but many other trucks do not do this, not a big enough bummer through. Still love the truck.

View attachment 23305

Glad to see it tows the Mammoth well! I’ve been looking at them for years and have one rented for the PNW Expo weekend in June. Looking forward to trying it out down in OR. Let me know if you have any towing related advice with the trailer, thanks for the heads up on the 7Pin.

kerner · Mar 3, 2025

Thought I'd give an update on towing our teardrop with the Land Cruiser. Weighs in at about 2,300lbs fully loaded and the LC did a fabulous job on a trip from MO to Big Bend NP - averaged 15mpg and barely even knew it was back there. Handled great off-road as well - both with and without the trailer.

Dragoon · Mar 3, 2025

BuzzedOnTacos said:
My buddy just bought a Summit. He let me tow it to see. The LC did amazing with the tow. I’m In love!!

That's a nice rig!

radmoonrising · Mar 3, 2025

agjake01 said:
Glad to see it tows the Mammoth well! I’ve been looking at them for years and have one rented for the PNW Expo weekend in June. Looking forward to trying it out down in OR. Let me know if you have any towing related advice with the trailer, thanks for the heads up on the 7Pin.

Awesome! I hope you guys have a blast. The LC does excellent towing it; there is plenty of power for this trailer. Any bigger, eh maybe not but that’s not why I got it. I would have got a Power Wagon if I wanted offroad and towing capacity. The setting for turning on the trailer brake controller is in the Vehicle setting on the Dash. Make sure to turn off the Parking Support Brake when backing up to the hitch; otherwise, the truck will continue to “help you” by slamming on the brakes. You can change the backup camera view to show the hitch trajectory by tapping on the camera view while in reverse.

Like most tents, RTTs, and small trailers, the trailer experiences condensation inside While sleeping if you don’t run the exhaust fan all night. It's not a big issue, though, as it usually dries up in the afternoon. On our first trip, we blew through water faster than we thought, but we have since trained our habits to be more conservative, and the trailer can last 4+ days now. Other than that, it has been a blast. Hit me up if you have any more questions as you get closer to renting it.

radmoonrising · Mar 3, 2025

kerner said:
Thought I'd give an update on towing our teardrop with the Land Cruiser. Weighs in at about 2,300lbs fully loaded and the LC did a fabulous job on a trip from MO to Big Bend NP - averaged 15mpg and barely even knew it was back there. Handled great off-road as well - both with and without the trailer.

View attachment 29051 View attachment 29052 View attachment 29053

Love your trailer! Yeah I feel the same way, you often forget its behind you which is unnerving at times. When you realize your going 75 and look back and remember you have a trailer behind you.