thoughts on full size

[Grassland]

What's real world fuel economy on a Tacoma or 4Runner or Gas Colorado 4x4 when loaded up with gear and people?

I hear the gas price argument.
It's been over $1 per LITER for regular here for many years. $1.05-1.25 typically and one year it was $1.30+ for most of summer.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

I bought my first new truck in 1977 and have owned many since, both 1/2 tons and 3/4 tons and i have generally found it is easy to overload them If you haul a camper. I have weighed them on the scale and usually found the weight on the front axle is at or has exceeded its gvwr. I agree if only hauling 500lbs you don‘t need a truck but even a light weight fourwheeler camper by the time you add gear and a passenger you can far exceed what a 1/2 ton is rated at.

I tow a 26' travel trailer and with my wife, daughter, groceries, and everything else we are under my F150s GVW... It's never been a concern.

Also...todays 1/2 tons haul what yesterdays 3/4 tons were rated for ;-)

 

[Deleted member 9101]

What's real world fuel economy on a Tacoma or 4Runner or Gas Colorado 4x4 when loaded up with gear and people?

Probably less than a 1/2 ton hauling the same gear and people..haha.

 

[nater]

Probably less than a 1/2 ton hauling the same gear and people..haha.

My fj got 13mpg... my power wagon gets 15mpg. And my fj recommends a higher grade gas

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It seems to be the way of future a 3 ton truck to tow a 1/2 ton. ha ha
I am not concerned about towing.

I am one of those guys who just likes diesel. I think from the production of the fuel to the engine it is a better system, just me.
The reason I started thinking about a full size again, was the cash and the space.

this is not an exact comparison, I know that.
let's just use a rough figure avg. between the 2 trucks specs.

Take a new Chevy ZR2,or Ranger

price 35-45k.

wheelbase: 129
length :212
width: 75
ground clearance: 9

you get 2 seats upfront and 2 jump seats in the back that my 90lb dog, will hate me for. I use this model , so I can get 6ft bed.

Lets look at ford a few yr.old f250
wheelbase:137-142
length 227-232
width :79
ground clearance: 9

In the F250, you get a bench seat. Easy to sit, 2-3 adults or 2 adults and one big dog, manual locking hubs.
I know the f250 is bigger, but not by much. I am sure the approach, departure , & breakover are way worse.

I am not saying that one is better than another. They each have the pros/cons.
As i have been looking at newer trucks, this just happened to cross my mind. I figured i would put it out there. I think the answer is the midsize truck with a bench seat ha ha

'250 is quite a bit bigger than a midsize.

But yeah, I am in the same camp.

I don't think Ram is much bigger than a F-250 but they can be had cheaper. Basically Cummins 2500 for F-250 gas price. And a Tradesman Cummins 2500 is about the same price as a comparable XLT F-150. Base model 4 door crew cab 3/4 tons are easier to find than base model crew cab half tons. Not hard to find on the used market with cattle catcher bumper/grille guards and flatbeds either (to get rid of the stupid high bedsides)

I would prefer Ford but they have been spiting me by consistently making the Super Duty uglier and uglier since 2007. Maybe buy a wreck and put a '02 nose on it?

I really really wanted a Ranger ever since Ford flew me to Detroit for the unveiling. Until we stuck an infant car seat in the back of my wife's Edge and I drove it for a month anyway. Anything in the back and my knees are on the dash. Midsize cab is about the same inside. Not sure I want that.

I have driven a F-150 for 15 years, the newer ones do nothing for me. If I am going to drive a huge truck I can't hardly see out of I might as well get one with a real front axle, lockouts/live front axle and a 4wd lever coming out of the rubber floor.

This week anyway, I flip flop around a lot on this... I have learned a lot about different trucks though.

What's real world fuel economy on a Tacoma or 4Runner or Gas Colorado 4x4 when loaded up with gear and people?

I hear the gas price argument.
It's been over $1 per LITER for regular here for many years. $1.05-1.25 typically and one year it was $1.30+ for most of summer.

I doubt all that awesome. I am on a FB group from when I was on a Tacoma kick, every once in awhile someone will pipe up they don't like something like 17mpg unloaded and everybody will beat them down saying if they wanted MPG they shouldn't have gotten a truck. And I sit back and chuckle because my 18 year old 180k mile fullsize with the biggest possible V8 on 32" MT's... gets 17mpg at 70mph.

 

[jadmt]

I tow a 26' travel trailer and with my wife, daughter, groceries, and everything else we are under my F150s GVW... It's never been a concern.

Also...todays 1/2 tons haul what yesterdays 3/4 tons were rated for ;-)

looking at Ford's website the load capacity for a new F150 is 1125-2300 depending on which configuration. a Fourwheeler camper's wet weight is listed at over 1800lbs. Figure 350lb me and my wife, if I bring the kids another 300lbs and another 50lb for the dog, 2 bikes about 60lbs, throw some water craft in and does not leave a lot of extra if any. For you a 1/2 ton makes perfect sense for me not so much. You are probably wise and have weighed everything but I see people that believe that the weight listed on their camper or trailer is accurate. When you put them on a scale as you well know they actually are heavier than the listed weights. I think 1/2 tons and even smaller are fine for people but I also think 3/4 and 1 tons are fine for others myself included.

 

[BretEdge]

I went from a 2001 Tacoma to a 2007 FJ Cruiser to a 2006 Tundra and now a 2015 F-150 w/ a FWC Raven camper. I'm already planning my next build and it'll be a 3/4 ton with a flatbed and a FWC Hawk flatbed camper. Yes, the Tacoma and the FJ were much better off-road but I'm learning that the big trucks, when properly built up, can go probably 80% or more of the places I'd gone in the smaller rigs, and they do so in significantly more comfort, with the ability to carry much more equipment, over longer distances (much bigger tanks). I'll never go back to a smaller rig. There is most definitely an adjustment period when you go from a small rig to a bigger one. We started on very easy trails and worked up to harder ones when our comfort level dictated that the time was right. I haven't done anything on the extreme end like I did in the FJ but I'm also not interested in that anymore.

 

[mobydick 11]

Well I have two weapons against bad gas mileage . One is my wife's Jeep Renegade. We use that to get the groceries and go out for dinner that kind of stuff. Second I have adopted the view that I am retired and do not need to be in a hurry. So i lock my cruise at the speed limit and sit back and relax . I know some question the need for a heave truck .And maybe for them there is no need .For the fun of it today I measured the distance for the ground to the bottom of the doors or cab same thing,it is 24 inches . That is box stock from the factory . My point is now I can spend my time traveling not working on modifications .

 

[phsycle]

What's real world fuel economy on a Tacoma or 4Runner or Gas Colorado 4x4 when loaded up with gear and people?

I hear the gas price argument.
It's been over $1 per LITER for regular here for many years. $1.05-1.25 typically and one year it was $1.30+ for most of summer.

In my experience, there is essentially ZERO difference in MPG comparing midsize to fullsize (gas engines, anyway). Maybe even a net negative once you start adding on weight.

But going from 1/2 ton to 3/4 or 1 ton, there is 20-30% difference, I would say (except the Tundra. No difference there ). That is significant.

 

[AbleGuy]

For those who dismiss concerns about MPG, it's an insidious thing that can creep up on you.

.....they drive their Subaru more frequently because they don't really NEED the capability of the big truck and the money they save on fuel by driving the small car more than makes up for the lost capabilities of the big rig.)

That’s exactly what we do....and it’s best of both worlds....the Suby as our daily driver and generally for short, urban trips (34mpgs hwy) and then my big beast, the 4WD Chevy 2500 HD, as my doctor might say, “taken when needed.“

Works fine for us.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

looking at Ford's website the load capacity for a new F150 is 1125-2300 depending on which configuration. a Fourwheeler camper's wet weight is listed at over 1800lbs. Figure 350lb me and my wife, if I bring the kids another 300lbs and another 50lb for the dog, 2 bikes about 60lbs, throw some water craft in and does not leave a lot of extra if any. For you a 1/2 ton makes perfect sense for me not so much. You are probably wise and have weighed everything but I see people that believe that the weight listed on their camper or trailer is accurate. When you put them on a scale as you well know they actually are heavier than the listed weights. I think 1/2 tons and even smaller are fine for people but I also think 3/4 and 1 tons are fine for others myself included.

For you..a 3/4 ton makes perferct sense.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

In my experience, there is essentially ZERO difference in MPG comparing midsize to fullsize (gas engines, anyway). Maybe even a net negative once you start adding on weight.

But going from 1/2 ton to 3/4 or 1 ton, there is 20-30% difference, I would say (except the Tundra. No difference there ). That is significant.

My F150 uses less than a Tacoma...lol.

Totally agree with your point about the Tundra. Both of mine got the same as my GMC 2500 gov't vehicle...lol.

 

[billiebob]

If you are going full size, definitely go 3/4 ton. And unless you find a great deal, if you are not towing get the gas engine.

My experience with fuel economy, once loaded up on the highway a 3/4 ton will get as good mileage as any other smaller SUV or pickup. Sure they get better mileage empty, but throw on an RTT, a lift and bigger tires and they all get horrendous gas mileage. A least with a 3/4 ton .... as long as it is not the PowerWagon .... you will not need to worry about over loading it. And keeping it running... if you stay stock... maintenance and tire costs are the same too. Actually 235/85R16 tires are one of the best buys out there and you will get better gas mileage than a lifted Tacoma on 33s.

If economy is important, stick with stock tires. Stick with the base payload package, the heavier packages include lower gearing and are tuned to haul. It sounds like the base 3/4 ton will do it all for you. On tires, I just went from the typical Wrangler on 33s, best of 17mpg, to 7.50R16 pizza cutters, skinny and light but still tall, I now get 22mpg. An instant 95 mile addition to range between gas stops.

Find the best deal on a gas 3/4 ton with a clutch and expect years of trouble free service. As for ride, I prefer the solid feel of a 3/4 ton over the wallowing feel of a 1/2 ton. If it is a Ford it'll ride great. If it is a Dodge.... at least the previous generation... it'll ride like a buckboard.

3/4 tons ride best loaded. 1/2 tons ride best empty.

 

[Deleted member 9101]

Find the best deal on a gas 3/4 ton with a clutch and expect years of trouble free service. As for ride, I prefer the solid feel of a 3/4 ton over the wallowing feel of a 1/2 ton. If it is a Ford it'll ride great. If it is a Dodge.... at least the previous generation... it'll ride like a buckboard.

3/4 tons ride best loaded. 1/2 tons ride best empty.

1. Please correct me if I am wrong,but there hasn't been a stick shift gasser 3/4 ton in quite a few years.

2. I have a 3/4 ton work truck and a 1/2 ton personal truck. There is a drastic difference in the ride quality, turning radius, and visibility.

 

[dman93]

I have driven a 3rd Gen V6 Tacoma for the past 65K miles. Before that I had a 3.4V6 T100, and before that an FZJ80 Land Cruiser and, well, a bunch of vehicles over the last 45 years but never a full size truck. Yesterday I drove my friend’s 2018 F150 with the 5.0 V8 about 20 miles mixed freeway, back roads and town. I was impressed. Far more perceived power/torque than the Taco, and I barely felt it shift. Similar ride and handling and supremely comfortable seats. Yeah, it felt bigger, but over-the-hood visibility actually seemed better. 6.5’ bed seemed cavernous compared to my 5’ Taco. And the cumulative fuel economy was reading 19.4 after about 1000 miles of mixed use (all on pavement), pretty similar to the Taco. He normally runs an FWC and with the camper loaded it’s about 14 mpg. My “size problem” isn’t really about trails, it’s the fact that even the DCSB Tacoma seems cumbersome in town, parking lots etc.