Camper Hauling Question

[Backcountry]

i have a 2008 Toyota FJ Cruiser. V6 4WD, etc. it is rated to pull 5,000lbs. i've gotten a couple of different answers from different people so i decided to ask here. I'm thinking of buying a small 15' to 20' camper...with the weights varying from 2500 to 3700lbs. I am not wanting to ruin my good vehicle pulling this thing to different campgrounds. would my fj be ok pulling this thing around? or do i need to get something else?
If i got a camper, i know about the trailer breaks and i would definitely be installing those.

 

[shfd739]

I would think you would be fine. We pulled a Jayco Baja pop-up with ours that when loaded was around 3200-3500lbs. Granted it isnt the drag of a square box (even though with the A/C it was as tall as the FJ) but you will be fine.

Add a brake controller (Tekonsha Prodigy is prob best bang for buck) and possibly sway control/weight distribution and have fun. The Equa-lizer brand is a combo with rave reviews on a camper forum I frequent.

What kind are you looking at?

 

[sprocket3]

I pulled one about that size (3500 pounds) with my 100 series. It was my dads and I was thinking of getting one and pulling it around the northwest. I didn't enjoy it and found that it had to work very hard to pull that thing up over a hill. Keep in mind you will have a bunch of other stuff in the trailer and things change when you come to a hill.

Try to rent or get your hands on one prior to purchasing. Make sure you pull it up a hill and and drive for a few hours to get a good feel for what you are in for. Towing is a personal thing like a lift, tires, gearing ect... It's not black and white.

Also check out the Scamp, Casita and i think Bigfoot makes some light trailers worth looking at.

Hope that helps.

 

[6740inCo]

I am not sure about a camper but I will say this, My 07 and I just yesterday finished hauling a 62 VW bus on a 17' trailer from Albany Or to Pasadena. Yes things change when you come to a hill and as long as you remember there are gears on your vehicle and do not expect to use your rig as a race car both going up or coming down you will be fine. I do have electric brakes setup and not once did my setup get out of control or feel unsafe. I maintained 60 mph at 1700 rpms during my hwy cruising and managed around 11 mpg

 

[Hondo352]

I've towed a 17' Casita since we got the FJ in June of 06. We get 13/15 mpg on the highway.

 

[CREACHR]

Towed the biggest Coleman pop-up from Wisconsin to central CO and back via the Black Hills. It pulled just fine. Trailer breaks are a must. I now tow a my Outlander, and don't even know the thing is back there.

 

[FJ40 that green thing]

My opinion

I towed a Starcraft 18rb hybrid trailer weighing around 2800 lb. with the trailer brake and equilizer hitch setup with my 08 FJ Cruiser M/T 4x4. I took several trips over 400 miles with local and freeway travel. It pulled fine most of the time 65 mph or less on local roads, canyons, etc. I will say I was unhappy with it on the freeway though. I got on average 7 mpg and it just couldn't tow at the higher speeds, hills, against the wind, etc. I now tow with an 08 Tundra - Night & Day difference and I get twice as good of gas mileage with gobs, gobs, gobs more power. The FJ Cruiser has its purpose but I don't believe towing regularly or over 2500# loads with ease is one of them. I'd probably stick with a pop-up of some kind unless you are only towing around locally and not freeway travel. FWIW