Show us what you tow.

MPG from towing at speed is as much a function of the trailer cross section and streamlining as of weight.

 

You guys might think so, but on an empty road in Michigan with no traffic, there's really no problem with it. Pulling is all about stopping distance, and when no one is in front of you, there's not much else other than animals that you need to account for. I've rarely seen a single 7,000lb axle trailer, instead, most manufacturers opt for a dual 3,500lb setup for small car haulers and small campers. That means for the most part you'll only legally be able to do that with 3,500lb trailers, so the stopping distance isn't greatly impacted with that low of a weight.

In fact, the worst part about the whole thing is the Tacoma's engine and gearing. You can't do it in 5th unless you're on perfectly flat ground, otherwise it'll continually hunt by unlocking the torque converter and eventually dropping to 4th, before shifting back to 5th and repeating. It doesn't take a genius to know that it will build heat and can damage the transmission doing that, so even though I was probably sitting at a total of 1,500lbs on the trailer last weekend, I still had to run it in 4th the whole time, resulting in ~3,500rpm.

My point, with only 1,500lbs on the hitch (~900 trailer, ~600 trailer payload) the normal speed limit of 70 or 75 is perfectly fine on most 2 lane highways in rural areas.

By the way, the trailer is steel, and has a fire ring, with wood in the center, with the 4 kayaks on top. Each is probably 40-55lbs, so overall it's really not a very heavy load. Yet it still is difficult for the engine and transmission to handle without being fully locked in 4th gear on the auto trans.

 

fwiw, most all cars/trucks, recommend NOT using top gear when towing, and generally running 1 gear lower than you would if you werent' towing. my taco 4x4 6-speed manual says not to use 6th. my old ford E150, 5.4L V8, 3+OD automatic, said to lock out OD when towing so it wouldn't go into 4th.

 

Haha, you funny, I'm at 80mph with my sled trailer in Northern Maine, steady as a rock. Tows great.


FWIW, I get less than 12mpg when I'm loaded with two sleds or the ATV's.

 

Yeah, I think most people are fully aware of that, I definitely was. The recommendation only holds true when there isn't a tow/haul mode option. The only reason they recommend that is due to heat build-up because the transmission is too dumb to realize it has too much weight behind it, so it continually goes through torque converter unlock cycles. A proper transmission can stay in (over)drive all day long with a tow/haul mode enabled, because it will aggressively hold lower gears and down shift if the upper gears can't produce the necessary results.

Realistically at 1,500lbs, we shouldn't have to deal with that if the truck had the power to handle the pull, but it just flat out doesn't. I've had to keep it locked in 4th for just a heavy load in the bed, even without a trailer, just because we're so down on power with this truck.

 

3800lbs Kingsport 248BH. Great fun with family, tows pretty well. The truck came with a tow package and I added a trailer break and equalizer hitch with sway control. The fuel economy is not good -but I like to think I am supporting our hard working oilfield workers.

 

Hey, now I never looked at the fuel economy that way before. Supporting the oil field workers....that makes me feel a little better when I am getting 9 MPG when towing...

 

Cool Set Up!

 

Nice yxz! Better change those springs and get a cage pronto!

 

I saw your picture of Pismo roll. What don't you like about the springs? It's actually my buddies, but I'll be in the Market soon. But undecided between Rzr and Yxz.

 

I think yamaha messed up the spring rates. Rear end likes to pogo. I did a full dual rate respring and revalve. Id still get a yxz over a rzr though, cvt tech hasnt progressed at all and all the hp doesnt mean crap when youre going through belts or catching fire. Plus a 5speed 3 cyl screaming at 10,000rpms is just a good time. They're fast enough (can do over 85 no problem with 2 dudes in it) and smooth enough once the shocks are worked out. And for 16-17k brand new they are way cheaper (which means money for more mods)




Oh and they respond to boost VERY well

 

Cool, I'll keep that into consideration.

Thanks.

 

Not me but spotted this on my way from Kansas City to Fort Leonard Wood.

 

lol I would have that they could have gone a little bigger than the "tow with any car" trailer. I sometimes don't have a lot of faith in our towing ability from the factory, but even I would have gone a little bigger.

 

If all their stuff fit why spend more renting a larger trailer?

 

THIS IS AMERICA

 

I tow around this much weight once a month to the scrap yard about 30 miles away. This load weighed right at 7000lbs. Truck does great even with almost 300k.

 

The travel trailer comes in at 4700 dry. The transmission is a 6 speed manual. Added brake control and weight distribution hitch with sway control. It pulls pretty well.

 

Does anybody know of any trailer brands that produce enclosed cargo trailers with roller style doors.

 

2010 post rear leaf recall. I tow all kinds of stuff but never had this much squat before- of course I could always adjust the load before LOL. Half a yard pea gravel in front (too far) and a full yard of denver 3/4. Handled it just fine and it's a pretty steep hill up and then down between my place and the rock yard.