first off, I could tow my trailer/FJ40 behind a Yugo and somehow make it across the country, so while this is definitely not something I'd condone, I now have firsthand experience in the process.
In 100% stock form, a 1996 80-series will tow a ~5500# trailer/FJ40 at 70mph and 3200 rpm quite nicely.....I do have a weight distribution hitch installed (completely NOT recommended by Toyota), and do NOT have trailer brakes (which would be nice, but dammit, it stops better this way than the Lemon does WITH trailer brakes...lol). OD was always off, and the Power switch thingie was always on.
On the Flats: zero problems, the headwinds we experienced today were a bitch (even the big flags were straight at us) but it was doable, and it held speed. Drafting rocks.
Fer the Uphills: drafting rocks, and is nice. Cruise control will kill out around 62mph when set at 70 (due to normal vacuum drop/motor rpm), and if you aren't watching it, the loss of cruise will knock you back 5mph before you even get yer foot back on the accellerator. Irritating, but expected. Also, if you aren't cautious, it will kick to 2nd and 3600-3800 rpm, caught me twice with that, so I backed off on my speed. These were TX/OK/MO hills too, none of these "real" hills like Tennessee or Colorado or sumthin....
And da Downhills: yikes....THIS is where towing with an 80 requires a steady hand and lots of towing experience. You top the hill and cruise didn't kick out, so the 80 accellerates like ALL Toyotas do, until you are pushing 73-ish....then, it backs out of the power, and the sway/loose feeling begins....very unnerving.... Part of the issue is the too-short wheelbase of the 80....really, in a "better" towing situation, the wheelbase of the 80 would be greater than the distance between the rear tires of the 80 and the front tires of the trailer....well, it ain't and it makes for odd towing.
So far, 1 quart of oil in 900-ish miles....engine temps and oil pressures are steady.
Anyways, I've got a pic of the setup I'll post later, forgot it in the rig, and I'm too lazy to walk 3 floors down to get it....
In 100% stock form, a 1996 80-series will tow a ~5500# trailer/FJ40 at 70mph and 3200 rpm quite nicely.....I do have a weight distribution hitch installed (completely NOT recommended by Toyota), and do NOT have trailer brakes (which would be nice, but dammit, it stops better this way than the Lemon does WITH trailer brakes...lol). OD was always off, and the Power switch thingie was always on.
On the Flats: zero problems, the headwinds we experienced today were a bitch (even the big flags were straight at us) but it was doable, and it held speed. Drafting rocks.
Fer the Uphills: drafting rocks, and is nice. Cruise control will kill out around 62mph when set at 70 (due to normal vacuum drop/motor rpm), and if you aren't watching it, the loss of cruise will knock you back 5mph before you even get yer foot back on the accellerator. Irritating, but expected. Also, if you aren't cautious, it will kick to 2nd and 3600-3800 rpm, caught me twice with that, so I backed off on my speed. These were TX/OK/MO hills too, none of these "real" hills like Tennessee or Colorado or sumthin....
And da Downhills: yikes....THIS is where towing with an 80 requires a steady hand and lots of towing experience. You top the hill and cruise didn't kick out, so the 80 accellerates like ALL Toyotas do, until you are pushing 73-ish....then, it backs out of the power, and the sway/loose feeling begins....very unnerving.... Part of the issue is the too-short wheelbase of the 80....really, in a "better" towing situation, the wheelbase of the 80 would be greater than the distance between the rear tires of the 80 and the front tires of the trailer....well, it ain't and it makes for odd towing.
So far, 1 quart of oil in 900-ish miles....engine temps and oil pressures are steady.
Anyways, I've got a pic of the setup I'll post later, forgot it in the rig, and I'm too lazy to walk 3 floors down to get it....
And I thought my holidays were expensive. That's a lot of gold stars and hats.
