Thought some might find this useful: VA to TX and back: 2,764 miles, consuming 180.3 gallons of gas at a total cost of $515.18 = Avg. 15.8 MPG
Tow vehicle: 2017 Toyota Tacoma double-cab, short-bed, TRD off-road (4x4) with 3.5L V6 and 6spd M/T (Empty weight ~4,450 LBs)
Trailer: 5x8 single axel U-haul (Empty weight 900 LBs)
Combined gross weight: 7,280 LBs (Truck, Trailer, Passengers, Cargo and Fuel): verified by CAT truck scale
Notes:
- Truck is pretty much stock, except tires that were plus sized to 265/75/16 (Calculator says overall circumference is +3.3%)
- Owners Manual and web says not to tow in O/D so most of the towing was done in 5th gear
- I did NOT drive to save fuel: right at or -5 MPH on the way down (~65-70) and +5 MPH on the way back (~70-75 MPH)
- Towing was one way (Dropped to cargo and u-haul in TX, came back pretty much empty)
- Performed well, no complaints; 70 MPH in 5th was ~2,900 RPM. The 3.5L didn't seem to care. 90-100 degrees the whole trip with a/c on full blast
- Only times I had to drop to 4th was when traffic would slow down on a hill and I lost momentum
- Probably could have saved a bit if I had cared to drive slower
Tow vehicle: 2017 Toyota Tacoma double-cab, short-bed, TRD off-road (4x4) with 3.5L V6 and 6spd M/T (Empty weight ~4,450 LBs)
Trailer: 5x8 single axel U-haul (Empty weight 900 LBs)
Combined gross weight: 7,280 LBs (Truck, Trailer, Passengers, Cargo and Fuel): verified by CAT truck scale
Notes:
- Truck is pretty much stock, except tires that were plus sized to 265/75/16 (Calculator says overall circumference is +3.3%)
- Owners Manual and web says not to tow in O/D so most of the towing was done in 5th gear
- I did NOT drive to save fuel: right at or -5 MPH on the way down (~65-70) and +5 MPH on the way back (~70-75 MPH)
- Towing was one way (Dropped to cargo and u-haul in TX, came back pretty much empty)
- Performed well, no complaints; 70 MPH in 5th was ~2,900 RPM. The 3.5L didn't seem to care. 90-100 degrees the whole trip with a/c on full blast
- Only times I had to drop to 4th was when traffic would slow down on a hill and I lost momentum
- Probably could have saved a bit if I had cared to drive slower