Maintenance & Restoration

Scamper on the road · 10-28-2012, 05:00 PM

I want to buy a newer truck, 2009 /tacoma, V6 or should I get a V8 I want good gas milage, I have a 16 ft Scamp with lots of junk!

cpaharley2008 · 10-28-2012, 05:21 PM

Well, I towed for the first time this weekend, had to wait until I had 500 miles before using the FJ. The tongue weight was checked, 360# fully loaded. I drove 135 miles and filled up at the campground, 8 gallons, which according to my high school math is 17 mpg!! Not bad. The FJ does not have a tow/haul mode but the auto is 5 speed with overdrive and by downshifting to d4 going up hills gives you the same result. It handled the mountains fine and in d4 the engine did some braking going down the mountains, The specs say 17 city/20 highway so 17 towing is great.

cpaharley2008 · 10-28-2012, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jutebox

I want to buy a newer truck, 2009 /tacoma, V6 or should I get a V8 I want good gas milage, I have a 16 ft Scamp with lots of junk!

The cyl Taco should handle the Scamp without any issues, try to get the towing package.

ruscal · 10-30-2012, 07:39 PM

Jim,
17 mph is not bad. We got 13 mph with the 4.0 TJ Jeep Wrangler towing a loaded 16' Scamp on our recent San Diego / Moab run. With a V8 I'd bet we would still get 13! The flat windshield and grill kills the highway mileage.
Russ

ThomasE · 10-31-2012, 01:14 AM

Getting the city rated MPG is not bad for towing. My 4.7L V8 Tundra is rated 15/19, and I get about 15 towing between 62-65mph.

cpaharley2008 · 10-31-2012, 05:47 AM

As a side note, I find towing with the double axle keeps things inside "put" in that I left my cup of coffee on the floor by the door when I put the step up, it was still there unscathed.

Ice-breaker · 10-31-2012, 08:21 AM

Jim.
Really like your choice of TV. Have had mine for over a year now and every time I sit down inside it, I still cannot believe how much I like to drive it.

With respect to towing the Escape 19, how is the visibility out of your side mirrors when you tow? Are you going to require extensions to your mirrors to see behind you?

regards
dave

cpaharley2008 · 10-31-2012, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice-breaker

Jim.
Really like your choice of TV. Have had mine for over a year now and every time I sit down inside it, I still cannot believe how much I like to drive it.

With respect to towing the Escape 19, how is the visibility out of your side mirrors when you tow? Are you going to require extensions to your mirrors to see behind you?

regards
dave

I see fine down the sides, never could see the back of any trailer I've owned. The 2012 FJ has the backup camera in the spare tire cover and I can see the hitch ball now. Takes all the fun out of guessing anymore while hooking up.
All in all, quite pleased with the switch from the Liberty to the FJ. Have to figure out how to mount the spare on roof now so that I can get the dogs in/out the back.

Roger C H · 10-31-2012, 12:45 PM

I notice that large windowless area. Does that give you any problems backing? On my VW Golf, the blank area behind the back door blocks the view of traffic when backing out of an angled spot.

cpaharley2008 · 10-31-2012, 02:39 PM

I use my side mirrors while backing.

Ice-breaker · 10-31-2012, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger C H

I notice that large windowless area. Does that give you any problems backing? On my VW Golf, the blank area behind the back door blocks the view of traffic when backing out of an angled spot.

One of the biggest issues that some people have with the FJ is the relatively large blindspots that are present, especially on the passenger side of the truck. You can get around that to some extent by having your mirrors adjusted properly, but it can be an issue under some circumstances. Backing out of parking spots is where I have the greatest difficulty, as you can not always see the traffic coming (particularly on the passenger side).

Other than that, the FJ is a great truck to drive and a lot of fun in the mud.

cpaharley2008 · 10-31-2012, 03:14 PM

So far my significant other has been my eyes for that side, but I can see (no pun intended) that traveling solo will be more sight restrictive.

rabbit · 10-31-2012, 04:05 PM

For the same trip around and thru the Alleghenies to Burnt Cabins PA., I got 15.1mpg on 05 4runner 4 litre 6. Very similar to Tom E.'s number from the Tundra p'up. I have done 16- on runs which did not require climbing over as many ridges. I went over one genuine "climb" between Thurmont MD and Burnt Cabins. Came home the PA turnpike whose grades were not engineered by livestock or Indians and are thus a bit more gentle. V6 in the 05 is said to be 245hp while Jim's "identical" powerplant is 260hp.

jack

cpaharley2008 · 10-31-2012, 04:14 PM

I filled up today and check the mileage, dropped from 17 mpg to 15 mpg. The 17 mpg may have been inflated since it had some non towing use (30 miles) while today's figure is strictly towing. Still pleased and the motor still has less than 1000 miles on it! I read somewhere that once it is broken in (10,000 miles) that your mpg will increase by 10%.
Jack,as mentioned above, my motor has an extra valve or cam over the Forerunner motor, causing the differential in h/p! I got it because of the military look, not the motor.