2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Towing Capacity

The Toyota FJ Cruiser was introduced into Toyota’s lineup as a midsize SUV in 2007 and was discontinued after the 2012 model year. The FJ Cruiser has many features consumers expect from today’s SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser?

The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser has a maximum towing capacity of 4,700 pounds.

The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.

How Much Can The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Tow?

The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser has a towing capacity of 4,700 pounds.

The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.

You can always reach out to your local Toyota dealership for details to confirm how much your FJ Cruiser can tow.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Towing Capacity Chart
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Towing Capacity Chart

You can check out our guide to Toyota FJ Cruiser towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max capacity or if you want to compare different years of this vehicle.

You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.

2012 FJ Cruiser Tow Capacity By Trim Level

There are three trim levels for the 2012 FJ Cruiser, and some engines and features are not available on certain configurations, so they can each have different max towing limits.

Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each trim level of the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser:

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Trim LevelTowing Capacity
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Base4,700 pounds
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Special Edition4,700 pounds
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Trail Teams Ultimate Edition4,700 pounds
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Towing Capacity by Trim Level Chart

Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Engine Towing Specs

There is one engine option for the 2012 FJ Cruiser, which is a 4.0L V6 engine that makes 260 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4.0L V6 Engine Towing Capacity: 4,700 pounds

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Drivetrain Towing Specs

The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser came standard with rear wheel drive, with part time four-wheel drive and full-time four wheel drive available as an option.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser RWD Tow Capacity: 4,700 pounds

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Part-Time 4WD Tow Capacity: 4,700 pounds

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Part-Time 4WD Tow Capacity: 5,000 pounds

Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser engine. Your Toyota FJ Cruiser may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Payload Capacity

The maximum payload capacity of the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser is 1,285 pounds.

This means that the 2012 FJ Cruiser can carry up to 1,285 pounds worth of passenger and cargo weight in the vehicle, which makes it great for road trips and hauling heavier items.

Note that the max payload capacity of your 2012 FJ Cruiser will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.

You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Tow Package

Toyota offered an optional tow package on nearly packages of the 2012 FJ Cruiser which includes a trailer hitch, wiring harness, ball mount, and an enhanced engine and transmission cooling components.

We definitely recommend getting the tow package if you plan on towing anything with your 2012 FJ Cruiser.

toyota fj cruiser towing a camper
The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser has a max towing capacity of 4,700 pounds, making it capable of pulling heavy loads.

2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Towing Capacity Vs Competitors

The 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser has a maximum tow rating of 4700 lbs which makes it capable of doing some medium-duty trailer pulling.

The 2012 FJ Cruiser’s tow capability is similar to its main competitors which are the 2012 GMC Acadia and the 2012 Honda Pilot.

Here are some similar vehicles to the 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser and their towing capacities below:

2012 Toyota 4Runner: 5,000 pounds

2012 GMC Acadia: 5,200 pounds 

2012 Honda Pilot: 4,500 pounds

2012 Toyota SUV Models Towing Capacity Chart

2012 Toyota SUV ModelTowing Capacity
2012 Toyota Sequoia7,400 pounds
2012 Toyota Highlander 5,000 pounds
2012 Toyota 4Runner5,000 pounds
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser4,700 pounds
2012 Toyota Sienna3,500 pounds
2012 Toyota RAV43,500 pounds
2012 Toyota SUVs Towing Capacity Chart

Data Accuracy

We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser Owner’s Manual on Toyota’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.

Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser.

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