Tundra Towing

Slow Poke · 10-02-2022, 10:10 AM

I'll soon be going full-time in a 21C. I'm looking at getting a 2019 or 2020 Tundra SR5 4x4 or a TRD as a tow vehicle. My concern is the 10 mpg while towing. Is this similar to other trucks in this class? I looked at a Tacoma but milage is about the same with less power y y. What are your experiences or thoughts?

Rockhead · 10-02-2022, 10:12 AM

I get 12 mph towing with our 2017 Silverado 5.3 4x4

WillyB · 10-02-2022, 10:31 AM

My friend pulls a Cruise Lite, overall length 24 feet'ish and 4300 lbs'ish dry, with a 2020 F150 3.5 EB with 3.55 gears. He said on this last trip from St. Louis/New Mexico/Colorado and back through Kansas with 3 in the truck he averaged a smidge over 11 MPG. He said into a strong wind about 9, long uphill sections about 10 and flat with the wind to his back about 13.

He tends to be a slowpoke.

Owning a 2016 F150 EB with 3.55 gears, not towing, I know I can get anywhere between 19 MPG to 25 MPG depending on my speed. 70 MPH - 19 MPG, 65 MPH - 22 MPG and 60 MPH - 25 MPG

Hope that helps.

Vermilye · 10-02-2022, 10:37 AM

I average 12MPG on the interstates @ 63MPH towing a 21C loaded to 4800 pounds with a 2018 F150 3.5EB. Did a 400 mile trip in Canada at 50MPH and averaged 14MPG...

cpaharley2008 · 10-02-2022, 11:02 AM

I get 12 mpg, towing or not with my Ram Hemi......

WanderBred · 10-02-2022, 02:12 PM

2021 Tundra here, 12 mpg towing the 5.0.

brroberts · 10-02-2022, 02:12 PM

15 to 15.5 mpg with my Ranger except with heavy wind / mountains. Then 13 mpg.

WillyB · 10-02-2022, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brroberts

15 to 15.5 mpg with my Ranger except with heavy wind / mountains. Then 13 mpg.

Does that have the 2.7 Ecoboost?

Jake930 · 10-02-2022, 03:34 PM

Got a 2018 Tundra SR , 8 ft bed, 4x4, towing a 2016 21c loaded to 4300 lbs. going back and forth to AZ, I would get between 12 and 13.5 at 63mph on interstates, 12 on state roads, 9.5 To 10 in the hills/ head winds. I think full size 1/2 ton gas trucks all get close to the same.

brroberts · 10-02-2022, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillyB

Does that have the 2.7 Ecoboost?

Ranger has 2.3EB

Ooshkaboo · 10-02-2022, 07:56 PM

2021 Tundra, I like the truck, dependability and the price wasn’t so bad compared to many others.

This was two years ago September 3, now I don’t bother keeping track of mileage.

Doug2000 · 10-03-2022, 01:52 AM

2017 Tundra 5.7L pulling a 2020 Escape 19. I get 11 to 12 MPG. Pretty horrible but we got a stellar deal on the truck before prices exploded 2 years ago so getting 3 MPG better isn't worth spending $50k.

I think in the long run the Tundras cost of ownership will be lower than a more efficient turbo truck.

Scambo1 · 10-12-2022, 11:25 AM

I have a 2021 tundra TRD 5.7 and I tow my 5.0 with it. I get 13.8 mpg without the camper and 13.8 with the camper.

cpaharley2008 · 10-12-2022, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scambo1

I have a 2021 tundra TRD 5.7 and I tow my 5.0 with it. I get 13.8 mpg without the camper and 13.8 with the camper.

You are doing better than me, with the Ram Hemi, I get 12 mpg, towing or not..

rjbny · 10-12-2022, 12:10 PM

We got 12-13 MPG with our 2020 Tundra and E19.

lostskier · 10-12-2022, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow Poke

I'll soon be going full-time in a 21C. I'm looking at getting a 2019 or 2020 Tundra SR5 4x4 or a TRD as a tow vehicle. My concern is the 10 mpg while towing. Is this similar to other trucks in this class? I looked at a Tacoma but milage is about the same with less power y y. What are your experiences or thoughts?

I get 12-12.5 towing my E19 with a 2017 Tundra SR5 4x4 (145,000 miles and just get back from Alaska). Had a Tacoma pulling my R-Pod, no power and cruise control was inoperable. The Tacoma, got 10-11 mph pulling the R-Pod. I assume due to not as much horsepower available and the high RPMs.

rjbny · 10-12-2022, 12:41 PM

We've been using a Transit this year with V6 Ecoboost and only getting around 11 mpg over first 400 miles. Without the E19 about 17.5 mpg in the Transit.

Our 2012 Highlander was 12-13 with the E19 so the Tundra wasn't much different when towing.

sofmerc · 10-12-2022, 03:53 PM

who cares what fuel mileage is?... If that is a deal breaker so be it

Little Richie · 10-12-2022, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slow Poke

I'll soon be going full-time in a 21C. I'm looking at getting a 2019 or 2020 Tundra SR5 4x4 or a TRD as a tow vehicle. My concern is the 10 mpg while towing. Is this similar to other trucks in this class? I looked at a Tacoma but milage is about the same with less power y y. What are your experiences or thoughts?

I have towed a small Camp Lite with both an F150 and a Honda Pilot. There was not much difference in the mileage. In my case I note that the faster I went the worst the mileage— it’s all about drag. I started driving with the Honda Pilot, but switch to the F150 - not because a better mileage, but because the F150 had a really big gas tank, which meant that they had fewer stops.

I know tow a TA 5.0 with an F250 (there was not sufficient payload in the F150, which had the same payload as a Honda pilot.) It is still all about speed and drag. The F250 actually does really well - sometimes. (It all depends on hills, wind, speed etc.) II has a very different torque curve than the F150 eco-boost. (I should note that eco-boost is a misnomer. It is either eco or boost, but not both. The F150 will give you a very rapidly rising torque curve at the cost of a lot of gasoline. The 250 on the other hand, has a much slower rising torque curve and seems to provide a lot of torque for less gasoline in a steady state.

In the end, you’re just going to burn gasoline, more gasoline than you used to. It is the cost of pulling a trailer. The best you can do is to drive at a consistent, moderate speed.

The relevant question to ask,might not focus on the mileage when towing. It all depends on how often you’re towing versus just driving around, be it at home or on vacation. The F250 is a great truck for hauling and is OK for driving around. The F150 is OK for hauling in most cases, if the payload is appropriately matched. However, the F 150 is a fantastic “car”. What I’m trying to say is; also look at how the truck handles drives etc. when it is not hauling because you may well spend most of your time just driving around. That could save a lot of money if you get better mileage just driving around versus hauling.

The mileage is the least of your worries. Is it fun to drive when hauling? Is it safe to drive when hauling? Is it fun to drive when not hauling. Is it safe to drive when not hauling? Enjoy.

Randy in Maine · 10-12-2022, 06:50 PM

I am towing my 21NE with my 2002 Tundra TRD (4.7L 245 HP 4 speed auto pulling with the OD locked out and 3.91 gears) with now 210K on it with really no issues. I get about 16 or 17 empty driving around town and about 10-12.5 pulling. It really depends on how hard you are asking it to work. It works pretty hard pulling up a long steep grade but always gets there. Quite a comfy ride all in all.

As they say, "Sometimes you have to dance with whoever brought you." Works for me.

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