Making the Ultimate Roadtrip Taco

Aright everyone, how do you make the ultimate road-trip taco? Next year I will be going off to college, and it looks like I will be going out to Montana. Now, Vermont to Montana is a 35 hour drive and I have no doubts that my 2005 Tacoma will rip it up... but I know it will also rip up my wallet with gas money.

At the moment I have a SpinTec Muffler on it and I am thinking that that will have to go to up my MPG's a little. But what else can I do? I've heard a little about cold air intakes..? What other mods can I do? Your comments are much appreciated ! I have a year until I need it all done, so keep throwing in ideas!

 

figure a 2000 mile trip. at 20/mpg = 100 gallons. 18 mpg= 111 gallons. 22 mpg = 90 gallons. so if you picked up 2 mpg, you's save 10 gallons. 4 mpg = 20 gallons. @ $3/gallon at 20 less gallons you'd save $60. Probably a light foot, 65 mph, tires at 40psi is your best mod. ( if my math is correct). What you might do is invest $60 in synthetic fluids for the differentials and transfer case if 4WD. It's a long trip at high speed at warm temperatures. And go out across the trans canadien highway and drop down into Montana. A beautiful trip if you have the time.

 

Your going to end up spending a lot of money on gadgets with no MPG gains. How you drive is going to be your biggest gain. Your road trip is only around 2k miles so why are you concerned on saving gas money on that compared to just daily driving?

 

I agree with the previous comments. I did a 6000 mile road trip this summer. For the money you'd spend on a gadget vs the gas, the only thing worth getting is a tire pressure gauge and use it often.

 

light foot will help a lot

 

Yes, a light foot but also pick a speed and do it. I find it very annoying how interstate traffic insists on speeding up and slowing down. Its almost impossible to set the cruise at a reasonable speed without pissing someone off no matter what lane your in.

 

Yeah I drive my taco to and from college several times a year (actually through Montana lol). The best thing I've found is to air up my tires to 40 psi and go slow. The difference between 70 and 80mph can be pretty large. Even then, you're looking at recovering maybe 2-4 mpg. I wouldn't worry about it too much aside from that...spend money on your stereo so you'll enjoy the ride more!

 

Forget the mods that say you can see up to ?? in MPG or horsepower. I drive at no more that 5 over posted and do very well on miles per gallon.

 

You should also do the math on how much quicker you will get there driving 80 vs 70 vs 65, then calculate the extra fuel cost for going faster and compare that to the extra time you will spend on the road. I bet you would be surprised how much extra your going to spend to save a hour or so. What's your time worth and how much do you make at an hourly job? Your going to college now so its time to get smart and do the math.

 

So i know 2000 miles by itself isnt a huge roadtrip.. but i will be going there for 4 years and undoubtedly making more than just 8 trips out there. This is why I am wondering if there were any mods other than just going the speed limit. I know alot of gadgets out there are bull.. but if i could find something to save a few MPG's here and there i feel it would be well worth it

 

+1

 

Do the math...2 trips, 8 trips, 16 trips.....I guess find your break even point against the cost of a mod...Price out a CAI and then calculate how many miles you gotta drive to gain that money back.

 

Just drive the damn thing

 

Have fun. See the sights. I would love to do that trip.
Soon.

 

Seriously. Buy some bitch tires and keep them inflated, stay under 2k RPM on the freeway and drive.


Don't be silly

 

Haha I came in here thinking about what kind of GFI's people had about stereos, creature comforts for tooling down the road...lol.

OP Read this...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/another-mpg-thread.385139/

 

All of the above is solid advice. Don't buy gadgets, adjust your driving. If you're going to be here for 4 years (many folks forget to leave, too ), get a second set of rims and real snow tires. Stock steelies go for about $100 on CL - don't buy the tires used. Get studded snow tires for Montana driving.

As Pee said, get some bitch mpg tires for the drive here. And welcome to Montana, enjoy it for what it is - don't try to change it.

 

Man, I loved MT. The short time I was there.

 

I do the Drive from Colorado to Vermont quite a bit. Adjusting driving is the best way to increase fuel mileage. With mods your just going to spend a ton of money. Good tires and steady 70mph you'll grab and average of 19-20mpg. Just keep that tachometer down. Enjoy what Montana has to offer!

 

Thanks everyone! I'll just back off the lead foot for that drive i guess. Glad to hear so many good things about Montana .. looks like an awesome place.