Should have bought a half ton

Since when is the Tacoma a 1/2 ton?

 

It's not but he's going to say that some models have 1000+ of payload so its a half ton.

 

Pop Quiz: How many pounds is a ton? ; )

 

That my friends is the definition of a 1/2 ton truck.


Quiz answer.....2000 lbs

 

General nomenclature, half ton truck means full size truck. Like a 1500. The Tacoma is still a midsize truck, would be qualified as a quarter ton. Obviously the actual names of the trucks doesn't mean a whole lot anymore since an F250 can carry way more than 1,500 lbs etc.

 

yes it is, especially for someone trying to tow with cruise on and leaving the trans in auto. Also, your efficiency measure (in this case mpg) does not drop in proportion to the increase in trailer weight. For example, let's say I pull an empty trailer that weighs 1000 lb one hundred miles on flat ground on interstate. I get 13 mpg. Once there I load the trailer with 2K in rebar so the 100 mile trip back I get 12 mpg, I also load it so the tongue weight is the exact same as it was empty. This is perfectly normal because, on flat ground, once you get the load moving, the only real addition the truck knows about is rolling resistance of trailer tires. The aerodynamic drag is the same and we have taken the angle force vector out of the equation by keeping it on flat ground.
So to summarize, you lose a lot of mpg just hooking up a trailer but most of the time, the heavier you go does not mean a proportional drop in mpg.

 

Heh. So you're saying 11 mpg is indeed the average expected mpg when towing a 1k lb trailer?

It does not match my experience towing any of the following:

• 5 x 10' landscape trailer (anywhere from empty to a 1500 lbs load.)
• 2600 lb travel trailer
• Steel car trailer loaded with shop equipment.

Then again.. I don't drive with a trailer the way I drive when it's empty nor do I expect it to accelerate the same way. 11 mpg might be normal either dragging a brake, towing inclines or not having a clue about energy management.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head with the last point
When I tow, I try really hard to get the best mpg possible. However, I have hooked up and drove like a bat outta Hell to get to the destination. That's when 11 mpg is common.

 

The speed limit on I-90 across South Dakota is 80 mph, and I would not call it unsafe for most drivers and modern vehicles.
No kidding about the mpg... 14.9 for a stock, unloaded Tacoma.

 

Once drove an F350 flatbed from Sacramento to Houston. There was an 80mph stretch of I10 where I really opened the taps and cruised. It only lasted a little bit when I realized I was having to stop and fill 25-30 gallons every 200 miles. If I just dropped it down to 65mph the tank range doubled.

It might be safe for most cars to travel at 80, but not every car is designed for it.

I actually did a stretch of I90 this summer. Even unloaded, with the trailer and gear left behind at the campsite I chose not to exceed 70mph with the Tacoma. The cool part was discovering that if I just hung out in the right lane and let everyone pass, I had fewer interactions with idiot drivers, and I was far less irritated overall. Every 100 miles takes 15 minutes longer but saves just over 2 gallons. 4 dollars saved, which doesn't seem like much. But the stress and aggravation that you save very much is.

 

Maybe it’s just me but it tows pretty much how I would expect with the torque curve that the V6 has stock. With my 2800lb Rpod and fully loaded I get 11-14 mpg in S4.

Just keep it under 70mph and enjoy the sights.

 

I hear you, I've almost had enough too. I just have a dirt bike and gear in the back and my truck shifts every two seconds no matter what I try.Cruise control shouldn't even be an option on these truck as it's completely useless

 

You are supposed to tow in S4 and ECT on, keep it outta cruise and don't expect it to perform or drive like it does without a trailer.. Tow in those overdrive gears and shorten the life of your transmission. .If you want to get better fuel mileage run it under 65 etc. But the owners manual has all that in there for reference. The truck is performing relative to the operator input. They are not the best towing vehicles....they are not end all be all trucks, but for most peoples truck usage, they are pretty versatile with a little bit of thought.

 

The Atkinson-cycle engine is a type of internal combustion engine invented by James Atkinson in 1882. The Atkinson cycle is designed to provide efficiency at the expense of power density.

People seem to be expecting too much power from a small V-6 car motor never intended to power a full sized pick up truck towing trailers.

 

I thought the Taco is a 1/2 ton?

Mileage sounds right. I normally get about 16 MPG.

My taco is a 2K with the 3.4L Auto. I towed a trailer that size to Woodland from San Jose empty and back loaded with a tool box with had no issues. Didn't even know it was there for the most part. Now it was mostly flat freeway and I only have 4 (3+overdrive) speed auto. Towed a few other things too with no problems.

If you have lots of hills and in town traffic it's not much fun. But given the modern electronics trying to make all kinds of "smart decisions" to optimize mileage, I wouldn't expect to use the cruise control. My newer 4runner has a mind of it's own.

It's no secret that Toyota is loosing market share because of the drive train. The Ranger and Colorado have better power, but they are not Toyota quality.

 

I think this is a quote from the owner's manual on page 197?

 

Are you serious here? I drive on posted roads at 70 mph, everywhere. Reading comprehension low, towing, sorry.

 

Sorry for any confusion. I was originally referring to my Tacoma driving 80 mph and it's low mpg... not in regards to towing. With that being said on I-90 through South Dakota, semi trucks and other vehicles that were towing were all going over 65 mph. I was being passed by a few full-size trucks towing ATVs when I was at 80 mph.

 

Nice! What model is your R-Pod?