Tow rig and daily driver

I am going to be picking up another vehicle within the next year. I want it to be able to tow my truck/car and get decent gas mileage. I also want it to be used, less than 3 years old.

I have been leaning towards the new 2011 F150, 5.0 V8, Super Crew. I have read up on it and it seems to get around the same gas mileage as the EcoBoost, with less of a fluctuation in MPGs. Keeping the truck out of boost seems very important for high MPGs. The F150 is awesome inside and out, and it will be able to tow efficiently when I need it.

My Girlfriend will also be driving this vehicle and she would prefer an SUV. I like the new options on the 4Runner Trail. Would the 4Runner would be enough when towing my truck and trailer?

In the price range of >$40,000, what daily drivable, tow rigs, would you be looking at?

 

Most of the diesel trucks are a bit too big for what I need. Are the diesel trucks getting 20+ MPG?

 

I think I have it narrowed down to a 2010+ Tundra Crew Cab Limited or a 2011 (possibly new) F150 XLT Super Crew, 5.0L. I haven't driven the Tundra, it seems like a much taller truck. When I drove the new F150, it didn't seem much higher than my Tacoma.

 

my dad's '08 tundra double cab barely gets 15mpg. it's great for towing, but man does it suck on gas.



i used to own a '04 silverado 5.3L, great power, decent towing, it with mostly highway driving, i was able to avg. around 19-20mpg.

 

The new F150s are very new, but it seems the 5.0 is able to average 20mpg, if you have a light foot. That is only about 10% less than what I am getting now but will fit four people a lot easier.

 

sweet jesus, i knew the ecoboost f150's were cool, but I just now realized that it gets better mileage than my little tacoma!

 

Thats what I meant. I was reading the forums and the 5.0L gets around 20MPG average. The EPA rates them as high as 25MPG on the freeway.

The EcoBoost gets decent gas mileage as well, but when you get in to boost the MPGs drop quick. I have a light foot, but if I had twin turbos, I would use them .

 

We recently picked up a 2011 F150 Crew 4X4 that I use when not in my business truck as a driver, to tow the Boy Scout 16' enclosed or my 6 X 14' for hunting. Made a run from here (DFW TX) to Shreveport LA & drove it just like gas is now $3+ / gallon w/ the cruise on 70 & got a 19.6 avg the same week I got it to put the 1st 500 miles on it.
Have since pull the Scout trailer a couple of times & do like the truck handles & pulls it especially in the tow/haul mode. Also made a run to Wichita KS & back pulling my 6 X 14 dual axle. Empty on the N-bound run empty w/ a good tail wind & on cruise @ 70 & used right at 1/2 a tank. Loaded return in head wind & 3/4 tank for that run. Sorry I do not have the exact miles traveled but the heads up said a avg' of 16+ going & just over 14 on the return run. No, it will not out pull mine or anyone else's diesel but was impressed w/ the torque for a gasser while pulling the loaded trailer on hills & such for limited down shifts & it not coming close to sounding as if the engine is coming out from under neath the hood even when crossing the Arbuckels so for me Ford has delivered on what it says the new 2011 5.0 will do & that is why I bought it in the first place. As w/ all 3 of our trucks which are a 02 Duramax for my business, the 08 Tacoma 4X4 TRD & now the 2011 F150 we buy & use them for much more than hauling a few backsides & 6 bag of groceries. Good luck in making your choices.

 

Thanks for the post. I plan to keep the F150 for a long time. It will make it easier to have more toys in the future. Currently I would like to be able to tow my truck to some of the local shops (4x4, custom stereo, etc) and leave it there. Most are the shops are 1-3 hours away.

My GF would also like to get a small boat and go camping. So being able to get up there comfortably is important. A lot of the alpine lakes are wake-less and some are restricted to no motor, so I don't think I will ever have a big boat.

 

My old man's duramax is getting over 20. He's got the Bully Dog chip and keeps it on economy mode and it increased the MPG's. His is an extended cab 4x4 so not a small truck either. Pretty powerful and tows very easily.

The Tundra's are nice, but as mentioned above, they're gas hogs. I'd go with the F-150 or the Silverado as Whippersnapper said if you're going to stick with 1/2 ton gas engines.

 

Diesel have potential for great gas mileage as long as you put a little work in them and do it right. If it were me I would buy an 06-07 dodge diesel with the 5.9 in it. Or would buy an 05-07 Chevy duramax. These two motors give you the biggest playground to add fun to your engine and still drive a newer truck. Anything newer is harder to modify due to the gay DPF filters and emissions.

I had on 06 mega cab all ghetto'd out with air-ride and a custom paint job and big wheels and I was averaging 20-21 around town with no chip.

 

I hate the look of the new F150. With that being said my neighbor has a 2011 XLT extended cab with the 5.0 and it is a beautiful motor. His truck is still pretty new but he said on a recent 400 mile trip he averaged just above 19 mpg.

 

If you are talking about taking your F150 to the 4X4 / Stereo shop I would like too know what you find for a stereo up grade. That is the one fault I really have w/ the truck & that is the sound quality. Short of tearing out the factory radio w/ the Sync' setup I am very interested in a speaker upgrade or some kind or maybe even a amp after the in dash system. Still like it loud some times & the current system is more lame than a $25.00 boom box. Please advise if you can.

 

The place I go to is called Elite Audio Solutions, they are in Colorado Springs (1.5 hours from where I live.) They do fully custom installs, so anything you can imagine they can do.

They did the install in my Tacoma, which involved building a custom fiberglass box which is mounted to the back wall of the cab (so it doesn't move when I am off road.) They also quoted me out-the-door pricing and stand behind their work.

 

There are plenty of places to visit for a audio upgrade here in the DFW (TX) area & can go from mild to wild, all I have to do is be willing to write the check - imagine that. Trying to do some home work first I guess to have an idea what I really wont before going in & too save time as well keep the reigns pulled in a little financially. Would like to keep the factory looks & locations but for sure better sound. It does not take much to distort the existing w/ little bass. If you do upgrade regardless of how wild post a update & how you like it, would like to know. Thanks again & look forward to hearing how it go's for ya.

 

I may end up with a 4th gen 4.7L V8 4Runner. The F150 gets better MPG but the 4Runner would be more of what my GF wants.

 

Then you will never get to drive it!