How to improve mpg while towing

Hey Flown, sorry for the confusion. YOUR TRUCK ISN'T SAGGING I was looking at the white tacoma pulling that smaller TT when I made that comment.

THat's what I get for posting while sleepy, I pretty much combined 2 trucks and 2 TTs into 1 sentence.

ALso, great advice on the WD Hitch. I will check out my local Tractor Supply, $300 is a really good price!

 

One additional comment:

Rock on. I normally shoot a Canon 40D, but I occasionally play with a Pentax 35mm camera my father gave me. I have alot of respect still for film, it's a great medium. Digital is great, but there's a use for both formats IMO.

 

In that case. It was sagging a bit in the back. I did have a WD hitch that helped, but I still need to get some air ride installed to level it back up. I had just picked up the trailer and was going home. First time towing something that big with a truck this size.

 

Ya'll are braver than I am towing some of those toys with a Tacoma. I feel like I am abusing the heck out of it with our 2000 lb pop up camper, although it handles great and I do have the factory towing package.

 

These trucks can handle more than we think. I towed my TT 1200 miles and not once felt uncomfortable. It is a slow tow, but any trip @ 1200 miles is slow. Most of my trips will only consist of about 180 miles one way. that's nothing compared to what i just did.

 

The only time I felt like I was abusing my truck was on my way to Yosemite going up windy HWY 29 (~8000' elevation increase). And my small TT is probably 3000 lbs wet. I'm pretty sure the taco can handle it fine.

 

Trust me, these things are tougher than you'd think, just like the others say. The funny thing is, they can tow more than the 6500, but they just don't have enough weight to do it in a safe manner. It's not a really great idea to tow 8000 lbs with a 4000 lb truck

I have, ON ACCIDENT, jumped over a ditch with a trailer in tow. Scared the ever living crap out of me. It was very dark outside and the road just ended. It had that weird moment in time where you body thinks something bad is gonna happen and makes time slow down, and I distinctly remember seeing my trailer lights in my rear view mirror (meaning they were likely 4 - 5 feet off the ground).

Truck was fine, frame was fine, trailer was fine, and even the dang cabinet in trailer was fine. My pants were replaced.

Damn truck's tougher than me for sure...

 

"Also, it looks like your back end is sagging a bit, do you have any airbags to help level out?"

P.S. You should never tell a woman her back end is sagging.....even on a truck forum

 

Good advice, my bad

 

I am just a little leary because I have been screwed before with the misleading numbers published by the manufacturers. Every pound you add to your truck, including driver, passengers, all cargo, oil, gasoline, water in the radiator, optional equipment, probably the battery and tires also adds to you combined vehicle weight and therefore it subtracts from that published 6500 figure. Plus every hill you climb also increases the gross weight of you vehicle/trailer combo while you are climbing.

It is not handling, but the transmission I am worried about.

 

These are suppose to pass the new SAE tow regs. If you read those you won't be worried towing 4500lbs. They're brutal!

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/11/2011-toyotas-will-meet-new-towing-standards/comments/page/2/

 

thata a sweet pic! any like this with the new wheels/tires?

 

I might be wrong, but I believe that they use the same tranny in our Tacomas as you will find on some smaller engine Tundras. I think they are rated at 8000 lbs.

The 6500 lbs is towing capacity, the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating is 11,100 lbs. The truck curb weight is around 4100 lbs, and the payload for short beds like mine is around 1400 - 1500 lbs.

The problem is, no one number is going to work for you, you need to account for the whole picture.

Your "I can't pass by this number" is 11,100 for my truck. That's curb weight of the truck (yes factor in the weight of the gas in the tank) + towing + cargo + payload in the trailer. If my truck is 4100 + 900 (me, wife + cargo), then i'm at 5000 lbs. At that point, I couldn't tow 6500 lbs, because that would be 11,500 lbs. So I gotta lose 400 lbs., so my tow goes to 6100 lbs. If I need to tow 6400 lbs, I gotta lose 300 lbs in the truck to keep it under 11,100.

And the SAE ratings are pretty intense, you're right.

Look up the towing bible on the forums, there's a really well written document than a member was kind enough to work out. I agree with his findings as well, it's a reliable source of information.

 

I actually already had the wheels and tires, but took them off and put on the stock ones to help with fuel mileage for this trip. It did make quite a bit of difference. I'll have some pics in the next couple weeks with the big tires and wheels. It looks weird to me now with stock wheels and tires

OH, I just bought a Ride Rite Airbag system to bring that rear up. will show that to.

 

Okay, as promised. Here is a photo with the trailer attached, but now with the big tires and rims back on, plus some Firestone Ride Rite air bags to keep truck level. 16' Toy hauler.

 

I love those tires/rims. My Air Lifts are on the way too! Excitement!

 

Oh, and how many PSI you running with those to get you the level ride?

 

I believe it was about 50psi, but I think I could probably go less. At any rate, even at 50 psi with the trailer hooked the ride isn't all that harsh. Of course without it, I'm sure it will be rough. when not hooked or hauling anything I run about 5-10 psi

 

I really like the look and durability of the Firestone over the Air LIft, but ultimately went with Air Lift cause it was $50 cheaper, and doesn't require me cutting my bump stop.

In the end, the air bags seem to do exactly what I hoped they would, your truck looks dead level now and much more stable.

Thanks for the info!