Toyota HJ45

[irshmerc]

Hi Lads, how ya doing
My first serious question here, i've read much on here about the toyota FJ40 but there seems to be little regarding the diesel version of this vehicle, i'm specifically looking at the HJ45 1973-80, straight 6 3.6 diesel, as this would be relatively easy to maintain compared to some of the American motors of the same vintage. i'd be looking at the possibility of pulling either a Tradewind or Overlander from the same period, anyone have any experience with this motor, combination? And yes i would be a supporter of 'buy American' as indeed i'm a supporter of 'buy Irish' but there has to be a limit and those big complicated 70's American cruisers are sure at my limit.
Thanks for any information you have
Good luck
Pete

[85MH325]

Hi Pete! My great-grandfather hailed from County Cork, and used to say he'd be ashamed to be anything BUT Irish!

I don't think you'll get many opinions on the HJ45 here 'cause as far as I know there were never any legitimately imported into the U.S. The FJ45 is a pretty rare item here by itself, and they're all gassers.

Having had several FJ40s and FJ60s, I can tell you that they're grossly underpowered for towing a Tradewind. I can't imagine that the HJ would be terribly much better. The FJ60s suspension was significantly improved over the FJ40/45 and I'd think that a suspension transplant of some kind would be necessary to handle the kind of tongue weight you're trying to carry. In a nutshell: no, I don't think that the FJ series would be a very good tow vehicle. Frankly, I think you'd be better off with a Landy SIII five door with a V8 transplant. It still wouldn't be ideal, but it'd be better.

Roger

[moosetags]

I had a 1982 FJ40 that I bought new and had for many years. Mine was a straight six gas. They never sold the diesel version here in the states. Great vehicle; it would pull tree stumps and climb just about any grade. the FJ40 would not make much of a big trailer puller with its super short wheelbase. The FJ45, on the other hand, might make a decent vintage Airstream puller. I don't really know anything about the diesel version.

Brian

[irshmerc]

Hi Roger, Brian, how ya doing
So ya great grandfather was from the Rebel County when it was actually the Rebel County, wow, i bet he had some stories to tell, do ya know anything about him?
As you can probably tell i'm not to well up on towing vehicles, but what i was looking for was something of a 70's vintage motor preferrably diesel and simple, not to many wires in the engine compartment sorta thing, and the reason i fancied a HJ45 was that it fitted that bill and didn't look to bad, i did find a fella in Florida that was restoring these old toyotas, he thought 6000 to 6500lbs would be possible, and as much as i'd like to take his word, he is after all trying to sell his product, you two ain't!!!
So thanks for you advice lads, back to the drawing board maybe, i'm not in a rush to get this wrong, so any help is gratefully recieved
Good luck
Pete

[SilverHoot]

ih8mud.com

[irshmerc]

Hi SilverHoot
Thanks for that, there are some serious toyota fellas on that site alright
Good luck
Pete

[SilverHoot]

Irshmerc,

Yes, the reason I am familiar, is that I owned a 1971 FJ40 then a 1978 FJ40 that I renovated.

Happy reading!

Michael

[irshmerc]

Hi Michael, how ya doing
I see you have a 67 Tradewind, did you tow with either of the toyota's.
Good luck
Pete

[SilverHoot]

Pete,

No and I would not tow anything over about 500 lbs with a FJ40 due to the short wheelbase and lack of power.

Mike

[silverback]

Pete,
I think you need to upgrade to a longer wheel base vehicle and sell the HJ45 to me. I'll be right over to pick it up and share a pint (or two).
-Ken

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by irshmerc

Hi Roger, Brian, how ya doing
So ya great grandfather was from the Rebel County when it was actually the Rebel County, wow, i bet he had some stories to tell, do ya know anything about him?

Good luck
Pete

Actually, I mis-wrote... it would have been my great-great grandfather, Anthony Swindle. He left Ireland in the 1840s and emigrated to Iowa to settle in SilverCreek, near Manchester IA in about 1852. He settled there, built a grand house (for the time) with a chandelier imported from Chicago... one of the first chandeliers west of the Mississippi. He died long before I was born.

My great-grandfather Charlie Swindle farmed and lived to be 94 years old. I heard many first hand stories of the settling of Iowa as a child. The last Indian war in Iowa took place in Spirit Lake, Iowa in 1857... eleven years after Iowa became a state.

It was still the frontier in those days.

Sorry to hijack your thread... but you asked...

Roger

[irshmerc]

Hi lads, how ya doing
Nice idea ken!!!!!!!!
Yeah a lot of fellas had to leave here in the 1840's, not the nicest period of Irish history.
Good luck
Pete

[Blanchard]

Good day all,

I have owned two FJ45s a 77 and a 78. I bought teh two together and pulled one with the other from Vancouver Island to Calgary, Alberta in 2000. The FJ 45 is a 1 ton pick-up truck and should not be compared to the FJ-40. I have also owned two BJ-42s, but that is another story.

The one towed the other well, but slowly! I think I couldn't get over 45 mph unless it was dead flat or downhill. The torque on the 2H engine in the HJ-45 is vertainly more than the F. Turbo retrofits are also available for more power.

HJ45 were used in Canada as mine vehicles and are still kicking around.