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Cross Country Towing Advice?

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by JoeMac492, Jul 7, 2020.

  1. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:27 PM
    #31
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    Not sure where he is but isn't your area completely flat? That's my memory of spending summers in SW MN.
     
  2. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:30 PM
    #32
    lsaami

    lsaami Let ‘er buck

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    SW MN is completely flat. that's basically Iowa. :ohsnap:

    Im just west of the cities, reasonably hilly here.
     
    FirstGenVol[QUOTED] likes this.
  3. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:34 PM
    #33
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

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    13 mpg towing? Shit the best I’ve gotten towing is 10
     
    TX-TRD1stGEN and Pucks18 like this.
  4. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:37 PM
    #34
    lsaami

    lsaami Let ‘er buck

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    wow. I must be doing something right. I got 15MPG one tank towing a trailer full of 6 ATVs out to SD when I followed a camper closely.

    it was closer to 12.5 when I didn't and pushed 70MPH.
     
  5. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:38 PM
    #35
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

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    custom body work, Billies with taco ARB springs, Icon AAL, TRD FJ trail team wheels, 2019 Toyota 86 radio, Blacked out interior, Added factory power everything, heater mirrors, ETC
    I think it’s my stop and go probably. Constructions full tilt down here right now on 41 and i65
     
  6. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:46 PM
    #36
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    WTH, I remember you complaining about getting like 8mpg before. :D you must have figured it out.
     
    Pucks18 likes this.
  7. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:47 PM
    #37
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

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    custom body work, Billies with taco ARB springs, Icon AAL, TRD FJ trail team wheels, 2019 Toyota 86 radio, Blacked out interior, Added factory power everything, heater mirrors, ETC
    I bet he turns off the engine and glides down hill
     
    Pucks18, Tundra2 and bmf4069 like this.
  8. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:51 PM
    #38
    lsaami

    lsaami Let ‘er buck

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    3/2" lift, visor, 33s, eibach pro-truck, Cvj axles BFF Bumper 4.56 Tacoma Diffs
    Yeah, but that was in the dead of winter when I was only driving my commute to work at 1.2 miles each way. My summer MPG has always been fairly decent.

    shh....

    In all honesty I'm shocked at how well the truck did on that trip. it was over 100º across SD at 70MPH with the AC at full blast, towing 4500lbs. never got worse than 11.1MPG(before tire correction). I just looked it up on my fuel logger.
     
  9. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:53 PM
    #39
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

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    custom body work, Billies with taco ARB springs, Icon AAL, TRD FJ trail team wheels, 2019 Toyota 86 radio, Blacked out interior, Added factory power everything, heater mirrors, ETC
    Hmm. I’ll have to see what they tundra can average if I drive more normal
     
    lsaami[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Jul 13, 2020 at 5:56 PM
    #40
    lsaami

    lsaami Let ‘er buck

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    3/2" lift, visor, 33s, eibach pro-truck, Cvj axles BFF Bumper 4.56 Tacoma Diffs
    I average 14-15 if I have some highway miles. City MPG is like, 11. I swear this truck is bipolar.
     
    empty_lord[QUOTED] likes this.
  11. Jul 14, 2020 at 8:08 AM
    #41
    KNABORES

    KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

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    2000 Limited TRD AC 4X4 Thunder Grey 270k miles. 2019 Limited TRD CM 4x4 Cement Grey 75k miles
    2000: Bilstein 5100's 16x8 589's with 265/75/16 and 1.25" spacers Flowmaster 50 series over the axle dump Pioneer touchscreen with backup camera Full interior and dash LED conversion Trailer brake controller with 7 pin Bedliner coat bumpers & trim ARE topper 2019: ARE topper with full Bedrug kit and Vortex rack TRD shifter 1.25" wheel spacers (I like to live dangerously) Red tow hooks for that +15 grip bonus
    Wind, elevation change, traffic and construction are just a few factors that will crater your MPG on a long trip. Your trailer and car combo will be more aerodynamic than my camper was and probably weigh 1000 pounds less. What kind of MPG do you see towing it locally? I get 11mpg towing a side by side on an 8ft trailer with a gate. I cannot conceive of a way that you will get better than 10 or 11 mpg on this trip. Unless you got the holy grail Tundra. Believing and budgeting for more than 10mpg would be a mistake. Trust me. I've driven cross country 8 times and you always get worse than you think you will. Make sure those are real trailer specific tires on the trailer with the appropriate amount of air in them (usually much higher than passenger tires. 55-65psi). Car tires on a trailer are a recipe for disaster on a long trip, and will definitely have more drag, worse mpg.
    And 15mpg one way on one tank towing likely means 9-10 in the other direction coming back. Someone please tell me I've been dong it wrong and give us all the secret to great towing MPG.
     
  12. Jul 14, 2020 at 8:16 AM
    #42
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

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    custom body work, Billies with taco ARB springs, Icon AAL, TRD FJ trail team wheels, 2019 Toyota 86 radio, Blacked out interior, Added factory power everything, heater mirrors, ETC
    The secret is to swap a hybrid drivetrain in
     
  13. Jul 14, 2020 at 4:44 PM
    #43
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Hand Protectors
    Highway 17-18
    Highway towing 15

    City 11-13
    City Towing 10-11

    285/75/r16

    Since all 4 new o2 Sensors install City has bumped up 1mpg, yet highway has stayed the same. More gurrls look at my truck now, too. :rofl:
     
    Amasailor30 likes this.
  14. Jul 14, 2020 at 5:01 PM
    #44
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

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    They’re not looking at the truck. They’re looking at those hands bro
     
  15. Jul 15, 2020 at 3:32 PM
    #45
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Since the COV hit I’ve been masking them full time to limit hand washings and drying out my skin. I’ve even gone full coo-coo and wear the hand masks in the truck when driving alone. Thought I’d be able to unmask them soon, but looks like we are doubling down on new coo-coo laws but they take another week to go in effect until the COV comes back from vacation. Even my Hand Modeling Lotion gigs are drying up due to the coo-coo photogs being like gurrly men and scared they might catch something.
     
  16. Jul 16, 2020 at 5:39 AM
    #46
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 Fleabit peanut monkey

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    The best mpg ive ever gotten unloaded is 19.8, about a 7 mile trip though
     
  17. Jul 16, 2020 at 2:29 PM
    #47
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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    Downhill with tailwind?
     
  18. Jul 16, 2020 at 4:47 PM
    #48
    Pucks18

    Pucks18 Fleabit peanut monkey

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    Nope just a long road with stop lights that are visible so your able to coast, a sunday morning, and a 45 mph speed limit
     
  19. Jul 16, 2020 at 4:58 PM
    #49
    Redcon41318

    Redcon41318 New Member

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    Put a camper shell on your tundra so you can save money and sleep in the back.
     
    Amasailor30 and empty_lord like this.
  20. Jul 16, 2020 at 6:11 PM
    #50
    Professional Hand Model

    Professional Hand Model A.K.A ‘Golden Hands’

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  21. Jul 17, 2020 at 4:47 AM
    #51
    bmf4069

    bmf4069 Yup, that's car parts in a dishwasher

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    Sir, I'm gonna ask you to back away slowly. Leave the first gen section and no one gets hurt.

    giphy-facebook_s.jpg
     
  22. Jul 17, 2020 at 5:45 AM
    #52
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    What happened to that one gif where you shut the door in that guys face? That was my new favorite.
     
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  23. Jul 17, 2020 at 6:20 AM
    #53
    bmf4069

    bmf4069 Yup, that's car parts in a dishwasher

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    @Darkness
     
  24. Jul 17, 2020 at 7:52 AM
    #54
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    All over SoCal
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    The darkest
    It's really dark
    Doesn't ring a bell to me, but we can improvise

    [​IMG]
     
    bmf4069[QUOTED] likes this.
  25. Jul 17, 2020 at 10:24 AM
    #55
    bmf4069

    bmf4069 Yup, that's car parts in a dishwasher

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    :rofl:

    I coulda sworn it was you that had that one. I'm still a big fan of the one that I made and you totally stole from me. :D

    Moe Throwing Out Barney 23052020081334.jpg
     
    Pucks18 and Darkness[QUOTED] like this.
  26. Jul 17, 2020 at 10:29 AM
    #56
    Darkness

    Darkness Allergic to white

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    Stole is a harsh word, more like acquired! :fistbump:
     
    bmf4069[QUOTED] likes this.
  27. Jul 18, 2020 at 7:41 AM
    #57
    tmac58star

    tmac58star New Member

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    Extra rubber, good jack and patience. Don't push your truck and allow time for stretch stops. Renting a diesel truck may be a better option, unless you are flush enough to find/buy another truck on the road if something really bad happens.
     
  28. Aug 13, 2020 at 4:57 AM
    #58
    Johnders2586

    Johnders2586 New Member

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    OP, did you make this trip yet? Still plan on it if you haven't ?
     

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