Towing with the 2012 5.7L Toyota Tundra pulling the 23 foot, and the current 25 foot trailer results in about a 10% loss in MPG overall. That is acceptable for me out in the Rocky Mountains. The range is 9mpg to 14mpg.
I have hit 45 mpg to 65 mpg, temporarily, down the Front Range heading East.
I have hit 6 mpg going up, head wind and a steep grade going UP. Then down for 45 mpg and it all averages out.
The Tundra 5.7L has never indicated a rise in temperature to the engine or transmission. Even the 4.7L pulling the 23 footer. A steep grade might kick the RPM into 3500 to 4000, and just by reducing speed the engine drops down a gear and back into a comfort zone... for me, not the truck.
The sweet spot is 1800 to 2200 RPM at 60 to 70 mph. 2200 rpm and you are below 10 mpg. At 1800 rpm, 11 to 14 mpg.
Grade of roads, wind direction and weight load in truck and trailer can vary a lot during a trip. Full water tank, full 6 gallon water jugs in the bed of the truck... you are going to feel it right away in the Up and Down traveling.
You can take advantage of some down momentum to push you up the up side. You will be amazed how quickly you begin to gain SPEED going down and LOSE Speed going up. I KNOW which routes to take to get to places we want to camp. The I-80 climb from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Laramie, Wyoming to Green River, Wyoming is easy compared to taking I-70 from Denver, Colorado to Grand Junction, Colorado...
Another example is driving AROUND the Big Horn Mountains in north central Wyoming. Go through Billings, Montana to Buffalo, Wyoming to Casper, Wyoming and save your brakes, your gasoline and your... SANITY.
A thread was asking about Miles Per Gallon expected when traveling. That is a question with more moving parts and conditions than my Tundra's 5.7L engine.
WIND direction. Grade UP and how much braking or thrill factor going DOWN a steep grade can you handle. Weight being loaded before, during or AFTER your trip. Traveling will full water... jugs in the bed of the truck... 45 pounds of potatoes.... yes with an "oes". Ideally, a drive UP a high grade and getting 6mpg, then going DOWN getting 35mpg will work out well for an average, of some sort.
-If you can, travel with a tail wind, do it. Wait a day and make it work.
-If you can, avoid steep grade mountain highways with bumper to bumper traffic. (Colorado- I-80... is not busy after SUNSET... but the Elk ARE busy.)
-If you can, make some speed going down for momentum on the going UP.
-If you can, remain calm and realize that you are pulling a home on wheels and it is a voracious carnivore of your cash and mentally stability, when crossing the Rockies or Appalachians.
-Plan your trip(s) ahead. Wind, Weather, Traffic, Grade expectations and keep your traveling weight to a minimum...if at all possible.
The smaller, off the highway, gasoline stations can be Highway Robbers! Reserve, New Mexico is one example. You get down to HALF a TANK of fuel out in the Rockies... top it off to be safe. Your 14mpg with a tail wind can become 5mpg with a stiff head wind going UP grade.
Some day, like myself, you learn the hard way... the hard way. After some years, everyone else is stupid, foolish and doesn't have a clue how to tow a trailer. I have done my stupid is, stupid does and paid with pieces of my soul at the beginning to live through this learning experience.
Today. I realize immediately that I am in a shoulda, woulda, coulda done better on this leg of the trip. We all learn and I have the grey hair that proves that having two daughters and pulling an Airstream has its... inherent costs
Be good. Stay calm. Remember the clean restroom stops. ... and those signs showing deer, elk, moose or open range cattle... THEY AIN'T KIDDING until it is too late.
I have hit 45 mpg to 65 mpg, temporarily, down the Front Range heading East.
I have hit 6 mpg going up, head wind and a steep grade going UP. Then down for 45 mpg and it all averages out.
The Tundra 5.7L has never indicated a rise in temperature to the engine or transmission. Even the 4.7L pulling the 23 footer. A steep grade might kick the RPM into 3500 to 4000, and just by reducing speed the engine drops down a gear and back into a comfort zone... for me, not the truck.
The sweet spot is 1800 to 2200 RPM at 60 to 70 mph. 2200 rpm and you are below 10 mpg. At 1800 rpm, 11 to 14 mpg.
Grade of roads, wind direction and weight load in truck and trailer can vary a lot during a trip. Full water tank, full 6 gallon water jugs in the bed of the truck... you are going to feel it right away in the Up and Down traveling.
You can take advantage of some down momentum to push you up the up side. You will be amazed how quickly you begin to gain SPEED going down and LOSE Speed going up. I KNOW which routes to take to get to places we want to camp. The I-80 climb from Cheyenne, Wyoming to Laramie, Wyoming to Green River, Wyoming is easy compared to taking I-70 from Denver, Colorado to Grand Junction, Colorado...
Another example is driving AROUND the Big Horn Mountains in north central Wyoming. Go through Billings, Montana to Buffalo, Wyoming to Casper, Wyoming and save your brakes, your gasoline and your... SANITY.
A thread was asking about Miles Per Gallon expected when traveling. That is a question with more moving parts and conditions than my Tundra's 5.7L engine.
WIND direction. Grade UP and how much braking or thrill factor going DOWN a steep grade can you handle. Weight being loaded before, during or AFTER your trip. Traveling will full water... jugs in the bed of the truck... 45 pounds of potatoes.... yes with an "oes". Ideally, a drive UP a high grade and getting 6mpg, then going DOWN getting 35mpg will work out well for an average, of some sort.
-If you can, travel with a tail wind, do it. Wait a day and make it work.
-If you can, avoid steep grade mountain highways with bumper to bumper traffic. (Colorado- I-80... is not busy after SUNSET... but the Elk ARE busy.)
-If you can, make some speed going down for momentum on the going UP.
-If you can, remain calm and realize that you are pulling a home on wheels and it is a voracious carnivore of your cash and mentally stability, when crossing the Rockies or Appalachians.
-Plan your trip(s) ahead. Wind, Weather, Traffic, Grade expectations and keep your traveling weight to a minimum...if at all possible.
The smaller, off the highway, gasoline stations can be Highway Robbers! Reserve, New Mexico is one example. You get down to HALF a TANK of fuel out in the Rockies... top it off to be safe. Your 14mpg with a tail wind can become 5mpg with a stiff head wind going UP grade.
Some day, like myself, you learn the hard way... the hard way. After some years, everyone else is stupid, foolish and doesn't have a clue how to tow a trailer. I have done my stupid is, stupid does and paid with pieces of my soul at the beginning to live through this learning experience.
Today. I realize immediately that I am in a shoulda, woulda, coulda done better on this leg of the trip. We all learn and I have the grey hair that proves that having two daughters and pulling an Airstream has its... inherent costs
Be good. Stay calm. Remember the clean restroom stops. ... and those signs showing deer, elk, moose or open range cattle... THEY AIN'T KIDDING until it is too late.
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