Gas mileage when towing a Camper Trailer

Read last sentence of post 12 above and provide an answer. Or shy away, no problem. Seems to me that you (as well as 6gear) are attacking Toyota's stated maximum towing capacity of 6500lbs.

If one increases the difficulty of the criteria to achieve Maximum Towing Capacity (as many here seem to be fans of), there are circumstances where it is likely a diesel f450 would be rated at only 1000lbs maximum towing capacity. For example, one criteria could be that to achieve a towing capacity, a truck hauling that weight must be able to drive up Mount Evans in Colorado without deviating from unladen gas mileage more than ten percent in a time of 45 minutes.

Let's say that you made the criteria of stated towing capacity for the Tacoma so strict that it's achieved maximum towing capacity of only 2500lbs. Does that really help you any more than lessening the criteria and achieving 6500 lbs?

 

My real-world experience says otherwise.

googling towing specs doesn't count as experience.

 

The truck could say 10,000 pounds or it could say 3000 pounds. I get the truck can perform a certain number of tasks with a 6500 pound trailer to get the rating. It still does not mean the truck will struggle to do so or shorten the lifespan of components while doing so. It's not like it was a long-term test to get to that 6500 pound number.

I helped a buddy tow a small 5200 pound single axel camper a few states over because his truck was broken at the time. It was super windy that day and it was one of the sketchiest tows I have ever done. That trailer was pushing my Tacoma all over the highway. I also tow a 6x12 full of dirt bikes from time to time. Truck does fine with 2500-3000 ish pounds.

Again. I will take my experiences from towing with my Tacoma and formulate what I think is safe for me and the truck.

Many people have reported the struggles when towing 5k plus with their tacoma. I am not alone with my opinion.

It's funny when people chime in on towing and their truck has never even had a hitch put in the receiver.

 

I agree with this. I think the OP is probably OK, but right at the max for most towing. I wouldn't tow that much under some circumstances. The limiting factor with most light duty trucks is payload. And that includes virtually all 1/2 tons and many 3/4 ton trucks. You'll just have to check the payload rating printed on a sticker on the driver's door frame. Every truck is slightly different, but most double cab Tacoma's will fall between 1200-1300 lbs. Some as low as 1000, some closer to 1500.

A 5000 lb trailer will eat up at least 700 lbs of that. Even with a 1300 lb payload you only have about 600 lbs left for the driver, passengers, and any cargo in the truck. If your truck is closer to 1000 lbs, then a 5000 lb trailer is too much. Closer to 1500 lbs and you have a little more room to work with.

And then there is altitude. You lose 3% power for every 1000' you tow above sea level due to lack of oxygen and you should reduce tow weight by the same amount. If you plan to cross some 10,000-12,000' passes in the Rockies, then the max you tow should be reduced by 30-35%. That means no more than 4000-4500 lbs. And at 10,000' a Tacoma with 4000 lbs behind it will be struggling. Even at 5000' which isn't unusual in the East, 5000 lbs can be a workout.

Under ideal conditions yes, most Tacoma's will handle 4500-5000 lbs. But if you ever pull 4500-5000 lbs with a properly equipped 1/2 ton truck you'll not want to pull that much again with a Tacoma. The difference is substantial. And yes my travel trailer is in the 4500-5000 lb range and I have both a Tacoma and a F150. And I have pulled it at altitude.

The only way a Tacoma will pull 6500 lbs is with only a driver in the cab, at sea level and on a level road. And that goes for most bigger trucks as well. You can find some 1/2 tons rated to tow 12,000 lbs or more, some 3/4 tons 15,000. But in the real world they won't do it either, and for the same reasons a Tacoma won't actually tow 6500.

 

100%

People on here claim to be towing experts because the door says 6500 pounds.

 

Sigh, are you reading what I wrote? I've been mostly agreeing with you this whole time. All I'm saying is there's more to it than the weight, and blanket statements in EITHER DIRECTION are useless.

In the right situation, towing 6500 is perfectly ok.

In the wrong situation, towing 500 can put you in the ditch. I've literally seen it happen.

You have to use your brain and understand what you're doing.

 

I meant to aim that comment at the inbred guy.

 

Focusing back on topic, for that weight and a full height camper, and at highway speeds, that's about the expected MPG.

If you want to save gas you have two options: You can do what I do and stay off the interstate - capping my speed at 60 and taking back roads the whole way makes the tank last longer (plus its more fun). Or you can buy a full sized truck. The bigger the truck, the less it suffers under load.

 

I have no idea what a "couples trailer" is.. if it's a trailer for more than one couple then you have the wrong truck.

If it's just for you two then I would start searching on the other end of the spectrum.. what is the lightest / smallest trailer that meets your comfort/needs.

 

@Gen3TacomaOBX It’s what trailer sales people are calling it to lure buyers with no children. Usually a 5K+ trailer. And I miss-typed; should be “couple’s” trailer.

 

These MPG numbers are exactly what you should expect, under the conditions you described.

 

So it depends on a couple of things. Every camper is a compromise and you have to have a conversation about how you're going to use it to help narrow things down.

Examples: how far are you going to pull it, and how often? How many nights at a time? Are you state-parking it with hookups, remote boondocking (self sustained) or both? Where are you going to store it? Is an onboard toilet absolutely positively vital?

The further you pull it, the smaller and lighter you're going to want it. Especially with just 2 people, you don't need a big unit. That's usually a hard sell with a better half that would rather holiday-inn than camp, and of course everyone falls in love with the idea of a rolling palace, but in my experience, smaller is better.

I'm a pop-up weirdo. I drag it across country. Sometimes I get into traffic jams, or parallel park for lunch when passing through downtown wherever USA, or sometimes I get a wild hair and take it over some dirt switchbacks. I like having a short, light trailer for those situations.

The truck pulls it with confidence. There's weight capacity to spare for that certain someone that saw a Jack Daniel's whiskey barrel planter in Lynchburg and absolutely had to have it. (Ok, that was me) It's cute. It squeezes into remote sites that other trailers can't.

And, for just two people and three dogs, that little trailer is roomy as hell. A queen bed, a dinette to stretch out and relax, and a little kitchen to fry up some mean breakfast tacos. I can't ask for better than that.

I know, it's a very hard, uphill battle to argue against "the biggest trailer we can get." But that's my thesis on why, like the Tacoma, I prefer small.

 

Thats a sweet pop up!

 

Thats a neat popup. Always wondered how a popup tent trailer fairs in colder weather? Do the sides insulate half decent?

 

A buddy of mine towed an '65 Olds Starfire from California back to Tennessee. Gas mileage on the return took a beating... Your observations are not abnormal.

His observed mileage, on average, still beat his dad's old war-wagon, which might have gotten 8 mpg on the highway fully loaded. (early 70's LTD 10 passenger wagon; had two side-facing seats in the cargo area)

 

The low numbers are usually going uphill against headwinds. On the flat around 11mpg.

 

They do not insulate at all. Admittedly its one of their many foibles.

It does have an on-board heater. So if the outside is 20° or so I'll let the inside drop to 45-50°ish overnight and sleep under a thick blanket, then crank it back up when it's time for coffee. Trying to keep it at room temp all night is doable, but it will kill both propane and battery within 24 hours. They make bunk-covers that will significantly increase insulation, but with averaging 5 nights a year in cold and maybe 10 nights under extreme heat, I havent gotten around to buying a set.

 

So this is a couple's trailer.... For a couple of dogs...

 

So is a 20-degree night a two-dog night or a three-dog-night?

 

I mostly run 65 on the flats, 45 over hills or mountains 30-35 with headwinds going over hills.