Toyota FJ Cruiser?

[SteveH]

Anyone tow a small trailer with a Toyota FJ Cruiser? I understand the Mfg's tow rating of 5000 pounds, and do not intend to exceed that.

I'm interested in hearing from those that do tow with one, and how you think it performs.

[Mike91208]

See this thread:
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...ser-28958.html

I've towed a 19' Bambi all over the states now with an FJ and no issues.

[IkeWitt]

Mike,...how does the fj do on long hills...or through the mts...and what type of hitch/brake controller if any do you use. We are looking for a 16 or 19. Just bought my 2nd fj...and really dont want to give it up.
thanks
ac

[Mike91208]

Handles the grades great. We recently went from Sedona to Flagstaff up I-17 and we were passing all the big rigs. Went up and through the continental divide at 7,300 feet (thru snow as well) and had no problems. Obviously, you know the trailer is behind you on these steep grades, but we were doing 55 mph and probably could traveled faster if I'd pushed it.
I use the EAZ Lift weight dist. hitch (w/o sway control). It feels solid enough so I haven't considered sway control at this point. I've read all the posts and they just make me even more confused! Use a Prodigy brake controller and it works great!

[pappy19]

The only thing that would concern me on a Toyota is the rear end failures. If you see the paint on the rear end flaking, then that's a good indication of high heat and the next thing you know, it will fail just when you least can aford it. The next time you tow heavy and pull a bad hill in the summer, stop and put your hand on the rear end. Better yet, just spray it with water and if it "hisses", then you know you could be getting trouble.

Pap

[Mike91208]

>>stop and put your hand on the rear end.
Well, I have gotten out and opened the back of the FJ to get something out and if it were that hot, I would have noticed!! And no paint flaking. But I'll keep an eye open for it.

[dkottum]

I've got a Toyota (Tundra) and wasn't aware of rear end failures as a problem with them. Is that common?

doug k

[Al - K4GLU]

Saw a 19' Bambi being towed by a FJ Cruiser in the WalMart parking lot in York, NE last Sun.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Mike91208

>>stop and put your hand on the rear end.
Well, I have gotten out and opened the back of the FJ to get something out and if it were that hot, I would have noticed!! And no paint flaking. But I'll keep an eye open for it.

Unless you were storing what you rent to retrieve underneath the FJ Cruiser, near the differential, you probably would not have noticed. The differential housing is what pappy19 meant when he typed "rear end."

[pappy19]

Yep, he is right, the dif cover is where you will notice extreme heat. Dif heat is something that most tower's never think about and will kill you at the most unopertune time, not to mention very expensive. Nissan's and Toyotas have a specific rearend break-in and if not followed to the "T" then a failure is possible when towing. It's something to consider.

Pap

[meredith]

We bought our second F-J and then I got my Airstream (is was brand new off the lot with only 5,000 miles on it). *** After doing lots of reading and deciding that it was just going to be just to much for our F-J we traded it in.
It was heartbreaking but worth it. We figured that once we put us, the kids, dog, and all our crap in the AS we would be pushing the limit. And then if we were to boon dock...I would have to pull out the calculator to figure out the weight of water!
*** We planned on getting an AS when our kids were a little more grown and gone out of the house...but I decided "why wait?" so we took the leap and found a good deal on an AS. There I was with a couple month old F-J and had to take a hit on the trade in. But I'm so happy with my new to me AS!
Meredith

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by pappy19

Nissan's and Toyotas have a specific rearend break-in and if not followed to the "T" then a failure is possible when towing. It's something to consider.

Pap

What's the break-in procedure for a Toyota rearend?

[pappy19]

My cousin had a Nissan and his truck manual said to tow up to 50 mph for "at least" 500 miles varying the speed. Then, afterwards proceed up to 60 mph which they recommended as the top towing speed.

Pap

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by pappy19

My cousin had a Nissan and his truck manual said to tow up to 50 mph for "at least" 500 miles varying the speed. Then, afterwards proceed up to 60 mph which they recommended as the top towing speed.

Pap

Oh, your cousin's Nissan. This thread is about a Toyota FJ Cruiser, and I bought the vehicle used, so the break-in is really something I can't do anything about, however, this is what my owner's manual says about break-in:

Drive gently and avoid high speeds.
Your vehicle does not need an elabotare break-in. But following a few simple tips for the first 1600 km (1000 miles) can add to the future economy and long life of your vehicle:

Avoid full throttle acceleration when starting and driving.
Avoid racing the engine.
Try to avoid hard stops during the first 300 km (200 miles).
Do not drive for a long time at any single speed, either fast or slow.
Do not tow a trailer during the first 800 km (500 miles).

I could not find mention of the rearend anywhere in the statements about "break-in", and I've not gone to the books on my other vehicles, but I seem to remember simular advisements on my GMC and my wife's Ford.

[TomR]

Hi...I am a "fan" of FJ cruisers...currently don't have one as I have my third Land Cruiser and like the four doors and extra size.

I suggest you ask your question on Toyota FJ Cruiser Community A great and active forum with MANY passionate FJ owners.

I have followed the FJ forum off and on for quite awhile and while there was some issue with "something" in the rear gear set in the early models...I believe that is long since resolved. The forum participants would give you more than you want/need to know

My impression is the FJ would be a good tow vehicle for moderate weight trailer...with the truck length more of a limit than the running gear...strong engine, etc.

I always get similar question when debating what I might tow with Land Cruiser...6,750# rating.

Also, Andy Thomson at CanAm RV/Airstream in Kitchener Ontario has lots of ideas on setting up a tow vehicle to maximize it's tow capacity and safety. While many here question his conclusions and practices he writes "expert" columns in a number of RV magazines...including Airstream Life...and has been selling and setting up tow vehicles and Airstreams for many years.

FWIW...Good Luck...Tom R

[SteveH]

Yes Tom, thanks, and I've been reading on that forum also, and there did seem to be some problems with ring gears breaking on early '07's, and mine is an '07, but I don't know when in that year it was manufactured. Also it seems the offroaders in certain conditions are still able to break them, those conditions being equipped wtih 35" tires, in locked rearend mode, and spinning the tires trying to get over big rocks. I do none of those things.

When I started this thread, I was just interested in hearing actual user reports from people who were towing with the FJ, as I also own a 17' Casita that I'm contemplating towing on an upcoming trip.

[bocotim]

For what it is worth, a few years ago we used a friend's FJ to tow a 16' Bambi (3500 lb. GVWR) on a couple short camping trips into the Colorado mountains. We took it slow going up/down hill and never had any issues/problems that I recall. The FJ seemed capable and up to the task. Of course, they were not long trips, and we didn't break any land speed records either, but my impression was that the FJ did a good job as a TV for the small Airstream. Also, we used a Prodigy brake controller if that is of any interest.

Tim
Boulder, CO
My blog: Airstream Camping

[hellsbay]

I just bought a 16 Bambi DWR and towed it 1400 miles home with my 2010 FJ Cruiser. I had no problems, other than waking up in a Wallmart parking lot in Virginia with two inches of snow over everything. I was able to do 50-60 mph in the mountains and 65-75 on the rest of the interstates. MPG in the mountains was 11.2 and 12.5 everywhere else.

I am so excited to have my first AS. I have admired them since I was a kid. I will use the Bambi as a base camp for my photography expeditions. It will be so nice to get out of the weather when it gets nasty and be comfortable in the aluminum tent.
[IMG][/IMG]

Steve

[Woosch]

Maybe I'm a little late but there was an article about towing an Airstream with an FJ an Trailer Life magazine afew years ago. Might have been a Bambi. He tested it in winter in the Oregon area.
Cheers

[hellsbay]

Hey Tim, I enjoyed reading your blog about your adventures camping with the 16 Bambi.