Towing my FJ40 with my V6 Taco

Been reading and reading and reading...then watching and watching all possibly YouTube clips. At some point, most of these YouTube channels are doing this for shock factor ("Let's see how much our Gen 1 Tacoma can tow!"). None of this is helpful...but I have read over a few times the The Tacoma Towing Bible by the amazing @maverick491 . But I am still scratching my head a bit. With that being said - can someone give me some advice here. I just need some real-world validation before I go down that path.

What I am trying to so: Tow my 1981 FJ40 from GA to FLA for an event (about 500 miles one way).

What I have: 2015 Prerunner 4x2 4.0L V6 with factory installed tow package/class IV, Bilsteins, etc.

How I want to tow it: The standard Uhaul auto transport trailer that you can find pretty much anywhere.

My Taco GVWR is: 5400lbs
Added extras on my taco: Full rack, running boards 100lbs
Uhaul Trailer is: 2200lbs (empty), 5290 max load
My FJ40 wet weight (with no cargo) is around 3500lbs
Hitch weight: Maybe 50lbs
Max Tongue weight: unknown

The more I look at these numbers, its creeping up there to the max towing for this 4.0L, which is starting to tell me it may be too much for steel trailer+old FJ40.

Thoughts?

 

Your 40 looks great! I've done the same thing with my 2005 Tacoma (4x4 with the towing package) towing my old '73 FJ40 using that same trailer ~ 200 miles round trip. The brakes weren't working on the first trailer so I went back and got another one. In my case I made sure a) I was in no hurry and b) drove during times where traffic was light to minimize quick stops and was good to go. It's not something I'd do often but it was fine.

 

Love the FJ BTW.

I think you're borderline.

In the real world around 4500-5000 lbs is about as much as I'd want behind my Tacoma. If you're numbers are accurate you're at 5700. But you have a couple of things in your favor. You won't be towing at any altitude over 1000' and there won't be any hills. Some rolling terrain for the 1st 50 miles then basically flat.

Your 2wd Pre-Runner will have a little more payload than a 4X4 which will help. A lot comes down to how much weight you will have in the Tacoma. If it is just you with little or no other cargo then I'd probably try it. But if you're taking 1 or 2 passengers and will have several hundred pounds of cargo in the truck probably not

You might want to actually weigh the FJ. If it proves to be significantly heavier than your 3500 lb estimate you might want to reconsider.

 

Thanks everyone for the insight...seems like an aluminum trailer may be the best option to help with the weight.

 

Like you said, people have towed with 1st gens (smaller motor) including towing a 4Runner on a vehicle trailer.

I don’t know what the average big moving trailer weighs loaded up but that’s a common one

I towed moving more miles at altitude through mountains and that was not fun
More braking distance, less power, lower gears, slower trying to be more gentle and cautious etc

I’m not sure what they judge the capacity by. My frame seems fine. Hitches and steel bumpers can likely handle up to 10k lbs.
armor definitely doesn’t help it feel nimble. I’ve always heard Tacomas due to leaf springs can tow up to around 10k and 4Runners around 5k

If they judge it by motor and brakes, well, can it do it, especially if the trailer has automatic surge brakes? Probably

but everyone knows the 4.0 and stock brakes are extremely weak even for the truck driving with zero weight…

3500 diesels usually have stronger frame designs for towing than 2500’s but that’s because they’re spec’ing into territory around 30k+ lbs etc

 

@Marshall R - just getting back to your reply from long ago.....I have decided to Dolly the FJ40 behind my 2015 V6 2WD Preerunner. Here is what I am looking at - and this to me (would love your advice or take on this) looks doable )vs the heavier trailer).

FJ40 - weighed this AM (1/4 tank of fuel): 3,980 lbs
Uhaul Dolly wight: 750lbs
Total: 4,730

2015 2WD V6 Double Cab Pre-runner (short bed) with gas: 3,985
2 Passengers: +/- 360lbs
2-3 bags: +/1 250 lbs
Total: 4,600 lbs

I might be able to take off the super heavy spare and drive shaft for dolly and save about 100lbs there (and add into the Tacoma).

I plan to take it really easy and slow - no rush, plan long stopping distances....but do you think this is doable?

 

https://tailoredtrucks.com/blog/toyota-tacoma-towing-capacity-2015/

I have hauled a 3500 lb camper empty weight loaded with stuff for a week and 4 of us in the cab

its not fast but it goes ok
trailer brakes need to work or you wont be stopping fast

 

Honestly I think the auto transport trailer is the better move. Sure it’s a bit more weight, but you get brakes, which is the bigger concern imo.

 

Thanks guys - I changed it to a transport trailer....so still a little concerned that I have a 2210 trailer + 3900 FJ40 = 6,100 total weight. So I think this will work fine with my 6,400 max towing capacity. Its the more weight in back vs what is in front (my Tacoma), but assume the brakes will help with that. Slow and easy I assume.

 

You could drive the 40…

 

Of course I could! But will working on some small mechanical kinks.

 

Spoken like a true 40 owner

 

Look in the fluid reservoir of the trailer before you leave. The employees usually just check out lights and never check the brakes

 

Then you know of this "pain" I deal with....in all honesty....I want to drive down for this event some day. Its 30% highway, and 70% backroads. The FJ just does so well on backroads.

 

don't tell U-Haul what you're towing. my 09 Tacoma was going to bring home a 1995 2wd single cab Tacoma, and they wouldn't rent me a transport trailer because it wasn't rated for the weight of that.

but on an alternative note I've brought home a 1967 F100 with my Tacoma on a 2wd dolly telling them i needed to bring a corolla home.

 

hauled one of these with my 99 gen 1 2.7 taco 4x4 ECLB on a big tex trailer

 

Well now you are tugging at my heart strings....I used to have an all original (with the big v8) 1966 F100 in green/white....I still search for that truck almost daily.

 

it needs a whole lot of work but it was supposed to be in the shop by now... its not because my sisters 80k mile 83 ford escort wagon is in my project space.

what's wild is that truck was delivered from a friends driveway for $500, my sister minty wagon was $300 and a 6 pack of beer

 

@knottyrope do you recommend I do a quick tongue weight check once I load up the FJ40 on the Uhaul auto transport? My Taco is a V6 GRN265L-PRADKA with the Class IV hitch, 10,000lb adjustable hitch ball and I think my max tongue is at 650lbs (10% of the max tow).

 

always check tongue weight
https://youtu.be/nMoLA44lcgU