5.7 Tundra Real World MPG?

[Phoenix]

We have a 2008 Tundra CrewMax with 5.7L and tow package; and we tow a 2005 19' Bambi. Typical refueling stops are at 250-300 miles; however, 300 miles is cutting it kind of close.

I think we have gone 325 miles before refueling, but only because we also have 6 gallons in a portable marine tank that we carry for our generators.

[Seven Brook]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

What is your typical range between fill ups?

Is yours 4x4, Crew or Double Cab?

Kelvin

Hi Kevin!
We can tow from Charlotte, NC to Myrtle Beach, SC on a little less than a tank of gas. That distance is around 200 miles one way. We have a 2 wheel drive Tundra with an extended cab. We live just below Charlotte, NC. We really have never checked tow mileage! We just enjoy our trips!! Beth

[reelfastgreg]

2010 extended cab, 4x4, towing 9-10; not towing 15 sometimes 16.
2014 crewcab, 4x4, towing 9-10; not towing 15 rarely 16.

with the 26g tank, you can do the long division on range.

in both cases, bed of truck was covered with either a canopy or tonneau, makes a big difference.

i don't speed and won't run faster that 65 on the interstates no matter what the upper limit happens to be. roadways in the PNW tend to go up and down so not much flat running.

now in a diesel F350 crew cab, 4x4, towing 13-14; not towing 19-21. world of difference for me.

[OldVwHunters]

No Ford's or Fancy Datsun's for the Goat family. Yup, I'm a stubborn old Goat, just like my Mother Goat. Back in the late 60's my Mother bought a new Datsun wagon, as it was supposed to be far superior to our fleet of Beetle's. We could never get to Grandpa's house and back without a breakdown. She sold it, and to this day gets upset when she thinks about it. My Sister bought a brand new Infinity, to which my Mother made the comment "I wouldn't have it, that's just a Fancy Datsun!" I bought a Ford F-250, had a bad crank straight from the factory, and they could never align it to keep the front tires from wearing out. I guess I'm just too much like my Mother Goat in my steadfast stubbornness. Heck, I still won't eat shrimp after that time I got sick on some back in the 80's. I've had six Tacoma's now with excellent results, and still have a little 2000 Tacoma I can drive if the Tundra eats too far into the wallet. I would be open to a new Jeep pickup maybe, had one, loved it, and then they quit making them.

[m.hony]

Only Toyotas for me-
Only Classic Silver-
Only black interior-
Like the 1976 Corolla I learned to drive stick shift in-

[rmkrum]

Amen Toyota. Still have the 2002 stick shift 4 banger Taco for beat-around stuff.


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[Gene]

Yeh, I understand never buying anything that bit you once. My first car was a '56 Mercury. Badly made, but enough room for loving back in my college days. I had three VW's, all cheaply made and unreliable. I finally learned my lesson.

Toyotas are reliable and we are on our 7th one. I miss my '99 Tacoma. Great little truck and fun to drive, but we had to go big for towing.

Gene

[TouringDan]

Originally Posted by Gene

Yeh, I understand never buying anything that bit you once. My first car was a '56 Mercury. Badly made, but enough room for loving back in my college days. I had three VW's, all cheaply made and unreliable. I finally learned my lesson.

Toyotas are reliable and we are on our 7th one. I miss my '99 Tacoma. Great little truck and fun to drive, but we had to go big for towing.

Gene

VW has had some tough years. I remember back in the 90's I think when they had to add passenger air bags, so they deleted the glove box to make room for this. No other manufacturers did this. I sure would not buy a car without a glove box. My oldest son had a Jetta in the late 90's that ate window regulators on a regular basis. I won't even consider a VW now. My wifes old 02 Jetta, 1.7L turbo, 5 speed, is one of the best cars we have even owned (183k miles). Her current 09 Jetta has been great ( Wolfsburg Edition, 2.0L turbo, 6 speed, 105k miles). I just bought a new Golf- 1.7L turbo, 5 speed, everthing you need except for cruise control (not really needed) and it was less than 19k out the door. 40 mpg at 70 mph too. Great car so far.

Oh yes, I still love my Tundra 5.7L truck when I tow my Airstream. I hope I wear it out, but I would not bet on it.

Dan

Gene- I remember reading some of your storys about Sante Fe. I finally made it there in late February when I met my son at Telluride to go skiing. He sent me the scenic route up through Durango and through Ouray on the Million Dollar Highway in the middle of a snowstorm. I just made it. Two hours after I drove it, it had to be closed due to an avalanche. I will never forget looking over at the left hand lane in one section and no guard rail or shoulder, just a cliff. Yikes! What a great story though.

[m.hony]

After a 1971 Beetle, a 1972 Super Beetle, a 1973 Super Beetle, and a 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit diesel L, I am sure I will never own another Volkswagen.
After a 1970 Ford Maverick and a 2001 Ford Taurus I am sure I will never own another Ford.
After a 1973 Oldsmobile Omega and a 1986 Pontiac Grand Am- well- those kind of went away making sure I will never own another Oldsmobile or Pontiac.
After 16 years with a 1999 Nissan Pathfinder I'm sure I will never buy another Nissan.
After 8 years with a 2007 Toyota Tundra and 2 months with a 2014 Toyota Avalon, I am convinced I want to drive Classic Silver Toyotas with black interiors as long as I drive/the rest of my years.


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[Gene]

Dan, I would never go over US 550 in the winter with a trailer and never have in the summer either. Too many tight curves and too much traffic. Must have been quite a trip. When we go that way, we go over Lizard Head Pass—easier, though not easy.

Gene

[Ray Eklund]

Just returned from a TWO DAY drive back from Boulder City, Nevada (Lake Meade Boulder campground) to Castle Rock, Colorado. Just around a 1,000 mile trip.

I am driving 2,500 feet elevation to 7,000+ feet elevations. Head winds. Cross winds. Tail winds. No wind. My gas mileage varied from 8.5 to 12.4 pulling our 25 footer. At times I could have turned the ignition off... and had no better nor worse mileage. It made no difference with a head wind going 50 or 65 miles per hour. I tried hard to maintain an 1800 to 2200 rpm for maximum mileage.

IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. Maintain a reasonable mileage per gallon. Down to get 16 mpg and Up for drop it back into the 8.5 to 12 miles per gallon. Full tank of water. Half tank of water. Empty tank of water in the trailer.

I log every gallon needed when I refill. I log the miles per gallon. I log the mileage, cost per gallon, gas station and where the fuel was purchased. Sometimes the topography and the wind will take your wishful thinking and totally ruin any cost planning. We even try to follow the weather to get a TAIL WIND... but the wind direction changed three times from Raton Pass (New Mexico/Colorado border) to Castle Rock, Colorado! I would be getting 14 mpg and the wind changes to a head wind down to 10.4.

Realistically in the Rocky Mountains, running a heavy or light trailer load... expect 8.5 mpg to 12.0 mpg. This is on the Interstate highways. The 5.7L engine gets BETTER gas mileage than the 4.7L engine. I have owned both. I know. Disagree all you want... I have every cent and gallon logged. Stop by and bore yourself to death to look the log books over. I am getting 10% to 20% LESS miles per gallon with the 25 footer than the 2006 23 footer, if that makes anyone feel better. It is noticeable! The 25 is tugging on the throttle and mpg every time you start rolling away from the gasoline station.

Look at it this way. You put fuel into the tank. Your exhaust is feeding the trees and plants. If you want maximum mileage. Sell the Airstream and go back to sleeping on the ground in a tent. Me... the mileage sucks towing a trailer. Even though I know how to mange all of the variables like a frugal banker loaning money on a depreciating investment, when towing, no matter your tow vehicle, color of the finish, diesel or gas powered, do your best to maintain some dignity. When that fails as well... just don't let the speedometer get below 55 miles per hour. Sell the truck. Sell the trailer. You have become a menace on the highway and dangerous to those driving cars that barely fit two people and a back pack.

Pulling anything behind your vehicle is making a deal with the Petroleum Companies. If they provide the quality gasoline/diesel while you are on the road... be thankful they still accept "money" in this transaction. They could be asking for your jewelry, watch and any silver or gold coins in your possession.

... and I made $14.00 playing Craps at the Sandia Casino in Albuquerque. Enough to get me far enough away from their Craps Table! Enjoy your Airstream and if our paths cross... we now have plenty to talk about!

[reelfastgreg]

thanks Ray that sounds more 'typical' than some of the reports here. my neighbor tows a 30' AS with a 2 wheel drive extended cab Tundra. two trips from WA state to Maine in the last couple of years netted him 9-10 mpg as an overall average with slightly better mileage running down hill. he is not a speed demon and is pretty light on the pedal. i also trust his numbers.

[Wayne Clamp]

I have (had) the 5.7 tundra, 2012. Around town 12-13 mpg. Highway 15-16. Pulling trailer below 55 mph 10, 65-70 - 8 mpg. Pulling 27 FB International ONYX. Braking inadequate unless you want the use the trailer brakes continually. In my opinion too light of vehicle as a pull vehicle, pretty much a good pull vehicle for a small utility trailer. Once I hooked a 20 ft utility trailer with a 5,000 pound tractor on it. At that time I had not installed a brake module. Needless to say, the next day I put one on. Thus final results, i traded it off for a 2015 Ram with a Cummings.

[KJRitchie]

If the trailer brakes are adjusted correctly via the controller why would the weight of the tow vehicle matter? If the trailer is not braking sufficiently then the tow vehicle must stop more of the combined weight then I can see the advantage of a larger, heavier tow vehicle.

There are plenty of examples of CanAm towing Airstreams with smaller vehicles

Kelvin

[Wayne Clamp]

The post bposted again below is what I actually got as described. Me thinks anyone saying they are getting the mileage they are alledging are "pulling your leg" somewhat.

I have (had) the 5.7 tundra, 2012. Around town 12-13 mpg. Highway 15-16. Pulling trailer below 55 mph 10, 65-70 - 8 mpg. Pulling 27 FB International ONYX. Braking inadequate unless you want the use the trailer brakes continually. In my opinion too light of vehicle as a pull vehicle, pretty much a good pull vehicle for a small utility trailer. Once I hooked a 20 ft utility trailer with a 5,000 pound tractor on it. At that time I had not installed a brake module. Needless to say, the next day I put one on. Thus final results, i traded it off for a 2015 Ram with a Cummings.

[OldVwHunters]

Just back from a trip up the Superior North Shore, for the Grand Marais MN art festival. It was a quick 1,480 mile 3 day excursion with just the Wife, dog, and I, and no trailer. Average miles per gallon for the entire trip ended up being 17.75 mpg, everything from interstate to just kicking around the backroads. All hand figured, as we don't have the fancy on board fuel economy figurer gizmo. Best tank was 19.1 mpg, a combination of 74 mph up the interstate, and 55-65 mph up highway 61 blessed with a decent tail wind. Worst tank was 15.58 driving into a strong wind all afternoon at 75-80 mph with everyone tired, and anxious to get back home. All tanks purchased were 87 octane. Truck has the 5.7 automatic, with the aFe cold air intake, a Corsa sport exhaust system, and nitrogen filled tires. Please don't ask if the added junk helps the fuel economy, it was all on there when I bought the truck so I have absolutely no idea.

[Not Done]

2007 Tundra Crewmax 4X4 5.7L with 124,000.

Empty (not towing) I-5 at 65 MPH from Marysville WA to Olympia WA (100 miles) 18.9 MPG according to the factory installed driving computer. Same trip I-5 at 75 MPH Olympia to Portland (100 miles) 17.4 MPG.

Towing 7,200 lb 31' AS I get about 11.3 MPG if my speed is a bit less than other traffic (I'm not tapping the brakes as much). Its about 10.4 if I travel at the same speed as traffic. This is for flat driving. Mountain passes have a way of changing the MPGs'.

My truck brakes about the same as when I'm towing or not towing. I rarely touch the brakes down the I-90 pass as the transmission does nearly all of the work.

[KJRitchie]

On my trip from Missouri to Utah and back about a month ago I had a worse of 9.9mpg and best of 13.4mpg. I would hand calculate every time I filled up. I tow about 60mph with Tow Haul on and manually shift from/to 5th gear when hitting hills.

Best mpg leg, 13,4, was between Gallup and Flagstaff on I40. Wind light, some hills, AC on 50%
Worse mpg leg, 9.9 between Hays, KS and Salina, KS, hot and windy, AC on.

Most miles on one tank 250mi, from Jacobs Lake to North Rim, back through Jacobs Lake, AZ to Zion (didn't use the truck in Zion) then back out to Cedar City, UT. 21 gallons to fill.

Kelvin