Toyota FJ towing Shadow Cruiser 225 RBS
Hi All, We recently downsized to a Shadow Cruiser, factory specs Dry:4210, GVWR:7325. Firstly who is gonna pack 3115 in a camping trailer!? All tanks full would make approx. 900......never happen! ...
Forum Discussion
We went down this same path this past winter/spring.
We bought a '12 S225RBS in December(stored at dealership until spring)and planned on towing it with our '03 V6 4Runner. I had previously upgraded the 4Runner with a transmission cooler, air bags and the WD hitch used on the V8's, increasing our tow capacity as documented in the owns manual to somewhere around 7000lbs, don't remember, as we don't own the 4Runner anymore. Get to that later.
Our first camper that we pulled around for 2 summers was 17', with a dry weight of 3000lbs and tongue weight of 325lbs. The 4Runner pulled it just fine with no complaints. We then wanted more room and found the perfect layout with the S225RBS. With a dry weight of 4500lbs and tongue weight of 425lbs I knew the 4Ruuner was going to have to work harder on the hills and fighting side winds but I thought we would be ok. We had our sons diesel as a backup plan if it didn't work out.
Well a couple weeks before picking up new TT our son sold his truck which left us a little concerned about what might happen if towing the S225RBS didn't work out as planned. My biggest fear was that the with short wheelbase the new TT was going to be an issue winds and semi traffic.
At the last minute we chose to sell our beloved 4Ruuner and bought an Avalanche. Now having towed the new TT with the Avalanche I'm pretty confident it would have been a struggle for the 4Runner and me, each and every trip. That extra 1500lbs and 5' of camper is a lot to consider and with the FJ's wheelbase being 4" shorter than the 4Runner this would add to the problem.
The Avalanche tows the S225RBS without any issues and we get equivalent or sometimes even better mileage towing with it than we did with the 4Runner and the previous TT. We don't regret making the decision to buy the S225RBS or the Avalanche.
Hope this helps out.
Mike/Theresa
We bought a '12 S225RBS in December(stored at dealership until spring)and planned on towing it with our '03 V6 4Runner. I had previously upgraded the 4Runner with a transmission cooler, air bags and the WD hitch used on the V8's, increasing our tow capacity as documented in the owns manual to somewhere around 7000lbs, don't remember, as we don't own the 4Runner anymore. Get to that later.
Our first camper that we pulled around for 2 summers was 17', with a dry weight of 3000lbs and tongue weight of 325lbs. The 4Runner pulled it just fine with no complaints. We then wanted more room and found the perfect layout with the S225RBS. With a dry weight of 4500lbs and tongue weight of 425lbs I knew the 4Ruuner was going to have to work harder on the hills and fighting side winds but I thought we would be ok. We had our sons diesel as a backup plan if it didn't work out.
Well a couple weeks before picking up new TT our son sold his truck which left us a little concerned about what might happen if towing the S225RBS didn't work out as planned. My biggest fear was that the with short wheelbase the new TT was going to be an issue winds and semi traffic.
At the last minute we chose to sell our beloved 4Ruuner and bought an Avalanche. Now having towed the new TT with the Avalanche I'm pretty confident it would have been a struggle for the 4Runner and me, each and every trip. That extra 1500lbs and 5' of camper is a lot to consider and with the FJ's wheelbase being 4" shorter than the 4Runner this would add to the problem.
The Avalanche tows the S225RBS without any issues and we get equivalent or sometimes even better mileage towing with it than we did with the 4Runner and the previous TT. We don't regret making the decision to buy the S225RBS or the Avalanche.
Hope this helps out.
Mike/Theresa
