fj cruiser toyota - Toyota FJ Cruiser camper
fj cruiser toyota - Toyota FJ Cruiser camper

Toyota FJ Cruiser camper

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a mid-size SUV that pays homage to the original FJ40 and it is well-rated for off-road driving and people like its distinctive looks and the rear doors that open towards the back. It also drew criticism for having significant blindspots due to its design, smaller-than-average load capacity, and rear seats that were cramped and difficult to access. Its boot is not very long and sleeping inside is doable (mostly for one person), if you don’t mind having your legs bent and can lie diagonally across the boot. Max possible length, with a DIY camping conversion and front seats pushed forward as much as possible is 188cm/76”.

It has a retro style and a strong off-road capability. It is also a reliable vehicle, with high ratings from J.D. Power and Associates and RepairPal12. The FJ Cruiser has a 4.0-liter V6 engine that delivers 260 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. It has a fuel consumption of 17 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway1. The FJ Cruiser can be a good choice for camping, as it has a spacious cabin and a single wing boot door that opens to the side. It can fit up to five people, but the rear seats are cramped and difficult to access. The boot space is not very long, but it can accommodate some camping gear. The FJ Cruiser also has some features that can enhance the camping experience, such as a rearview camera, a compass, an inclinometer, and a roof rack3. The FJ Cruiser is a unique and rugged SUV that can handle any terrain and provide a comfortable ride.

Discontinued in 2014

This car’s boot is 142 cm long ⤢, 98 cm tall ↕, and 109 cm wide ↔.


NimbleCamper rating: 2.7/5

Body type

Boot door type

,

Boot length (cm)

142

Boot length (inches)

56

Boot height (cm)

98

Boot height (inches)

39

Boot width [wheel arches] (cm)

109

Available in

Comfort rating

1

Consumption l/100km

14.2

Consumption MPG (UK)

20

Consumption MPG (US)

17

Engine type

NimbleCamper rating (out of max 5)

  • Discontinued in 2014
  • Safety rating (higher = better) 6/10 and Good
  • the rear doors won’t open with the front doors closed
  • the boot door opens to the side (one single wing)

How to sleep in Toyota FJ Cruiser, DIY camping conversions

Toyota FJ Cruiser boot dimensions

Toyota FJ Cruiser ratings and reviews

Average rating: 4.3/5 = great!

Toyota FJ Cruiser Frequently Asked Questions

The FJ Cruiser is regarded as a reliable car across many forums. RepairPal gives it a 3.5/5 rating, actual users give it 4.8/5 and 4.7/5 (for different years) on Edmunds.com. It’s a rugged car made for the outdoors and built to last. The engine and gearboxes are rated as the most reliable part of the car. Toyota’s cars are also known for their reliability, which is no different for the FJ Cruiser.

People use the FJ Cruiser mostly for single-person camping and sleeping in despite its short boot – but you have to get a bit creative – lie down diagonally, slide the front passenger seat forward and lean it forward, then bridge the gap between this seat and the folded rear seat (or remove the front seat), or get a roof tent and sleep on the top (most common solution, especially for two people). The advantage of the FJ Cruiser comes from its off-road abilities, not from its boot space or atypical side door opening. Users usually get into the boot through the boot door (you need to fit a DIY indoor handle to open the door from the inside, see video below), because getting in from the side is very tight and you can’t open the rear side doors unless you also open the front door. This would mean that you have to open two doors each time.

If you are prepared to create a DIY sleeping platform, you could get up to 188cm/74” of boot length (see here) for sleeping – enough for two people (with not much gear). The trick is in pushing the front seats forward as much as possible, leaning the backrests forward too and building a platform to bridge the gap between the front and folded-down rear seats.

Here’s one happy camper that manages to sleep in a 2008 FJ Cruiser converted to a camper:

FJ Cruiser trunk storage solution

Useful links

FJ Cruiser forum

Roof tent image source – wicked4x4rentals.com

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Hi! Lukas, the author here 😎

I’m on a mission to find the best everyday car for camping and the best way to convert it. I’m sharing all that I find with you here. If you find this content helpful, consider buying me a coffee, or purchasing an item from the list of hand-picked camping gear. Or just enjoy the read :). Thank you for popping in!

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