Towing Fuel Economy

I just recently completed at 1200 move while towing a 6x12 Uhaul trailer loaded with a mix of necessities and "if it fits it ships" stuff. The trailer was about 80% full, and there was about 100lbs of "stuff" in the cab and bed. I tried to stick to 55mph as Uhaul mandated, but... the drive crossed the continental divide and Donner Summit. Truck is a bone stock 2005 Double Cab Shortbed 4x4 with the 6 speed and about 160K. Best tank of fuel was the first at 16.1 mpg (flat 3 hour blast) and the worst was 14.2 mpg (Donner Summit and I80 traffic). I kept fuel as consistent as possible aside from tanks 1 and 2 (Costco and Sinclair) with Chevron for the rest. Average economy was 15.6 over 1200 miles. Bottom line - careful planning, loading, and driving shows how great Tacomas are.

 

55mph feels dangerous in some places, but its based on the tire rating. I don't mind doing 55 in right lane of a 3 lane highway, but 2 lanes here you have lots of aggressive passes.

15mpg is awesome though, and lower speeds mean less strain on the truck.

 

Damn, that’s pretty good MPGs all things considered.

 

i towed this back 300 miles at 80mph and got 9mpg lol

 

I get about the same (17) on flat ground pulling this around 70mph with not quite as bad of a hit in the mountains. I slow it down up there and it gets about 15mpg in the Rockies where I often camp, the V6's power takes a pretty good hit over 8K'.

The trailer fully loaded with fuel and water is about 1200# so it's small, typically the truck is also loaded with about 300# of gear. I've pulled larger trailers with the tacoma and it wasn't any fun which is why I kept this one small.

 

About 10mpg pulling a loaded 22 foot boat and trailer (around 5k lbs). Mileage much worse above 65mph doing that.

 

That’s excellent mpg for towing a trailer, especially for a non aerodynamic box trailer. For me I don’t pay any attention to my mpg while towing nor do I care. It is what it is, not really much I can do about it. I know no matter what that when towing my mpg is going to be crap and I’m not going to drive 55 (unless that’s the speed limit) to improve mpg by a mile or so. But again your mpg is excellent.

 

Pretty much common figure of 14 with a 17 foot fully loaded camper and a 6 speed.

 

Hauling about 4200# trailer/car and another 400# in the bed for track days, I can get between high 14's and low 16's mgp at 60-65mph. I'm o.k. with that and running AC at the same time!

 

My truck must be broke. My other Tacoma I pulled a 6x12 enclosed trailer with probably 1500lbs in it and I could fill up and drive 150 miles and my gas light would be on

 

That's great mpg's OP.
I'll get low 13's pulling my 16' boat. But that's up and over our mountain here, which feels like it kills my mpg on the incline.
I've yet to try again being supercharged.

 

I only pull a light 1300 lbs pop up. Total weight including two peeps and gear, maybe 2000 lbs
Doing this for about 12 years now. See Old photo below.
Around Arizona ( Grand Canyon say 7000 Ft )and some Mexico ( Sea Level)

I installed a

$52 Hayden 678 Universal Rapid-Cool 9.5” x 11” Add-On Transmission Cooler – Not for Direct Replacement of the OE Cooler

Hayden 678 on my 2021 TRD Sport 6 Speed Auto trans with AI and S modes because it didn't come with an external Trans Oil Cooler. Since I live in SE AZ, where we had 108 days over 100 F in 2024, I pinned the T-Stat. My 2006 Pre Runner had one. In June 2024, this set up, I drove through Phoenix in the afternoon, 1:30 PM, from Grand Canyon to Tucson, when it was about 106F outside. My torque Pro App showed about 180*F at the Torque Converter and Pan. Never higher that that
I drive in S mode when towing and don't go into overdrive, which is 6 on the 6 speed trans that I have. I cruise in S-5 on the freeway and go down to any gear when going uphill, from S-5 to S-3.

In S-5, I can go 65 when towing, getting up to about 2000 RPM on the flat freeway. I get pretty good mileage between 17 and 19 mpg. But remember, I have a light unit.

 

I got 13-14 towing a 2000 rav4 at 65-70mph

4.0

 

Calling shenanigans here

 

Call it whatever you want. I just did it again last weekend. Trailer weighs 1000#, car 3200# (not stock). Towing my Cobra gets a bit better weighing only 2300#.

 

So what’s your non-towing MPG?

 

Anywhrere from 19+ to 22, depending on where I go. Sierra trips are the low side, flat land distance is higher. A lot depends on how one drives.

 

I got between 13-15 towing this trailer, loaded to about 3500lbs both times.

 

taco got like 8-9 pulling a 3500 lb Trail Manor 25-18 camper

My F350 gets 14 mpg hauling 12,000 lb 28 foot 5th wheel and 19s empty

 

I mow for a living and tow a 6x12 trailer. Almost 3k lbs. I probably get around 11-12 around town. So, that sounds about right.