I have been lurking on here for quite a while now and am finally starting my first post. If you don't want to read a bunch of rambling just skip to the bulleted lists at the end.
I bought my 2013 white FJ Cruiser almost exactly one year ago. At the time of purchase it had 35,000 miles and it now sits at 51,000. It has a nearly new set of 265/70/17 Toyo A/T II E load tires with a matching spare (they were too new at purchase for me to justify increasing the tire size so although I wish they were 33" I am ok for now). Since purchasing, I have only added a set of Ironman Foam Call Pro front coilovers that I got for a great deal from Metal Tech 4x4 during their black Friday sale last year. The coilovers are only serving the function of leveling the front at the moment but they have significantly improved the ride by reducing body-roll and forward lurch while braking. I plan on upgrading the rear suspension in the future and switching to 285/70/17 AT's. There are also many other modifications I am hoping to make once I am finished with school such as a Demello aluminum bumper and Rhino Rack.
Last year I returned home to the Northwest from Reno on New Years Eve by driving almost entirely off road from Reno to Adel, Oregon. Planning this route, and completing the drive through one of the most remote parts of Nevada was very rewarding and definitely inspired me to spend as much time off-pavement as possible when traveling. After returning home I did realize that I was very unprepared to deal with any issues that might have come up on this trip, as it was 15 degrees outside and I didn't see a single vehicle on the 6 1/2 hour stretch off road from Gerlach, Nevada to Adel, Oregon. I do not currently have any way to transport extra fuel for these extended and isolated trips, but I believe that I have the ability to deal with simple issues such a flat tires, etc. To break up the stress of heavy work schedules I plan on traveling between jobs on the most remote routes possible. Passing by prime fly fishing water along the way would be a huge plus. I don't know the exact location of any of my work-sites yet and will likely be flying by the seat of my pants for a majority of the whole year. If the opportunity presents itself I will try to chronicle some of my experiences living out of the FJ and the Recon for others on these forums.
I am currently a Physician Assistant student at a small school focusing on rural healthcare, and will be leaving in August to complete a year of clinical residency at rural medical facilities throughout the Northwest. Staying in AirBnB for this year would have cost my wife and I a ton of money, so we decided to purchase a Teardrops NW Recon that I will live in for this year of travel. Despite the steep up-front cost of this trailer, we will still save a significant amount of money compared to more typical lodgings. I will be stationary for 6-12 week blocks, and will stay at "KOA-type" campgrounds to make use of the available electrical hook-ups and facilities necessary to show up to treat patients at work every day not appearing/smelling disheveled (showers, laundry, etc.).
Kevin at Teardrops NW has been outstanding so far at helping me through the planning process, making sure that I will have the creature comforts that I will need for a year of bumming around in a teardrop trailer. I will have a 12v Dometic fridge and a Camp Chef Ranger II stove so my diet doesn't completely deteriorate during this year. I will also have their available vestibule tent that connects directly to one door so I change into dress clothes every day without giving my fellow campers a free show. I do not have a trailer hitch or brake controller installed on the FJ yet, which ultimately leads me into my extensive list of questions that I have for this forum.
For the FJ:
- What is my best option for the trailer hitch and brake controller? (this teardrop comes equipped with a lock'n'roll hitch and 10" brakes via 7-pin connector)
- The trailer should weigh around 1800-1900 lbs. with the tongue weight most likely near 10% of that (180-190 lbs.) - I am not concerned with the FJ's ability to pull this weight, but I am wondering if there are measures that I need to take with regard to the rear suspension sagging while towing? (especially when off road driving over rough terrain)
- Should I be looking into protective/cooling implements for my transmission?
- I know I will take a big hit on the gas mileage and will need some method for carrying extra fuel for extended off road trips that I plan on taking between clinics. I am not opposed to carrying fuel on the roof, but the trailer also has a 2" receiver hitch on the rear that could hold a cargo platform. Any ideas here? 10 gallons would be ideal but a little less might suffice.
- Any other considerations to reduce the wear and tear on my vehicle?
For the teardrop:
- I have been searching far and wide for a cheap yet effective method for shelter from inclement weather conditions while cooking outside on the back galley. So far the only sure thing I have come up with is the Caddis Rapid Shelter 8' x 8', but I am not opposed to harnessing my rigging skills with ratchet straps and tarps I already own. Purchasing from REI would be a big plus so I could return it within a year if it breaks. Any other solutions for this issue that someone has found?
I apologize for the extremely long post, but I hope someone on here with any experience with towing (especially off road teardrops) can chime in and offer some advice.
Thank you for your time.
I bought my 2013 white FJ Cruiser almost exactly one year ago. At the time of purchase it had 35,000 miles and it now sits at 51,000. It has a nearly new set of 265/70/17 Toyo A/T II E load tires with a matching spare (they were too new at purchase for me to justify increasing the tire size so although I wish they were 33" I am ok for now). Since purchasing, I have only added a set of Ironman Foam Call Pro front coilovers that I got for a great deal from Metal Tech 4x4 during their black Friday sale last year. The coilovers are only serving the function of leveling the front at the moment but they have significantly improved the ride by reducing body-roll and forward lurch while braking. I plan on upgrading the rear suspension in the future and switching to 285/70/17 AT's. There are also many other modifications I am hoping to make once I am finished with school such as a Demello aluminum bumper and Rhino Rack.
Last year I returned home to the Northwest from Reno on New Years Eve by driving almost entirely off road from Reno to Adel, Oregon. Planning this route, and completing the drive through one of the most remote parts of Nevada was very rewarding and definitely inspired me to spend as much time off-pavement as possible when traveling. After returning home I did realize that I was very unprepared to deal with any issues that might have come up on this trip, as it was 15 degrees outside and I didn't see a single vehicle on the 6 1/2 hour stretch off road from Gerlach, Nevada to Adel, Oregon. I do not currently have any way to transport extra fuel for these extended and isolated trips, but I believe that I have the ability to deal with simple issues such a flat tires, etc. To break up the stress of heavy work schedules I plan on traveling between jobs on the most remote routes possible. Passing by prime fly fishing water along the way would be a huge plus. I don't know the exact location of any of my work-sites yet and will likely be flying by the seat of my pants for a majority of the whole year. If the opportunity presents itself I will try to chronicle some of my experiences living out of the FJ and the Recon for others on these forums.
I am currently a Physician Assistant student at a small school focusing on rural healthcare, and will be leaving in August to complete a year of clinical residency at rural medical facilities throughout the Northwest. Staying in AirBnB for this year would have cost my wife and I a ton of money, so we decided to purchase a Teardrops NW Recon that I will live in for this year of travel. Despite the steep up-front cost of this trailer, we will still save a significant amount of money compared to more typical lodgings. I will be stationary for 6-12 week blocks, and will stay at "KOA-type" campgrounds to make use of the available electrical hook-ups and facilities necessary to show up to treat patients at work every day not appearing/smelling disheveled (showers, laundry, etc.).
Kevin at Teardrops NW has been outstanding so far at helping me through the planning process, making sure that I will have the creature comforts that I will need for a year of bumming around in a teardrop trailer. I will have a 12v Dometic fridge and a Camp Chef Ranger II stove so my diet doesn't completely deteriorate during this year. I will also have their available vestibule tent that connects directly to one door so I change into dress clothes every day without giving my fellow campers a free show. I do not have a trailer hitch or brake controller installed on the FJ yet, which ultimately leads me into my extensive list of questions that I have for this forum.
For the FJ:
- What is my best option for the trailer hitch and brake controller? (this teardrop comes equipped with a lock'n'roll hitch and 10" brakes via 7-pin connector)
- The trailer should weigh around 1800-1900 lbs. with the tongue weight most likely near 10% of that (180-190 lbs.) - I am not concerned with the FJ's ability to pull this weight, but I am wondering if there are measures that I need to take with regard to the rear suspension sagging while towing? (especially when off road driving over rough terrain)
- Should I be looking into protective/cooling implements for my transmission?
- I know I will take a big hit on the gas mileage and will need some method for carrying extra fuel for extended off road trips that I plan on taking between clinics. I am not opposed to carrying fuel on the roof, but the trailer also has a 2" receiver hitch on the rear that could hold a cargo platform. Any ideas here? 10 gallons would be ideal but a little less might suffice.
- Any other considerations to reduce the wear and tear on my vehicle?
For the teardrop:
- I have been searching far and wide for a cheap yet effective method for shelter from inclement weather conditions while cooking outside on the back galley. So far the only sure thing I have come up with is the Caddis Rapid Shelter 8' x 8', but I am not opposed to harnessing my rigging skills with ratchet straps and tarps I already own. Purchasing from REI would be a big plus so I could return it within a year if it breaks. Any other solutions for this issue that someone has found?
I apologize for the extremely long post, but I hope someone on here with any experience with towing (especially off road teardrops) can chime in and offer some advice.
Thank you for your time.
I have one with most of the mods you are talking about plus quite a few more. As for towing, check out the REDARC Tow-Pro Elite brake controller, it's expensive but that's because it's the best for off and on road use plus it doesn't mount at knee height where it can get in the way. For a hitch, the Toyota one is probably the best option and it can usually be found on eBay or online for a good price. You may need to reconsider your rear bumper choice because the Demello rear bumper won't work with the factory hitch (at least it didn't with the Demello rear bumper I had for a while. They do sell a hitch that works with it but I don't believe it is DOT certified. The stock rear suspension may sag a bit with the tongue weight, I went with heavy duty rear springs to solve that. I tow a 
