Tacoma 4 banger with Camper mpg

[upcruiser]

Was reading Jonathon's article in the spring OJ about the Tacoma 4 cylinder with the 4 Wheel Camper and the claim was they were getting 20-21mpg with that setup. This seems unbelievable to me. I am in the research stage of a new vehicle and am looking between three very different vehicles to do a slide in camper with. One is getting another 1st gen Tundra and another is a 4 cylinder Tacoma. My questions are is who here has tried a camper on one and what kind of real world mileage are you seeing. I am willing to be patient with the lack of power department if I could get 20mpg. I would have thought a Tundra would have gotten better mileage just due to the torque and ease the motor would have of pulling that load down the road.

My thoughts witht he Taco would be keeping it as simple of a build as possible focussing on not adding too much weight or tires for that matter and maybe go with a regular cab to keep weight down further. Was also thinking previous gen truck vs the newer rig for budget's sake. Sounds like the newer Taco's motor gets a bit better mileage though with the VVT motor.

What do you guys think?

hmm.. guess you can't fix spelling errors in the title d'oh!

 

[tanglefoot]

I don't have any Tacoma experience, but for a more vintage perspective...

I don't drive mine enough for an mpg measurement I'm estimating close to 20 mpg on the highway. It has a heavier camper than a 4-wheel.

Here's my parents' rig. It gets a measured 17-19 mpg on the highway.

Both have 22re 4-cylinders and manual transmissions. Mine feels quite a bit more responsive (and aerodynamic) than the bigger one, so I'd imagine it gets better mileage.

The 22re from the '80s has right around 100 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque....the Tacoma 2.7 has 50% more power output and likely the same or better fuel economy.

I think it's hard to beat small-displacement engines for fuel economy. My parents' motorhome gets the same mileage with the 2.4L as their much lighter and more aerodynamic 4runner with the 3.4L.

 

[RR1]

What mileage are the guys/girls getting with the Tacoma V6 4.0?

 

[bigreen505]

Wow, quite the stable you are building there! No current model experience, but I had a friend who had a last gen 4-cylinder xtracab tacoma with a raised roof cap on the bed. It got about 20 mpg with narrow 30x9.5 BFG MTs. I think that would be doable with a Flippac, but a little harder with a slide-in camper. That truck got crashed into and he replaced it with a 6-cylinder Tacoma, which ran about 18 mpg in stock form.

Gas mileage goes to hell in two ways: One being building the truck with off road bumpers and racks, and the other being driven off road. Driving fast can also kill economy. I can get 19-20 on the Trooper on the highway driving leisurely, but if I have to keep up with Nathan in the D2 I'm down in the 13-16 range.

 

[RR1]

Too bad they don't offer the V6 in the regular cab Tacoma.

 

[JCMatthews]

hmm.. guess you can't fix spelling errors in the title d'oh!

Go into edit post and then select "Go Advanced" and you can fix it.

Also my vote is for the first generation Tundra. A single cab or access cab would be great for two and I am getting 19 hwy driving conservatively with the 4.7. On a few highway trips, and no camper yet.

An access cab Tundra would not be much wider than a Taco so going offroad would not be much different.

 

[upcruiser]

I don't have any Tacoma experience, but for a more vintage perspective...

I don't drive mine enough for an mpg measurement I'm estimating close to 20 mpg on the highway. It has a heavier camper than a 4-wheel.

Here's my parents' rig. It gets a measured 17-19 mpg on the highway.

Both have 22re 4-cylinders and manual transmissions. Mine feels quite a bit more responsive (and aerodynamic) than the bigger one, so I'd imagine it gets better mileage.

The 22re from the '80s has right around 100 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque....the Tacoma 2.7 has 50% more power output and likely the same or better fuel economy.

I think it's hard to beat small-displacement engines for fuel economy. My parents' motorhome gets the same mileage with the 2.4L as their much lighter and more aerodynamic 4runner with the 3.4L.

Wow, love that setup you have, beautiful! Unfortunately where I live, that gen of Yota is long gone, its a bummer. That is encouraging that you are getting that type of mileage with your 22re.

 

[upcruiser]

Wow, quite the stable you are building there! No current model experience, but I had a friend who had a last gen 4-cylinder xtracab tacoma with a raised roof cap on the bed. It got about 20 mpg with narrow 30x9.5 BFG MTs. I think that would be doable with a Flippac, but a little harder with a slide-in camper. That truck got crashed into and he replaced it with a 6-cylinder Tacoma, which ran about 18 mpg in stock form.

Gas mileage goes to hell in two ways: One being building the truck with off road bumpers and racks, and the other being driven off road. Driving fast can also kill economy. I can get 19-20 on the Trooper on the highway driving leisurely, but if I have to keep up with Nathan in the D2 I'm down in the 13-16 range.

I am not planning on keep everything, just the Cruiser and a pickup camper. Use the pickup as a daily driver and use a camper for my big/long trips. I am all about driving leisurely when I am travelling, but I am still finding it kind of hard to believe that the camper in Jonathon's article is retaining basically its stock mpg with a camper..... hmmmm.

 

[upcruiser]

Go into edit post and then select "Go Advanced" and you can fix it.

Also my vote is for the first generation Tundra. A single cab or access cab would be great for two and I am getting 19 hwy driving conservatively with the 4.7. On a few highway trips, and no camper yet.

An access cab Tundra would not be much wider than a Taco so going offroad would not be much different.

Thanks! Someone already beat me to it though, haha. Thanks fairy god-moderator, whomever you are.....

I was getting 19mpg with my Tundra on the highway. From what I hear though is that with a FWC it is more around 15-16. I love the size, power, and ultimate comfort of that platform though. Just was looking to get up to the 20's if at all possible. It is still on the consideration list for sure.

 

[JCMatthews]

Tacoma TDI or CRD?










I know, it was just wishful thinking.:elkgrin:

 

[Lichen]

This was my '97 Tacoma with a 4-cyl. and 5-speed. The camper shell is steel-framed and a bunch of other heavy stuff. I got 20-21 mpg on the freeway and about 16 around town or 4-wheeling. The 4-cyl is fine for everything except long upgrades.

 

[upcruiser]

Nice, what size tires were you running? I am not that concerned about speed too much. Whenever I am travelling I am not in a rush and trying to take in the scenery anyway. I don't have a commute for work either nor even live near a freeway so freeway speed driving is not an issue. Thinking an OME lift and a 235/85 BFG AT would be pretty slick. Wondering if I would need to regear though to keep the setup happy.

 

[Capt. REDBEARD]

I was just going to start a similar thread.......

I am in the market for a truck and MPGs are at the top of my list.

I like the tacos but why would I get a underpowered 2.7/ 4 banger taco and get 20 mpgs - when I can get a cummins with enough torque to pull a house and still get 20+ mpgs?

especially now when the new generations tacos are almost as big as a 2500 ram?

is there something I am missing?
brand loyalty aside [because I have none]- someone talk me into a taco please........

 

[Rando]

I have an '04 Tacoma V6 with a Wildernest camper and roof bars with a solar panel, and I get 21-22mpg combined city/highway (although mostly highway). Fuel economy is certainly one of my priorities, and I drive conservatively and have 235/85 16 tires which seems to help.

 

[bigreen505]

especially now when the new generations tacos are almost as big as a 2500 ram?

is there something I am missing?

I can't talk you into anything, but you might check your numbers. While the Tacomas have grown, they are still quite a bit smaller than a full size truck and not all of us are comfortable taking something that big off road. The Tundras on the other hand ... :cow: