FJ80 3FE and a tent trailer, now want something bigger.. advice? experience? (PICS)

[Spencersieler]

So, I have always been a tent camper, but I gave in due to my brother buying a Toyota powered Sunrader and I picked up a 1984 Starcraft Starlight 17 Tent trailer. It has had a good life, yet been extremely well cared for. $500 can't pass it up.

Any ways, My 1992 Cruiser has 264,000 miles on original running gear, I drive it daily and it runs great. So I decided to try towing with it rather than use my 2011 Subaru Forester XT (WRX motor), Rated to tow 2400LB.

Trailer weighs 1000LB dry, I say I added around 500LB of gear so 1500LB total weight, not much when you consider the 5000LB factory rating.

Over all it tows well, until you hit a head wind then you lose all power in 4th gear and have to switch to 3rd and hold higher RPMs. (Thanks Columbia River Gorge!). I even had to take on a big pass and the Land Cruiser towed it nicely.

But after camping in a tent trailer I have really been thinking about upgrading to a hard side trailer with a bathroom! Something like this, made by Jayco, built with Screws and not staples beefier tires, extra holding tanks for dry camping and such, its 2500LB (ish) dry, So I would figure Ill be towing 3000-3500LB. Has anyone towed this much with a 3FE? I have a new transmission in my shed waiting to be installed when the original kicks the bucket and my motor is strong as ever.

But anyway, heres a pic of the Sunrader that was the talk of the damn camp ground.. we are not a fast group to be stuck behind…!

 

[FletchFFletch]

Heads up, pics you posted don't seem to be working.

If I'm reading correctly, your cruiser has a 5000 lb factory tow rating. What is the payload capacity of your cruiser? Reason I ask is that it is possible to be under on the tow rating but over the payload capacity. Usually 10-15% of the weight of the camper (loaded) transfers to the hitch, i.e. your rear axle. Add that to the weight of you, your passengers and the gear you load in your cruiser and that is the amount of payload.

I had a 07 Tundra at one point and we purchased a 7500 lb dry hard side trailer. The Tundra had plenty of tow capacity (15k LB or something like that), but had a pathetic payload capacity (1500 LB). We were maxed out, actually over, on the payload capacity and I didn't feel safe using it with the wifey, kiddos and dog. As such, I traded my Tundra for a Chevy 2500HD and now have payload capacity a plenty.

Hope that helps. Sorry if this was stuff you already knew. Check out rv.net --- there are a ton of towing / payload capacity threads there.