Tundra towing

So.. I went from a Tacoma to a 23’ Tundra (SR5) so I could comfortably tow a ~3K travel trailer.

I tow it fine at about 70mph. But, I’m only getting 11MPG!!
Way worse than towing with my Tacoma.

is there something I am possibly missing. Not doing right?

 

You might do a bit better in the 60-65mph range, but a travel trailer is still a big parachute you're dragging behind the truck. You also have a bigger, heavier truck with a lot more power, so you pay for that with worse fuel economy, unfortunately. Hopefully you're enjoying the extra power and increased stability, though!

 

This!

Ford has been doing it longer. Over in those threads, this popped up often and the real answer is ECO or BOOST your choice.

FYI. Basically (lots of variables but in general) the volumetric size of your motor doubles at 14psi boost. Your 3.4L becomes at 6.8L.

I went from a 2007 Sequoia 4x4 to a 2017 Ford Expedition Max 4x4 towing the same trailer over the same roads, while the Sequoia averaged 14.7 mpg while not towing to the Expedition (3.5 TT) 17.8, the Sequoia got 1 mpg better towing. The Expedition was much better doing it though, never struggling up steep grades and rarely downshifting but in BOOST it drank more air and fuel while providing more power.

 

Tow a 4900 pound trailer in NC & TN with our 2022 2WD SR5 with Yokohama Geolandar street tires with 40PSI. Use cruise control around 60MPH in 7th or 8th gear, if hilly use 7th gear. Our travel trailer is aerodynamic and can get 14MPG and sometimes 15MPG.

 

Just completed a trip through the Rockies in Colorado from Denver to Montrose with my about 3000 lb travel trailer/cargo hybrid that is fairly tall and averaged about 10.5-11.5 mpg. Took I-70 where Speed limit is about 35% 75mph and 65% 65-ish mph. The alternate route that is closed right now due to a bridge issue where the speed limits is 65mph and under I get about 13mpg, so speed makes a big difference. Its a giant brick you're pulling and if you're in the boost you're sucking more gas and air and unless you can keep it on flat road and around 60-65-ish you'll be in a little bit of boost.

My old 2018 silverado with the 6.2l V8 would get about 14mpg on the same run with the same trailer, but man do the twin turbo's pull soo much better at elevation than the V8 ever did. I literally almost forget the trailer is back there most the time, except when it comes to engine braking the 3.4L doesn't engine brake the same as a big old 6.2L V8.

I cared at first but then realized for the handful of times a year I pull the trailer the couple MPG's less I get per trip doesn't really matter and I'll take the power of the twin turbos for losing a couple MPG.

 

Does an Airstream actually help the mpg at the same weight and speed?

 

TFL already tested towing mpg and tow+ is the way to go.

 

I would think it has to help a little. My Vintage Cruiser has a sloped roofline in both front and to a lesser extent, rear. I seem to get better MPG than most do hauling the normal Elkhart spam cans.

 

Also curious to follow this thread as I'm picking up a 2024 Hybrid Tundra next week. I have a 27' Cougar 22MLS and a bit heavy at 7500 fully loaded and 1000 tongue. The 2021 F-150 3.5 eco that currently tow with gets a whopping 8.5 avg on mileage. I'm hoping this will improve some with the hybrid and would be thrilled to see double digits. I'm also one of those that tops my towing speed out at 65mph, easy to get this train going but not always quick to stop them. An old saying we try to remind ourselves of when pulling the camper is "No place to be and ALL DAY to get there" (Mark....KYD)

 

Side note- just drove RT from Asheville to Ft Lauderdale. Every RV lot on I95 and I26 is stuffed with product. So much different than 24 months ago. Also, used listings are increasing as they often do as recreational products got through their cycles. I'm going to be on the watch for a good deal on a 25' Airstream.

 

I will tell you another place that is stuffed with RV product, the storage lots where people keep these. Sad to see as we travel just how packed these lots are with product just rotting and baking in the sun. Folks buy them, use them 1 or 2x and park them there making payments as they decline.

Agree on a 25' airstream. Back in 2022 we looked at the twin bed Globetrotter and shocked to see a new off the line was selling for $115K plus tax. Ended up going with a new Keystone at 36K. Picked a bad time to upgrade from our previous unit but on a side note it was an excellent time to sell our previous as we made 5K from what we had paid .

 

The 25' Airstream feels like the sweet spot for me. Any bigger and I'm in 3/4ton territory for my comfort level. They are high priced on the front end but for a depreciating asset they hold their value OK and are pretty liquid.
Agree on storage being full and expensive everywhere.

 

Point of reference, my 18 tundra gets 9mpg towing a rzr on a 16’ trailer. I’d kill for 11+. Heck unloaded I only get 13.7 at 70mph.

 

Keep burning that fuel people!

 

According to the Airstream sales materials - Yes! But does it really make a huge difference, I don't know.

Mine is a 22' and it does tow quite well. It is very stable back there and that makes up for the fuel cost which is only a few times a year.

 

If you time it right at the start of the season, it is easy to get a good dollar for a lightly used Airstream. Mine is worth more as a used trailer than what I paid in 2020 (at least according to some comparables on the Airstream forum).

We are fortunate enough to have a spot to store the trailer in our back yard. I like to be able to work on it and load it without having to go to storage.

 

It's very handy to have your travel trailer at your home especially if you can keep it plugged in. We keep ours in a wide spot in the driveway and sometimes just go out and relax in it. When company comes to stay we go to the trailer and go camping right on our own property.