why do we get the gas mileage of a full size pickup?

I bought a truck because i have 1 vehicle, it does the stuff i need. Then, I dont mind getting my moneys worth for fuel. So , u can try to get better mpg in a truck even if its not a prius, just dont worry about it. I do freeway trips 1/2 the miles, why not try to get better mpg there. If you choose not to track it , thats fine too, its your truck, letting OPEC tell you "u da man!" as they profit off your unneccessary 12mpg +/- when you can easily gain a few mpg and go farther seems childish. Hey if its low from normal mode of driving /towing or whatever , fine.
Maximizing MPG in any truck is a valid choice ,period. .....just be careful with aftermarket claims.

 

Im just confused on why people buy trucks then complain when it doesn't get 25-30 mpg, buy a damn car. And i really doubt a V8 will get better MPG then a V6 doesnt even make sense.

 

I think you are right there. I suppose they didnt realize a mod might affect economy, maybe did'nt expect the drop from car to truck. I'm prob'ly among the worst offenders here to try n get better mpg, but if it doesnt go up on a trip oooh well lol.

 

Theres nothing wrong with trying to get better MPG with what you have, as long as you understand that your not driving a honda civic.

 

One time I got 28 on the highway. The tailwind that day was freakin' unbelievable. The highway was slightly downhill (1 to 2%) but I went 20 minutes at 75 MPH without my foot on the gas.

 

Lol thats what im talking about. Get behind a big ass truck and trailer and your set.

 

reminds me of the lowered s10 pick up with 2 loud tail pipes i passed in my 4 banger, lol, he thought it was a race truck or something a roll pan n stickers too. I guess sometimes people lose perspective

 

i agree. just as long as your arent lifting it and putting bigger tires on it then complaining.

 

Previous Truck: 2004 Chevy Silverado Crew 4x4 Z71 5.3. 50/50 mix typically averaged right at 16.0. My best highway was 19 if I stayed between 65 - 68 mph.

New Truck: 2009 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 V6 Auto SB TRD Off Road. Same 50/50 mix typically averages 17.5-18 mpg. My best highway was 23.2 and I stayed between 65-70.

Many years ago: 1997 Tacoma ExtCab 4x4 3.4 5-speed. averaged 16-17 in town and 19 was the best I ever calculated on the highway.

So it looks like most of us exceed the highway EPA mileage on the highway and 23 seems like a common number. If my math is correct, that's about a 20% increase over my full size truck. I think that is a decent increase.

I too am VERY HAPPY with the mileage of my Tacoma.

 

No, but it is true.

I drive (average) 1000 miles a week. Taco on shorter trips and a 2000 chebby c2500 crew cab on long runs. 112k on the chebby and 30k on the taco so far. They get within 0.2 mpg of each other on the highway.

chebby weighs 6800#. It's a pig.

Taco weighs 4000#. It's a pig with wings.

 

Im not calling you a liar maybe your doing something that i've never heard of. All i know is after a few mods to my 1st gen SR5 with 160k i average 17 on Post (not alot of stops so thats why) and driving on the highway i average 22. My dad has a 350 Z71 with a 350 turbo auto trans and hes getting 15 in town and 18 on the highway.

 

the diesel i had was getting 22mpg freeway, it weighed around 6700 lbs chevy crew cab too, but in 4wd goin skiing it really dropped. Think it was 15 mpg , never really bothered to get too accurate there.

 

I love diesels, and really they dont get that bad of gas mileage either.

 

btw justin this section is for....... the hell of it.

 

Haha, it kinda got thrown off track but oh well dont think the OP is even responding to what we say.

 

the only way I would do that is if it was a beat up vehicle I was driving. No way on the taco, the better mpg is not worth the risk of driving on an 18 wheelers ass, if he sees you back there he will probably start hitting the brakes just to get you off his ass, I would.

 

Dear god i could only imagine what that would do to my taco. Id be pissed

 

back to the question at hand.. haha

my guess is b/c the trucks are geared low so we can get a decent tow capacity..

plus i think our trucks are heavy for a 4.0 v6..

just my .02 though, i'm no "rocket surgeon"

 

Will im a rocket surgeon, and i say your dumb. lol im jk your probably right

 

Stock I got 18-19mpg. Now with lift and 285s I get 16mpg.