Camped in the Canadian Rockies and saw a few Tacomas pulling big trailers

I was using a rented trailer and my son’s Ram because I flew out but there were 3 Tacomas pulling 4000lb plus trailers. So naturally I went to talk to them about how the truck performs pulling in the Rockies. And they all said the exact same thing “No problem pulling it but terrible gas milage”. In my estimation they were all over payload. One guy said he was going to downsize the trailer because he didn’t want to get into the cycle of buying a bigger truck then buying yet a bigger trailer and ending up with a combination that they didn’t really want. Interesting week.

 

Curious
What gens were represented?
Actual mpg’s? Lol, knowing it’s probably terrible.

 

All 3 were 3rd gen. Didn’t ask for actual numbers for MPG.

 

I have towed my 3500 lb gvw Casita (empty) from Grand Junction east over Vail Pass and through the Eisenhower Tunnel to the front range. I never pushed it over 65 mph up nor down. From Grand Junction to Frisco (mostly up hill) I got 11 mpg. For the total average, ups and downs, I got 15 mpg. I also had my Super Pacific on the truck (not much loaded though).
My truck is a 2015 TRD double cab 4.0 with after market front aluminum bumper with winch, aluminum skids, steel sliders.
Normally with just the SP at 65 on flat land at 5,000 feet I get a bit over 17 mpg.

 

Speed is really key to the experience being more enjoyable.

 

6 MPG was the worst I have ever clocked pulling 3500# off-road teardrop but that was with a roof top tent on top of the Tacoma from Cheyenne to Casper in 55 MPH headwinds with 75+ gusts. Spent most of that leg in S3 and S4 if I was lucky. Meanwhile the big rigs running 15 liter Detroit diesels were passing me at 85 MPH like I was standing still. Headwind + Drag Chute (Roof top tent) + Trailer = shit mileage.

My C3500 with a 454 gets 10 MPG so these Tacoma drivers bitching about 12+ MPG when towing have unrealistic expectations in my opinion. Ask any of them if they have towed before and I would be willing to guess the answer is "no." They shouldn't be shocked mileage tanks when towing.