Towing pop-up camper with FJ??

biggygreg · 06-20-2007, 08:01 PM

If you tow a pop-up camper with your FJ I would love to know how it does, impact of MPG, and other relavent information. Thanks.

HammerHead · 06-20-2007, 08:04 PM

New 4x4 Trailer

**dbbd1** · 06-20-2007, 08:46 PM

I have not noticed much mpg change. Power, when mine has the water tank full, it seems to make a difference, I "notice" it back there; but empty, I barely feel it.

***Landrover*** · 06-20-2007, 08:59 PM

I have a mid-size Coleman camper that I tow with the FJ, and I must say it does so with aplomb. I run stock suspension and since the fj is a little lower in the front than the back, it sits just about perfectly level with the trailer hooked up and FJ loaded up full.

I live in a particularly mountainous/hilly area of east Tennessee (just down the road the Great Smoky Mountains) and only on the steeper uphills do I need to keep the AT in 4th. On some really steep (35 degrees +) and slow hills, do I have to go to third. Mind you these are not highways, but up the back of the mountain 1 1/2 lane back roads.

Brakes are wonderful. I don't have brakes on my camper as my last tow vehicle was a Land Rover Discovery which also had great brakes (although not the trans and engine that the FJ has). No fade and plenty of modulation. Rock solid on the highway at speed too. No swaying.

Mileage is just like any vehicle really, put enough of a load, coupled with the aerodynamic drag of whatever you're towing (which isn't too bad with pop-us really), and you're going to notice a substantial decrease in MPG. Not bad though, I think I still got 11-13 mpg or better when most the miles were highway.

Hope that helps you out. Just holler if need any other info.

highbeams · 06-20-2007, 09:26 PM

I towed the pp up a few times, it is kinda invisible back there, but like any trailer it will hit you for a MPG or 2

505FJ · 06-20-2007, 09:29 PM

I pulled our pop-up for the first time last weekend. Pretty much the same as Landrover said but I got about 15 mpg.
The only issue I had was that with my 3" OME lift, the back end of the trailer was pretty low and I ended up dragging it a few times. I might have to get a 4 or 6" drop down hitch to level it out.