Towing with Tacoma Options

[wndsnd]

I am planing on trying to tow a 914 with my 2010 Tacome 4cyl without towing package. It has a Curtis frame mounted hitch with a 2" ball. I was going to rent a uhaul full auto trailer. I don't want to be pushing the envelope. It will be mostly highway driving. Thanks

[billh1963]

Even with a flat terrain you will be pushing it. I just brought back a 914 parts car on a uhaul trailer from Northern Alabama (close to Chattanooga)...the first 20 miles coming home had a series of steep hills and switchbacks....glad I had my 2006 turbodiesel F-250. I don't think a lesser truck would have made it. The uhaul trailer itself will be a load on a 4 cylinder.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i268.photobucket.com-12871-1329245284.1.jpg)

[Randal]

Even with a flat terrain you will be pushing it. I just brought back a 914 parts car on a uhaul trailer from Northern Alabama (close to Chattanooga)...the first 20 miles coming home had a series of steep hills and switchbacks....glad I had my 2006 turbodiesel F-250. I don't think a lesser truck would have made it. The uhaul trailer itself will be a load on a 4 cylinder.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i268.photobucket.com-12871-1329245284.1.jpg)

F250 Turbo's work great anywhere, you hardly even know there is a trailer back there.

Only negative is the cost of fuel and that is only going to bet worse.

[billh1963]

F250 Turbo's work great anywhere, you hardly even know there is a trailer back there.

Only negative is the cost of fuel and that is only going to bet worse.

Fuel will get worse, for sure. The good thing is I averaged 18 mpg towing the car back home. No gas powered truck will do that! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[grantsfo]

Fuel will get worse, for sure. The good thing is I averaged 18 mpg towing the car back home. No gas powered truck will do that! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

I hear this a lot from diesel owners however I always make 17 to 18 MPG with my smaller displacement gas v8 Chevy and Fords towing on the highway if I keep it at 65 MPH and see upwards of 21 MPG not towing. My little 4.6 liter F150 work truck was mpg champ! My 4.8 Chevy gets pretty darn good mileage for being a crewcab. It takes a trained foot however and need to know how to use momentum to your favor. Part of this is due to lighter weight nature of the chevy and ford work trucks I buy. They dont have many extras run on little skinny tires, sit much lower than HD versions with diesels, etc. Hualling a little sub 4500 lb trailer and car doesnt impact mileage that badly. I always laugh when some guy in huge heavy duty 4x4 diesel pulls up and thinks he is getting better mileage than my little lightweight 2wd small displacement V8 truck.

Im sure if I was hauling a big enclosed unit my mileage would suck! But for lightweight stuff my little V8 is very comptitive mileage wise. And I can use regular gas!

This post has been edited by grantsfo: Mar 14 2012, 01:40 PM

[billh1963]

Fuel will get worse, for sure. The good thing is I averaged 18 mpg towing the car back home. No gas powered truck will do that! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

I hear this a lot from diesel owners however I always make 17 to 18 MPG with my smaller displacement gas v8 Chevy and Fords towing on the highway if I keep it at 65 MPH and see upwards of 21 MPG not towing. My little 4.6 liter F150 work truck was mpg champ! My 4.8 Chevy gets pretty darn good mileage for being a crewcab. It takes a trained foot however and need to know how to use momentum to your favor. Part of this is due to lighter weight nature of the chevy and ford work trucks I buy. They dont have many extras run on little skinny tires, sit much lower than HD versions with diesels, etc. Hualling a little sub 4500 lb trailer and car doesnt impact mileage that badly. I always laugh when some guy in huge heavy duty 4x4 diesel pulls up and thinks he is getting better mileage than my little lightweight 2wd small displacement V8 truck.

Im sure if I was hauling a big enclosed unit my mileage would suck! But for lightweight stuff my little V8 is very comptitive mileage wise. And I can use regular gas!

Nice thought...until I get 18 mpg while towing through the mountains...and pass you and everyone else going up hill!.....which I have done on multiple occasions.

For day to day driving a small engine is great. However, for towing there is no substitute for the torque of a diesel. Also, don't forget that when towing a load my F-250 will outbrake an F-150 all day long. That makes a big difference for my towing comfort.