towing FJ40 cross country with 5.4 F150?

[Senor Aguas]

I've got a 2004 F150 Supercrew 5.4, 3.73, 4x4 that I really like. I'd like to tow my 40 to Utah or Colorado every few years (~1000 miles each way). Anyone have any experience they'd like to share? I know the truck is rated to do it and my gas mileage will be awful, but am I going to be going 35-40 mph up long grades in Colorado? Any upgrades I should consider? Its got a tranny cooler, but I'm unsure if I should get a bigger one.

 

[DaGoat]

If you plan on keeping this truck to pull with, I would rec. a gear change. 4.11's? Do they make deeper trans pans for that tranny. I have deeper transmission pan that is aluminum from summit.

 

[cjhollenshead]

Are you planning on towing the fj with a trailor or a tow bar?

 

[Senor Aguas]

Would prefer trailer, but I have a tow bar also.

 

[crawlingforcover]

flat towing

How is the FJ40 supposed to be flat towed (all 4 wheels on the ground)? I would expect that the transfer case should be in neutral as well as the transmission and hubs unlocked of course. I might be buying a 64 in the next week and towing about 100 miles or so.
Thanks, Ron.

 

[Rubiconcruiser]

Get a decent towbar, stop and tail lamp setup, safety chains and out of gear, transfer case neutral, pull it. Blue ox makes a reasonable tow bar system, Lights are available ay your local U haul dealer.

 

[crashn]

I trailered my 78 FJ40 from central Florida to Grand Junction and back in mid August to mid September behind our 03 Ford Expidition with a 5.4 and automatic tranny that had a 1000,000 miles on it when we started. We had no problems what so ever. I pulled the trailer from 70 to 85 MPH the whole time. I have been using the Expidition for towing from the day I purchased it new. While in Co. and Utah I put 2500 more miles on the FJ40. I don't like pulling the FJ40 with a tow bar that far. It doesn't need any more unnecessary ware and tear on it as is. You folks that live in Colorado and Utah sure have some beautiful country to 4x4 and hike in. We love it there but I am stuck in Cenral Fl. for a few more years so I guess I will trailer the 40 back and forth every year.

 

[Adrift]

our 03 Ford Expidition with a 5.4 and automatic tranny that had a 1000,000 miles on it when we started.

Holy Bajesus... 1000,000 miles?

 

[Grape Ape]

I JUST towed my dads 78 back from Tennessee to Cincinnati, the truck didnt like it AT ALL, i think it cooked my trans fluid, I have a 01 f150 4x4 w 5.4 z 106,000mi Used a Uhaul flatbed with double axle, if the tires on the fj are even the least bit oversized youll have to deflate them, we had to drop the pressure to like 5psi strap them down and then reinflated, it only held 10psi.

 

[mk1gator21]

I worked for a guy with a lawn business who had a similar model ford truck and his pulls well, but he had to program it with intake and exhaust to achieve this. The main thing that made the difference was the programing he mainly added the intake and exhaust for the sound.
I believe that if you program your truck it should do what you want, on the occasional trips. Transmission cooler and pan upgrades would not be necessary unless you plan on pulling on grade everyday.

 

[AzWrangler73]

I remember towing our 62' around when we would go up hunting and camping. We would always check the front hubs were unlocked, put the tranny and transfer case all in neutral. It always towed pretty good, but always crawling under it and double checking everything after we got to where we needed. That was the not so fun part, LOL. But I do remember breaking the pitman arm and having to tow the Cruiser home with the wheels chained straight. VERY interesting tow home! Wished we had a trailer or dolly at that point!

 

[Senor Aguas]

Thanks Guys. I haven't checked this thread in a while! I do have a programmer (EDGE), but honestly, I couldn't really notice a difference in power, even with the premium fuel option. It did shift much harder though and I like that I can monitor my trans temps with it. I have a flat tow bar and some magnetic trailer lights that I use. I haven't really towed it very far yet. My dad now has a '07 Tundra, so we may use that most of the time.

 

[1973barnfind]

I pulled mine out of mississippi, and those roads (hwy 45? 65?) were a biotch to pull my Fj on top of a heavy duty trailer. forget gas mileage.