FJ40 Bumper Hitch Capacity??

[Solace in Solitude]

So, upon arriving in Alamosa, CO today, Dianna saw a small trailer, labeled "Space" and said you need to pull that with 44!!".

Having internet tonight, I looked it up and it looks very promising for me to make room in 44 and always be ready to leave at a moments notice... Kinda like a Go-Trailer!!

The Space trailer is light (550 lbs +1000 load capacity)... But, 44 has a four-bolt bumper hitch and, with the aux tank, it would be difficult to install a frame-mounted hitch.

Does anyone know what the four-bolt hitch capacity is?

I won't have connectivity for the next two weeks, but will check back when I can.

Thanks!!

 

[78fj40mg]

Danny, I've towed a 3000 lbs. trailer with my cruiser without any issues, you shouldn't have problems with a 1500 lbs load.

 

[78fj40mg]

Make sure the 4 bolts are tight, however that bumper hitch is pretty stout.

Happy trails!

 

[78fj40mg]

Is this the one?

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Is this the one?

Yep. The one we saw had the low-lift and 13" tires/wheels. If I pursue it, I would go with 15" tires/wheels and hi-lift.

Thanks Mike!!

 

[78fj40mg]

I agree 15" tires/wheels is the way to go. Since you'll be without connectivity please let me know if there's anything I could do to help you during your trip, provided your iPhone is some what connected.

 

[upperblack]

I've towed 3000 pounds with this style hitch. I know it's a little different but should be the same capacity
Sorry for the not so great pic it's all I have with me at the moment

 

[skidplate]

The 4 bolts you have should be grade 8 and then you're golden.

 

[bikersmurf]

I've towed a car trailer with a stock cast iron hitch bolted to the rear cross member... and 4000 lbs in a tandem axle landscaping trailer. The landscaping trailer was 1200 lbs empty, and after a while it was easy to forget it was there, it towed so nice.

Never had much luck with trailers that small... 15" tires will help, 8" suck and don't tow well unless you enjoy a fishtailing trailer going through the Rockies

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Thanks Guys!!

Heading up towards Platoro, CO now... No more connectivity.

I'll mull this over and see what the Space rep says and get back
To this in a couple of weeks.

Right no I'm going fishing!!

 

[Living in the Past]

Personally not a fan of the four bolt hitch drops below the rear frame member. Seen too many the had bent the frame member using the cruiser off road. They made pintle hooks that have a ball hitch included. I remove a custom hitch from a frame that was a wide plate that used the four bolts as well as the four bolts from the bumperettes on each side. That would spread the load across the back instead of just the center.with a spare gas tank it makes it hard to get to the nuts for the four bolts in the center. I've removed spare tanks but if I kept them I thought making plate with four welded nuts. Idea is remove three bolts, loosen the fourth then spin the hitch away enough to install a couple bolts. Then once removed install the other bolts or switch hitches.

 

[bikersmurf]

X2 The four bolt dropped hitches will bend frames off road. I went up a very steep rock face, lost traction, slid down, and wacked the hitch on a rock... tweaked the frame.

Would rather a different one, but the aux tank makes it next to impossible... I'll just have to be mindful and not to whack it into any rocks

 

[78fj40mg]

Simply stated...
That's what happens when you roll a 5000 lbs concentrated load and forced to impact on to a 2" ball it will only tweak the frame, this proves the strength of the frame rails and associated cross member.
Therefore; towing a 1500 lbs trailer shouldn't present a problem at all!

 

[Tysano]

A stock fj40 has a rated towing capacity of 3,500 lbs with the factory hitch.

 

[caladin]

Toyota 4x4 Land Cruisers

lists the FJ4 towing capacity as 3000

what about the bolt on reciver hitch?

 

[Living in the Past]

Simply stated...
That's what happens when you roll a 5000 lbs concentrated load and forced to impact on to a 2" ball it will only tweak the frame, this proves the strength of the frame rails and associated cross member.
Therefore; towing a 1500 lbs trailer shouldn't present a problem at all!

If your saying the bend rear frame member has to do with trailer weight the ones I talking about got bent with no trailer attached. The bumperettes are closer to the main frame rail and bend pretty easy. A lot of the drop trailer hitches are heavier gauge metal then the rear frame so hitting something off road the frame will tweak first because the leverage it has..

 

[handcannon]

Danny, if you do get a small trailer, try to get the hubs for a six bolt pattern the same as 44. This way the spare for 44 can also be used on the trailer.

Don

 

[Fast Eddy]

IA lot of the drop trailer hitches are heavier gauge metal then the rear frame so hitting something off road the frame will tweak first because the leverage it has..

Not a lot of argument, but I've pulled a bunch of rigs with a strap including a completely dead bronco a few miles up a rocky trail with no such damage.

 

[Living in the Past]

Not a lot of argument, but I've pulled a bunch of rigs with a strap including a completely dead bronco a few miles up a rocky trail with no such damage.

The difference is your doing the same as towing pulling someone out. Dropping off a ledge and catching hitch on a rock the doesn't give the rear frame member will. Just left our cabin yesterday. My 79 which I bought from a friend about twenty years ago. He only had the cruiser for a couple years but was hard on it. The rear frame member is bent from the hitch (which I removed right away) hitting a rock off road. If a hitch was attached to both main frame rails vehicle would probably stop before damage was done. A five pound hand sledge weights the same whether rest it on a object or hit it as hard as you can. I'm not hard on my vehicles and not a likely to do damage I still rather have the pintle with a ball for the opps that happen some time.

 

[Unoman]

I posted this in a different thread, but I tow my Scamp which weighs 920lbs dry with my bone stock '71 40. I use a 4plus, 4 bolt hitch. I've only towed with it one time so far, but that was a ~200 mile round trip affair. No issues for me and I don't play to wheel this rig much anyway nor do I plan to tow anything heavier than the Scamp