Weight and MPG effects of Trail Armor

What's the total added weight for trail armor, say a tubed front and rear bumper with tubed sliders and new skid plates for an 04 DC TRD taco?

From what I can find online, it looks like around 240-320 lbs depending on options and such. What kind of effect has it had on your mileage?

 

Front bumpers vary, as do rear bumpers. It's not so much as the weight of the front bumper though, it's the aerodynamics of it that would affect the MPG more than the weight. Obviously weight has an affect on MPG but to what extent - I don't know.

 

Yeah I'd say closer to 320 lbs if not a little bit more.

 

I was getting 18 - 19 avg on my second gen with lift and tire. Now I get 17-18 with a plate bumper and steel skid.

 

Lift height is going to kill MPG more than weight, to a point. On my old '04, I went from consistent 19-20 to 17 with a 2" lift and an A.R.E. shell, to 16 with a FROR on the rear, ARB+M8000 up front and a hi-lift and tools in the back.

However, the hurt on the wallet partly depends also on driving style and driving type. On the freeway it's not bad. In the city I would drop down as low as 15.

 

x2, the weight won't do much. I know I have a 2nd Gen but I added a shell, plywood platform and keep tools in the bed that, together, weigh about as much as you're looking to add with armor. I'm still pushing 20 MPG's because of the improved aerodynamics I have with the shell.

Tires also play a large roll. Taller, wider and more aggressive tires with a higher load range will kill your mileage.

 

I've got a 2004 Xtra cab, SR5, 4x4, V6, TRD.

The factory skids (IFS, transfer case) weigh around 20 lbs total. The Bud Built Skids weigh around 120 lbs.

The factory front bumper (and cross members) weigh around 25 lbs. The Elite plate bumper (without light hoop and guards) weighs around 110 lbs.

The factory rear bumper and brackets weigh around 30 lbs. The factory receiver weighs around 50 lbs. The Elite plate bumper w/ built in receiver weighs 95 lbs.

I don't know how much sliders weigh; I haven't made it over to Fastenal to pick them up yet. I hope that helps.

 

Oh, and I haven't seen my gas mileage drop any. I know I'm pushing more weight around, so that only means that it is probably only very slight. Plus most of my driving is under 40 MPH.

 

I dropped maybe 1-2 mpg when I added bumpers, sliders, and skids. It's more noticeable in city driving than highway.

 

True dat covering the bed makes a difference

 

I added just a plate bumper (90 lbs) up front and a tube bumper in the rear (~60 lbs) with no lift and all terrains and got the same. Plate bumper is really aerodynamic…. I get the same MPG (~20.5). Just about to throw on some mud terrains, I'll give you an update.

 

Go with skinny tires. you will save money at the pump every time you fill up (compared to same tires in wider tread) and will perform as well or better than every one else on the trail except in flotation situations. (you just won't look as cool around town)

 

Im sorry..but can i just say..why are the majority of the first post 2nd gens..

No offense guys..but..not your style of truck..and while i know some have owned both and thats cool. A lot haven't..im sorry but seeing all the 2nd gen guys lately trying to help 1st gen guys has just been pissing me off lately. Usually causes more harm then good..

okay...end rant..


onto the question of the thread.

Armor all depends on how much you get. You can easily end up with over 400lbs of it if you go that far.

Weight does make a big difference on the truck, especially with larger tires.

That said, light armoring probably won't affect it much. When i had just a bumper and sliders..was no differnent. Be like haveing a passenger and a pack maybe.

Add in more and more armor though..and i can tell you the biggest area it affects is braking. I would almost trade up rims at this point to do the tundra brake swap personally.

The biggest factor to mpgs and power though are tires. hands down. But that can be fixed with regearing the diffs. Regearing also make the drive train handle weight much better. And despite running at higher rpms on the hwy usually increases mpgs. Why? because the LOAD on the motor is DECREASED with gears. rpms have little to do with it and really. few hundred higher not gonna kill you.



all in all. A bumper and sliders not gonna effect it much..but if you get the big mod bug and get F/R bumpers, sliders, full skids and bigger tires and such. Regearing will be a must. I can't wait to re gear personally..it is expensive though. But at that point..you won't care haha

 

If you are that worried about mpgs, get a cheap beater car or ride a motorcycle.
My mpg went down to 20-22 with tires , lift and some sliders. I have a 4 cylinder taco.

 

I tried to find some 33" 9.5 15's (I still think they look badass) but ended up stumbling across trxus Mud Terrians in 31 10.5 15 for $200 with a lot of tread. I run those for the winter and see how they do MPG and wear -wise. They are most definitely taller than a BFG in 31. OP I would just do front and rear bumpers on your truck if you don't rock crawl that much, good MPG and enough protection. But take what I say with a grain of salt, I love new dents.

 

Wow, you're really going to get pissed because a 2nd Gen guy gave advice to a 1st Gen guy?? Not for nothing but the advice us stupid 2nd Genners gave was damn near the same response you gave... just sayin

 

I think rule of thumb is you lose ~10% MPGs for every passenger (~150-200lbs).

 

Not even close. That's 2mpg. I still hit 17 mpg with 750 extra pounds.

 

If you don't want second gen help on first gen trucks gp make your own damn forum! I mean seriously when you add armor to both generations of the Tacoma it decreases mileage.

 

seems kinda like you picked the wrong thread to bust that out on, seems like both 1st and 2nd gens will be affected by adding weight.