Winch Recommendations based on Land Cruiser Weights
+ PayLoad Weights

Before you buy anything, research is required!

Purchasing a 4X4 vehicle winch can be a bit intimidating, and being “American,” we have been “trained” to shop for the cheapest. But this may be one of those times where “cheap” will not “cut the mustard!” But that depends on the purpose of your Land Cruiser, too. Are you simply cruising to Cars & Coffee on Sunday mornings or are you putting your vehicle in remote locations on trails and non-maintained dirt roads? If you are merely cruising your Land Cruiser to Cars & Coffee and the need for “the look” is the desired result, proceed with the most economical purchase.

But if you are serious about the potential need for self-recovery, then the last items you want to skimp on quality are the very items that you hope will recover your $10,000 – 60,000+ worth of 80-Series Land Cruiser, weighing in at 5,000 lb+, from a sticky situation. Why 5,000+ when the FZJ80 only weighs 4,760 lbs?

Did you account for the larger tires, larger shocks, rock sliders, front bumper, roof rack, RTT, drawer system, camp gear, rear bumper, spare 35″ tire, three jerry cans filled, and tools, etc., etc., etc. I think we can both agree we are on the upside of the “plus” of 5,000 pounds!

The “industry standard” for calculating what winch is needed for each vehicle is to multiply the overall weight by 1.5 times to determine the “weight” winch to choose. Thus, if you calculate that your 80-Series is now in the 8,000-lbs range X 1.5 = 12,000 lbs, you will want to select a winch rated for such weight. The two winches from ComeUp Winch within the Solo Series are the. 9.5 Solo or the 12.5 Solo Winch. The 9.5 equals a 9,500-lb weight load and a 12,500-lb weight load for the 12.5 winches. See the COMEUP SOLO SERIES here.

Don’t forget to account for all the gear in addition to the vehicle weight before you multiply by 1.5!

TOYOTA 4X4 VEHICLE CURB WEIGHTS

• FJ40 Land Cruiser (1960 – 1983) Curb Weight: 3,263 lbs.
• FJ55 Land Cruiser (1968 – 1979) Curb Weight: 3990 to 4030 lbs.
• FJ60 Land Cruiser (1981 – 1987) Curb Weight: 4,246 lbs.
• FJ62 Land Cruiser (1988 – 1990) Curb Weight: 4,280 lbs.
• FJ80 Land Cruiser (1990 – 92) Curb Weight: 4,594 lbs.
• FZJ80 Land Cruiser (1993 – 97) Curb Weight: 4,760 lbs.
• 100-Series Land Cruiser (1998 – 2007) Curb Weight: 5,004 lbs.
• 200-Series Land Cruiser 4.6-liter Gasoline Engine (1UR-FE) Curb Weight: 5,787 lbs.
• 200-Series Land Cruiser 4.5-liter Diesel Engine (1VD-FTV) Curb Weight: 5,776 lbs (5,875 lbs with sub tank)
• Toyota 4X4 PickUp Truck (1983 – 1986) Curb Weight: Approx: 2,800 – 3,000 lbs.
• Toyota Tacoma (1997) Curb Weight: 3,155 lbs.
• Toyota Tacoma (2023) Curb Weight: 3,915 – 4,550 lbs.
• Toyota 4Runner (1983) Curb Weight:  3,520 – 3,760 lbs.
• Toyota 4Runner (2023) Curb Weight: 4,400 to 4,805 lbs.
• Toyota Tundra (1999) Curb Weight: 3,935 – 4,215 lbs.
• Toyota Tundra (2023) Curb Weight: 5,095 to 5,800 lbs.

While doing some research, I came across this forum post: A couple of guys are running 80-Series HEAVILY WEIGHTED DOWN!

“We (Sam & I), in preparation for new suspension setups, put our trucks on a weighbridge today:
Mine… one spare wheel on the carrier, empty long-range tank (170l), roof tent fitted, two tool boxes in the back & a few other bits & bobs came in at 3040kg. Sams: two spare wheels on the carrier, empty l/r tank, roof tent on, tools & spares on board….3200kg.”
https://www.landcruiserclub.net/community/threads/80s-partly-loaded-weight-today.148331/

While the image and kilograms made me feel as though these rigs are super loaded down, I ran the numbers:
3040kg – 6,702 pounds
3,200kg – 7,054 pounds

Another link regarding weighted 80-Series Land Cruisers:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/how-much-does-your-80-weigh.455145/

All this weight business also applies to your recovery gear: winch line, soft shackles, and kinetic ropes.
C4RS Recovery Gear