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6 Cylinder Towing Review

Discussion in 'Towing' started by F-125Racer, Jan 3, 2010.

  1. Jan 3, 2010 at 10:34 AM
    #1
    F-125Racer

    F-125Racer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I didn't want to hijack the 4 cyl thread, so I thought I'd start a new one. This info was compiled on a round trip from Rogers, Ar. to Daytona Beach, FL., from December 26th to January 1st.
    The truck is a 2009, DC, TRD Sport, V-6, Auto, 7,000 miles. Spring and trans TSB's have been done.
    The trailer is a 12ft FeatherLite, 6' 2" high, 6' 8" wide. It's a V-nose, so it's about 14' 6" long down the center. Loaded with two enduro roadracing karts, spare motors, 35 gallons racing fuel, 3 tool boxes, and many spare parts, it weighs 4,600lb. The trailer does have brakes, and I use an Activator III Brake Controller, installed as shown on Maverick's Towing Bible thread.
    Data was gathered from my Scangage II, but verified with a calculator.
    Average mileage was 10.6 mpg for the entire trip. The low was one tank at 7.8 mpg (from Valdosta, Ga. to Atlanta, Ga., with a 20 mph headwind.) The high was from Memphis, Tn. to Clarksville, Ar. at 13.4 mpg.
    I drove the truck in "D" 90% of the time with the cruise control off so I could control the shifting. At 73 mph on flat road (2,100rpm), the truck would stay in 5th with the "Instant MPG" on the ScanGage showing 10.8-11.2 mpg.
    On gentle grades the torque converter would unlock and the rpms would rise to about 2,500rpm and the instant mileage would show 7.8-8.4 mpg, maintaining about 70 mph.
    When I would come to steeper grades, I would manually downshift to 4th. Rpms would rise to about 3,100rpm and Instant Mileage would show about 5.4-6.5, still maintaining about 70mph.
    I used to tow a similar trailer with a 2007 Expedition. I could put in OD, set the cruise control on 72mph, and forget it. Mileage was always about 10-12mpg. It was a good rig, but I couldn't handle the 13mpg around town, plus I needed a truck. I tow to about six races per year, so I spend a lot more time not towing, than towing.
    I plan to install a TRD Supercharger in the next few weeks as I am told the towing mileage will improve since more torque will allow lower throttle settings to maintain the same speed.
     
    SLeeper512 likes this.
  2. Jan 3, 2010 at 5:54 PM
    #2
    mts

    mts Well-Known Member

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    please post back after the TRD SC install and let us know what you think. Your towing use sounds virtually identical to mine and I too am considering adding the TRD.
     
  3. Jan 17, 2010 at 6:27 PM
    #3
    F-125Racer

    F-125Racer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just waiting for the TRD re-flash fix so the S/C can be used with the Tranny TSB'ed computer. Supposed to be ready in early February.
     
    Tacoma_Ted likes this.
  4. Jan 17, 2010 at 9:30 PM
    #4
    Black Taco

    Black Taco Well-Known Member

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    No mods whatsoever!
    I'm also interested in the follow-up on the SC. My TT weighs about 4000 lbs. I tow in "4" at about 2500 rpm's (63mph), "D" is always searching. Plenty of power, but whines a little. It may be the low gearing in the 4x4. I think I get 8-10 mpg depending on the wind.
     
    Tarus 9mm likes this.
  5. Feb 9, 2010 at 7:39 PM
    #5
    F-125Racer

    F-125Racer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The updated re-flash is ready, Supercharger is ordered!
     
  6. Feb 10, 2010 at 10:24 AM
    #6
    bramp15

    bramp15 Member

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    Thanks for remembering us. Even us silent ones on the board look forward to updates. Let us now how it goes, I expect a full detailed report :D..
     
  7. Feb 25, 2010 at 6:00 AM
    #7
    F-125Racer

    F-125Racer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    S/C is installed, but it will be a couple of months before I tow. I will update when I do.
     
  8. Feb 25, 2010 at 6:04 AM
    #8
    MAXTacoma

    MAXTacoma Well-Known Member

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  9. Apr 15, 2010 at 8:45 PM
    #9
    simatos

    simatos Member

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    I think you guys have touched on the of this but I have a 2010 Tacoma V6 auto with the tow package. i am towing a 4000lb boat. I find it a little surprising that the engine revs to just 2500 then shifts to the next gear. At that point its turning maybe 1500 and again clinbs to 2500 for the next shift. It is OK on the flat but it seems to me the engine would be doing less work if it was running a little faster. If it was a manual I would drop a gear and get the revs up. Is it safe to shift down one gear with the automatic and clinb at mabe 3000 rpm?? I also find that under load or climbing conditions the tranny hunts up and down looking for but not finding a continuous gear and RPM combination. I am new at towing and using and automatic and I sure don't want to cook the tranny. Any comments or advice would be appreciated. Gary
     
  10. Apr 17, 2010 at 6:30 PM
    #10
    F-125Racer

    F-125Racer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    No problem dropping a gear and turning more rpms. I do it all the time. It does make the engine work less.
     
  11. Apr 17, 2010 at 6:34 PM
    #11
    ktmrider

    ktmrider Senior Member

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    Junk
    welll 2 months later, whats the verdict give the details. please :)
     
  12. Apr 18, 2010 at 7:35 PM
    #12
    F-125Racer

    F-125Racer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I haven't got to tow yet. I should be doing a 5 hr tow in early may. I'm really looking forward to seeing how well the S/C does!
     
  13. Apr 19, 2010 at 10:04 PM
    #13
    simatos

    simatos Member

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    Thanks you guys, I will try the shifting down on hills with the boat and see how that goes. In 4xlow the truck yanks the boat up the boat ramps very easily practically at idle. All in all pretty pleased with it. Great vehicle for zooming around in the non towing config. My only beef is no tie down points in the forward part of the box, big omission given the class and price on these things. I wonder if these 2010 truck resale will be damaged with all this Toyota gas pedaL stuff in the news. Thx again G
     
  14. May 1, 2010 at 6:06 PM
    #14
    F-125Racer

    F-125Racer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I just completed my first tow since my S/C install. This was a 350 mile trip from Rogers, Arkansas to Wichita, Kansas, the trailer setup was exactly like my original post.
    First off, the shifting, rpm's, mileage, etc. was virtually the same as without the S/C! I truly expected some kind of difference, but there was not. However, the actual performance was very impressive. Hills that would make it downshift before were topped with only sometimes unlocking the torque converter, and in most instances, it stayed locked. I still could not efficiently tow with the cruise on, mileage was in the 8mpg range. Without cruise, I got 10.7 avg., running the A/C.
    All in all, the extra power came at no penalty.
     
  15. May 1, 2010 at 7:28 PM
    #15
    Ocean's

    Ocean's Well-Known Member

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    I tow a MasterCraft that with Trailer, supplies, Gas and boat, I'm at 5200lbs. I have been told to use
    ONLY 4th GEAR
    when Towing anything over 1500lbs.


    DSC01771_c672ac6a67b91ff62bac685ca51fb7b7a5c8b6f0.jpg

    DSC01757_e8f76bc1c79ac90c3c059844b968e949fd3e6abf.jpg
     
    Tarus 9mm likes this.
  16. May 9, 2010 at 5:48 PM
    #16
    mts

    mts Well-Known Member

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    The truck did very well. It was a relatively light load, but overall I was pretty impressed.

    Boxster S small.jpg
     
  17. Jul 13, 2010 at 3:53 PM
    #17
    F-125Racer

    F-125Racer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I just did a towing trip to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wi. The trailer was the same as before, but with more weight. The trailer total was 5,260lb, with 450lb on the tongue. A big learning on this trip was that at 67mph in "D" using the cruise control, I got 13.3mpg consistently, but at 73mph it dropped to 10mpg, and I couldn't use the cruise. I was very pleased, and now I'll just factor 67mph into my travel plans.
     
    SLeeper512 and Tarus 9mm like this.
  18. Jul 13, 2010 at 6:52 PM
    #18
    Black Taco

    Black Taco Well-Known Member

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    That's pretty good mileage. I get 10 mpg at about 63mph towing my TT.
     
  19. Jul 13, 2010 at 6:57 PM
    #19
    MontanaTaco

    MontanaTaco Well-Known Member

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    I think a diesel would tow all your loads with the cruise set at 75 and not even shift:)
     
  20. Jul 13, 2010 at 7:07 PM
    #20
    F-125Racer

    F-125Racer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The supercharger made the mpg difference. A guy at the track had a taco and trailer very similar to mine, and he got 10mpg at about 65mph.
     

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