The Quest For Better Gas Mileage

Hey everyone,

It's been a minute since I've posted and just wanted to start a conversation, get some opinions and figure some things out.

The hype around the release of the 22' Tundra has me wanting for more out of my Tacoma. I really like it and I've invested a good amount of money into it to take it to places I like while still using it as a truck and not just an off-roader.

Gas mileage, from what I've been hearing people have been getting better MPG's in a lifted Tundra with 35's. I can't 100 % confirm, just what I've been hearing. At the moment according to the computer I'm right around 13.9MPG. Not great, not as bad as I've seen others lower. (I do have added weight such as sliders, bumper, winch, bigger tires) I haven't re-geared yet.

Available room, I don't really drive people around much at all really, but I do have an older German Shepherd. I don't like putting him in the back of the bed so he gets the whole back row to himself.

Towing capacity (I know, Tundra is only at like 1400lbs), I've been recently thinking of getting a UTV. To be able to set up a basecamp and have something light, nimble, and fast to go around and explore with instead of driving around in the Taco.

I've been in a mix lately of keep the Taco and just finish building it out with a re-gear, get a better tune. Or maybe get a 4Runner before the remodel comes out, or even just go for the new Tundy. I dunno, honestly I'm just wasting time avoiding doing homework.

 

Don't believe the hype, new Tundras get crappy mileage. Lifted new Tundras get even crappier MPG. Just not quite as crappy as the previous generation. My advice: lose the lift and big tires unless you *really* need them.

 

Buy a $900 corolla and only drive the truck to the trails. Best MPG mod.

 

I've been considering trying to shave some weight from the truck. I just don't know if it will really be enough to make a difference. I have 285/70/17 tires, I can go to some skinnies to drop some weight. I can shave off about 40lbs by switching sliders, then probably get rid of the roof rack.

Does re-gearing help MPG's at all, if anyone knows?

 

I'm on skinnies. You can see my mpg in my sig. Regearing helps but also driving slower helps.

 

Get a Ford Maverick. $12 a gallon gas by September, in some states. Fuel prices will probably increas in 2023.

 

Better than mine haha. Yeah I'm thinking skinnies may be the way to go and dropping the roof rack. But I really don't drive that fast. I know I'm in a pig of a truck.

Man, I can't even imagine what double digit gas prices will look like. Going to make for a tough winter.

 

FYI I haven't regeared yet.

 

Buy a different truck. Toyota's suck on MPG's.

 

Their trucks do. Their Corollas however....

 

Haha what would you recommend, out of curiosity?

 

Remove the rear seats and put a single sheet of ply back there for your pup.
Tge seats weigh 70lb and your pup gets more space…
I tow a 4,700lb travel trailer and consistently get 12 mpg with my stock 2020 OR.

 

Somebody asked me today if I could only have one car. What would it be? I said Toyota Corolla.

 

I've also been considering that as well. Just taking out the 60% portion of the back seat. That could be a fun project.

 

Just added a photo to my original post.

I made a 60/40 platform to sit on top of the folded seats. Then I decided to remove the seats and just use the platforms directly in their place…

 

I drove an '01 Camry 4 banger through college and my first few jobs. That thing would survive a zombie apocalypse. It just wouldn't quit as long as I changed the fluids and kept up on the service schedule.

 

If you're getting 13.9 in your Tacoma you won't do any better in a Tundra. I get 20mph HWY with my 2007 4X4 Crew cab, around 17 mpg for every day driving. And that is with over 220,000 miles on it. And I've upsized my tires slightly. Your driving style is the biggest difference. You should be close to 18/22 in your 3rd gen.

But FWIW the new Tundra is rated 18/23 for a 4X4. 18/24 for a 4X2, which is slightly better than a Tacoma.

My 2014 F150 4X4 Crew cab with the 5.0 only gets 1 mpg worse than my Tacoma, and the guys with Ford's 3.5 EB engine will beat Tacoma, the 2.7 Ford EB will beat Tacoma by a fair margin and develop more power.

I have no reason to not believe Toyota's 3.5 engine with Turbo's will beat the current Tacoma. But it all comes down to how you drive it. If you can't do better than 13.9 with a Tacoma you might need to consider a Honda Fit or something similar.

 

Haha I think I'd rather get a Corolla for a daily than a Fit. But I don't see them turboing the current engine in the taco for the next gen, will probably be a turbo 4. I do have an aggressive tune on it right now which probably isn't helping.

 

I saw that, that looks awesome! I dig the dog ramp too.