Towing a 40 with an FJ Cruiser

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LTD FJ

LTD FJ

Joined
Apr 8, 2007
Threads
30
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275
Location
Deerfield Beach, FL
Website
www.photos.moore4x4.com
Well just got back from Tellico. Towed a buddies 40 up, and yes I did wheel mine, although I only wheeled the first day. Only damage was slick rock took out the driver's side rear silver bumper cover. No big deal. Had to pull the 40 back home so didn't want to push it. :DAnyway back to the thread. Left South Fl. for Tellico. Speed was between 70 and 75mph. Never used 6th and had to get a running start for some of the hills. I averaged 8.595 MPG(highest 9.5 lowest 7.28). On the way back averaged 8.653(highest 9.93 lowest 7.55). Just thought I'd give some info. Oh yeah, the kicker $648.55 :doh: !!!
Tow Rig for Mud2.webp
 
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Who's rig did you end up pulling home? I just got back from GSMTR last night at about 11 PM, but I had a much shorter drive than you did! I think you were staying at Big Oak with Capt'n Jim and crew...right? Sorry we didn't run into you on the trails!

Back to the towing thing...the $648 was for gas??? Holy crap! But glad to see that it did pull that much weight and didn't have a problem doing it! What kind of gas were you using? I am wondering if Premimum vs. Regular would make a differenc in your MPG.
 
k9crazy said:
Who's rig did you end up pulling home? I just got back from GSMTR last night at about 11 PM, but I had a much shorter drive than you did! I think you were staying at Big Oak with Capt'n Jim and crew...right? Sorry we didn't run into you on the trails!

Back to the towing thing...the $648 was for gas??? Holy crap! But glad to see that it did pull that much weight and didn't have a problem doing it! What kind of gas were you using? I am wondering if Premimum vs. Regular would make a differenc in your MPG.
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Hey Heather, Yeah I was stayin with Capt Jim and them all at Big Oak. What a BLAST... To far to drive from Crawford's to the trails.. The 40 is Todd Blosser from FL also. Did you stop by the campsite at one point? I think someone said you did. The gas was all premium. Wasn't about to try the regular on that trip. Glad to c u made it home.
 
8mpg???
My V10 F250 Super Duty 4x4 gets a wopping 10-12mpg pulling my 40 on an 18 foot flat deck. And thats with 5 people and gear, tools, bikes, camping supplies and furniture. How can a V6 get less than my gas guzzling V10?
Do you have it to the floor most of the time?
BHCC20064043.jpg
 
saskdiesel said:
8mpg???
My V10 F250 Super Duty 4x4 gets a wopping 10-12mpg pulling my 40 on an 18 foot flat deck. And thats with 5 people and gear, tools, bikes, camping supplies and furniture. How can a V6 get less than my gas guzzling V10?
Do you have it to the floor most of the time?
BHCC20064043.jpg
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Yeah it was on or near the floor the majority of the trip. One of the guys travelin with has the new crew max with the 5.7. He averaged 11 on the trip full of gear and close to your setup.
Crew Max.webp
 
I towed my 40 with my wife's FJC (auto) and averaged 12 MPG at an average speed of about 70 MPH. I kept it out of OD, but I never had to flog it and never had to floor it to maintain speed. My trailer has brakes on both axles so I never had a problem with the 40 pushing the FJC. The best part was winning the All Pro bumper at the raffle!

Had a great time - the EC4RJ is next, then CMCC, then the BBRC Fall Crawl - see you there!
 
I guess I would get a lot better mileage without and ARB full roof rack with 4 IPF's and the ARB front with an 8k winch:rolleyes:
 
My 98 Chebby K3500 Crew cab dually with a 3800# 10.5' slide in camper on the truck and an 18' trailer hauling the 40 gets 7'ish and that is a 7.4 gasser.

I think the full time t-case is the fuel milage problem, part time with the manual would be awsome.
 
I towed my 40 with my 01 Sierra 1/2 ton with the 4.8 liter V8 gasser on my 16 ft trailer with brakes on one axle and averaged about 12.5 mpg.

But after wheeling with Heather and the Trail Team, I am seriously considering selling the Cruiser and the truck and buying an FJC. TOO MUCH FUN.

You should have seen those things on Lower 2.....UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!!

Barry
 
Woody said it was a fun trip up lower 2 ;)
 
It was amazing. Those guys are good, and the trucks are awesome. Woody and the whole Trail Team are the nicest people you will ever meet.
 
I also agree that a part time case would improve the mpg.
But I know of guys with 80's that get 10-11mpg towing a 40 and those trucks have a full time case.
 
A smaller engine working hard to pull a load with get worse MPG than a larger engine not working as hard.
So I can believe that your FJ gets worse millage when towing the same load as a full size truck.

Cheers,
N.
 
saskdiesel said:
I also agree that a part time case would improve the mpg.
But I know of guys with 80's that get 10-11mpg towing a 40 and those trucks have a full time case.
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Lots of torque in a straight 6 compared to a V6 could be the differance
 
A little off- topic, but it's interesting to see all the different rigs pulling a 40. Especially the first with a U-Haul trailer. I just had an experience with U-Haul recently not willing to rent me a 4 wheel car hauler because my pickup wasn't BIG enough !! It's an 06 Chevy 2wd 6100GVW with factory towing package and 5.3L etc. rated to pull 8000 lbs. U-haul said my truck was too light and would get pushed around too much by the FJ40 and their trailer ( est 6000 lbs) and that I would have to rent a truck from them too. So I said the heck with it and drove the 40 !!! Got about 11 mpg...so it would probably be a wash as far as gas costs. Next time I want to rent a trailer, I'm gonna tell them I'm pulling a Honda civic!!
 
lobo loco said:
A little off- topic, but it's interesting to see all the different rigs pulling a 40. Especially the first with a U-Haul trailer. I just had an experience with U-Haul recently not willing to rent me a 4 wheel car hauler because my pickup wasn't BIG enough !! It's an 06 Chevy 2wd 6100GVW with factory towing package and 5.3L etc. rated to pull 8000 lbs. U-haul said my truck was too light and would get pushed around too much by the FJ40 and their trailer ( est 6000 lbs) and that I would have to rent a truck from them too. So I said the heck with it and drove the 40 !!! Got about 11 mpg...so it would probably be a wash as far as gas costs. Next time I want to rent a trailer, I'm gonna tell them I'm pulling a Honda civic!!
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Don't let the uhaul guy know, but we we did say it was gonna be a V8 4runner pullin a Honda;). Actually if you read through their disclaimer you cannot pull ANY uhaul trailer with a FORD EXPLORER. Believe that..
 
The guy was running 70+ mph in 5th gear, and that pretty much explains it to me. I don't think he needed 5th all the time, maybe on hills, but the new FJ has plenty of balls in the engine. So I am sure he could have gotten better mpg using 6th gear most of the time if possible - it couldn't be ALL up hill.
 
LandCruisers4Life said:
The guy was running 70+ mph in 5th gear, and that pretty much explains it to me. I don't think he needed 5th all the time, maybe on hills, but the new FJ has plenty of balls in the engine. So I am sure he could have gotten better mpg using 6th gear most of the time if possible - it couldn't be ALL up hill.
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In 6th gear, I could not keep my speed up at 75mph. I had it in 5th most of the time, and some uphills in N.Ga on had to put it in 4th. @ 75mph in 5th gear it was turning 3200RPM. I could stick it to the floor on hills and still loose RPM's and speed. I'm not here to complain, just thought I would let some of you know the information i have from my trip.
 
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