Toyota FJ Cruiser for Towing?

[Jimbcole]

Maybe y'all could start your own thread. "Oliver vs. AS" ? I subscribed to this thread to see ideas about FJ Cruiser's and Airstreams. UGH. I'm gonna sell my FJ and unsubscribe to this thread, or buy an Oliver keep the FJ and stay with this thread! 😎

[KippyDoo]

Hello All,

We are on the brink of picking up a 16 ft Bambi and using our FJ Cruiser as the tow vehicle. Building the list of things needed, the DirecLink is at the top of my list for brake controllers. Although our 2013 FJ Cruiser fits the "2008 and later Toyota" specification, the FJ is not specifically listed on the Connector list. Does this mean that I'd have to splice into wires manually and do some improvisation to make things work, or am I completely out of luck with the DirecLink?

Connector for DirecLink or DirecLink NE
Fits pre-wired Toyota and Lexus vehicles
2003-2009 Lexus GX470
2010-2013 Lexus GX460
2003-2007 Lexus LX470
2008-2011 Lexus LX570
2013 Lexus LX570
2003-2013 Toyota 4Runner
2003-2011 Toyota LandCruiser
2013 Toyota LandCruiser
2003-2012 Toyota Sequoia
2007-2013 Toyota Tacoma (with OEM Tow Package)
2003-2013 Toyota Tundra

What brake controllers are you other FJstreamers using?
Thanks for your Help,

KippyDooooooooooo

[worldinchaos]

Originally Posted by KippyDoo

Hello All,

We are on the brink of picking up a 16 ft Bambi and using our FJ Cruiser as the tow vehicle. Building the list of things needed, the DirecLink is at the top of my list for brake controllers. Although our 2013 FJ Cruiser fits the "2008 and later Toyota" specification, the FJ is not specifically listed on the Connector list. Does this mean that I'd have to splice into wires manually and do some improvisation to make things work, or am I completely out of luck with the DirecLink?

Connector for DirecLink or DirecLink NE
Fits pre-wired Toyota and Lexus vehicles
2003-2009 Lexus GX470
2010-2013 Lexus GX460
2003-2007 Lexus LX470
2008-2011 Lexus LX570
2013 Lexus LX570
2003-2013 Toyota 4Runner
2003-2011 Toyota LandCruiser
2013 Toyota LandCruiser
2003-2012 Toyota Sequoia
2007-2013 Toyota Tacoma (with OEM Tow Package)
2003-2013 Toyota Tundra

What brake controllers are you other FJstreamers using?
Thanks for your Help,

KippyDooooooooooo

My 2010 FJ didn't have any wiring for the brake controller anywhere. I followed a thread on the fjcruiserforums.com for installation of a Prodigy P2, which fits well to the left of the left knee and can be wired in directly from there. If you don't have much electrical experience, I would recommend having it installed for you as it really requires using relays and tapping into the brake signal wires.

Do you already have a 7 pin connector wired in? I only had a 4 pin standard with the FJ. Compared to the work of properly wiring the 7 pin, adding the brake controller was relatively easy.

[LFC]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

To overcome the short wheelbase/stability issue you may want to consider a Pro Pride or Hensley Hitch. Power wise you should be good to go.

There's no way a trailer hitch is going to over "the short wheelbase/stability issue".

I bought one when the FJ Crusier first came out I think about 2008 (didn't keep it very long) I can't see towing a camper over 19' and then I don't see it as being an enjoyable trip.

[AldeanFan]

Originally Posted by KippyDoo

Hello All,

We are on the brink of picking up a 16 ft Bambi and using our FJ Cruiser as the tow vehicle. Building the list of things needed, the DirecLink is at the top of my list for brake controllers. Although our 2013 FJ Cruiser fits the "2008 and later Toyota" specification, the FJ is not specifically listed on the Connector list. Does this mean that I'd have to splice into wires manually and do some improvisation to make things work, or am I completely out of luck with the DirecLink?

Connector for DirecLink or DirecLink NE
Fits pre-wired Toyota and Lexus vehicles
2003-2009 Lexus GX470
2010-2013 Lexus GX460
2003-2007 Lexus LX470
2008-2011 Lexus LX570
2013 Lexus LX570
2003-2013 Toyota 4Runner
2003-2011 Toyota LandCruiser
2013 Toyota LandCruiser
2003-2012 Toyota Sequoia
2007-2013 Toyota Tacoma (with OEM Tow Package)
2003-2013 Toyota Tundra

What brake controllers are you other FJstreamers using?
Thanks for your Help,

KippyDooooooooooo

I don't have a FJ, but I have a 2005 Tundra, and the Teknonsha P3 works great for us.

[srpuywa]

I second the P3 controller

[MrUKToad]

Saw a couple of FJs towing today; not Airstreams but quite big trailers.

[JFerguson]

[JFerguson]

Ours with our 26 foot Overlander. She's just an empty shell, a fully fitted out Airstream would have been harder I think. But I have no complaints about the FJ, she performed just fine. Rear end didn't even squat when we attached the trailer.

[hellsbay]

I had to have my brake controller spliced because there was no direct connector in my 2010 FJ. Any brake connector will work. I had a cheap off brand put in the FJ. I put a top of the line Techonsha(sp), in my new Tacoma. It came with the hook up, so it was plug and play.

[KippyDoo]

Thanks for the responses. I do have the factory tow package, with the 4 wire plug, so looks like I need to add in the 7, looks like etrailers.com has a pretty good tutorial and kit for this, although, I did enough wire twisting back in the day that I think I'll have it done. DirectLink confirmed with me that they do not have a direct connect adapter (given that you have to add a 7 pin anyways), so it has to be spliced in. So much for plug and play. Narrowing in on the 16ft bambi as it sounds like the next up sizes are right at limit, if not a bit higher.