7.5 MPG Towing Mini Lite with Toyota Sequoia

[45RPM]

I cannot find the specific tow capacity on our Sequoia but in searching I find 7900# on the low end and 10,000# max. The 2509S Mini Lite we tow is 5170# empty from the factory with a 1624# payload capacity totaling (max) 6694# which is well below the towing capacity. Still, 7.5 MPG seems quite low. I was travelling at 62-65 MPH on flat highways and having to stop for gas every 2 hours!

I am thinking of selling the Sequoia and getting a Ford F150 w/EcoBoost 6 cyl. I've heard they will get 10-11 MPG while towing.

If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be happy to hear 'em.

-Rich

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by 45RPM

I cannot find the specific tow capacity on our Sequoia but in searching I find 7900# on the low end and 10,000# max. The 2509S Mini Lite we tow is 5170# empty from the factory with a 1624# payload capacity totaling (max) 6694# which is well below the towing capacity. Still, 7.5 MPG seems quite low. I was travelling at 62-65 MPH on flat highways and having to stop for gas every 2 hours!

I am thinking of selling the Sequoia and getting a Ford F150 w/EcoBoost 6 cyl. I've heard they will get 10-11 MPG while towing.

If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be happy to hear 'em.

-Rich

Yep time to look for a pick up Your vehicle can maybe tow the weight but then again you may not have proper gearing to handle and get good mileage, Later RJD

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by 45RPM

I cannot find the specific tow capacity on our Sequoia but in searching I find 7900# on the low end and 10,000# max. The 2509S Mini Lite we tow is 5170# empty from the factory with a 1624# payload capacity totaling (max) 6694# which is well below the towing capacity. Still, 7.5 MPG seems quite low. I was travelling at 62-65 MPH on flat highways and having to stop for gas every 2 hours!

I am thinking of selling the Sequoia and getting a Ford F150 w/EcoBoost 6 cyl. I've heard they will get 10-11 MPG while towing.

If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be happy to hear 'em.

-Rich

I use to average 8-10 mpg with my 2013 1500 Silverado V8 5.3. Towing about 7000 lbs and 28' of TT.

[HangDiver]

An F150 with a 3.5L EB and you won't know that your Mini Lite is even back there. I tow a smaller, lighter Micro Lite (4,000lbs fully loaded) and get between 11 - 15mpg depending on the wind with my F150 5.0L V8.

Be advised that higher level trim packages on a F150 eat up payload capacity quickly.

[dustman_stx]

How far have you towed and what was the wind speed and direction? With no wind, at 65 my 18 F150 3.5L EB MaxTow SCrew 4x4 will get close to 10. With a heavy head wind- which it seems I get almost every single time we tow- it drops to 7-8 depending on wind speed. These numbers don't change much between my 5K TT and my 9.5K TT- it's more about wind resistance than weight.

[Wifshowfur]

Gas engines use much fuel when towing. What is funny is some lighter trailers cause the TV to get less milage. I had a 2000 lb lighter camper before I bought my current one. Same exact loading and towing conditions and same route I got .5 mpg more with my Wildwood. All that I can figure is the frontal aerodynamics is much better on my new one. With my previous truck (2007 1500hd 4x4 chevy 6.0 gas) I got anywhere from 6.5-8mpg depending on wind and hills. Your gas milage sounds about right to me.

[rockfordroo]

Wind drag is a bigger issue than weight on gas mileage. My Silverado 1500 5.3 and my Silverado 2500HD 6.0 both got/get about 10mpg with my Mini Lite.

[IsleDog]

I have a similar size trailer (17RP 5500lbs max) and a 2009 F150 3v 5.4L max tow, crew cab, 6.5 box, 3.73 gearing. worst i got was 9 mpg and best is 14. average is 12. all towing is at 60 mph or below.

your gearing is going to be the killer here. but your mileage sounds about right.

[Wifshowfur]

Originally Posted by IsleDog

I have a similar size trailer (17RP) and a 2009 F150 3v 5.4L max tow, crew cab, 6.5 box, 3.73 gearing. worst i got was 9 mpg and best is 14. average is 12. all towing is at 60 mph or below.

That is really good! Pulled my previous trailer from SC to Florida with a 2010 truck just like yours. Got about 10mpg.

[67L48]

My research suggests that bigger platforms will give you a better towing experience, but you'll always be in that 7-10 mpg range when towing trailer. SUV, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton diesel ... 7-11 mpg.

Yes, I'm sure there's a person towing 97,000 lbs up 19% grades and getting 37 mpg. But, on average, it seems to me that fuel economy isn't an outcome of a more capable TV. Safety, comfort, ease, speeds, stability, and a host of other things might be benefits ... fuel economy is relatively flat.

Good luck.

[elchilero53]

Originally Posted by 45RPM

I cannot find the specific tow capacity on our Sequoia but in searching I find 7900# on the low end and 10,000# max. The 2509S Mini Lite we tow is 5170# empty from the factory with a 1624# payload capacity totaling (max) 6694# which is well below the towing capacity. Still, 7.5 MPG seems quite low. I was travelling at 62-65 MPH on flat highways and having to stop for gas every 2 hours!

I am thinking of selling the Sequoia and getting a Ford F150 w/EcoBoost 6 cyl. I've heard they will get 10-11 MPG while towing.

If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be happy to hear 'em.

-Rich

For your setup your mileage sounds about right at the speed you are driving. You are at the limit of your capacity, though. As for having to stop every 2 hours for fuel: I consider that pretty typical. We start looking for fuel when we get to 1/2 tank, stop, stretch, grab something to drink and head down the road again.

An F-150 would be a good TV upgrade.

[Wifshowfur]

Some things I do to conserve fuel; drive <65mph, turn off tow mode on long stretches of flat road(stays in higher gears more), Dont start with your foot on the floor, feather the throttle down. Dont forget to turn tow mode back on for hills and in town. These thing arent miracle working ideas but on a long trip will save you a few $s.

[CincyGus]

Diesel will get better mileage but you pay more per gallon so balances out. I get about 12 pulling 9000 lbs/33' of trailer. If you think you might upgrade to a bigger trailer down the road, might be worth considering buying now for the fuel benefit.

[IsleDog]

Originally Posted by Wifshowfur

That is really good! Pulled my previous trailer from SC to Florida with a 2010 truck just like yours. Got about 10mpg.

I try to baby this thing! speed is a HUGE factor when towing. see the link below for more info. frontal area on a trailer is a mitigating factor as well. not towing i can get 20+ mpg on the highway. 600+ miles on a tank (36 gallons not towing) is so nice!

Mpg For Speed - Fuel Efficiency Vs. Speed

[dbledan]

It comes down to wind and speed you want to travel for me. On my 16 F150 EB with 3.55 gearing. I got as low as 5 with a strong headwind (35+) and as high as 10 with a tailwind towing at 70. Also slowing down from 70 to 60 will give you a 1-2mpg boost. Even with the 32gal tank I needed to stop every hour and a half at 5mpg. My TT is very tall, flat front, and about 7klbs loaded.

I also tow a smaller box trailer that is much lower profile than the TT but weighs in under 5klbs and I am between 9 and 11 MPG, but the tires there are not rated over 65mph so I tow it 60.

Don't think a truck change will make a big MPG difference but if you want one by all means go for it. I find we need to stop that often anyway. If I were worried about milage I would not have bought the trailer.

If you don't like to stop get the 32gal tank as it is optional equipment.

Best of luck.

[Bobaloo]

I get between 11 and 12 all the time except when we are in the mountains in my Silverado 5.3

[HangDiver]

Originally Posted by dbledan

If you don't like to stop get the 32gal tank as it is optional equipment.

Best of luck.

I think you mean the 36 gallon tank.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by 67L48

My research suggests that bigger platforms will give you a better towing experience, but you'll always be in that 7-10 mpg range when towing trailer. SUV, 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 1 ton diesel ... 7-11 mpg.

Yes, I'm sure there's a person towing 97,000 lbs up 19% grades and getting 37 mpg. But, on average, it seems to me that fuel economy isn't an outcome of a more capable TV. Safety, comfort, ease, speeds, stability, and a host of other things might be benefits ... fuel economy is relatively flat.

Good luck.

My 3/4 GMC 2500 Duramax averages around 14.5 mpg with my best ever over a 200 mile run, was 16 mpg max. Pulling 38' Cherokee around 9000lbs.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82

My 3/4 GMC 2500 Duramax averages around 14.5 mpg with my best ever over a 200 mile run, was 16 mpg max. Pulling 38' Cherokee around 9000lbs.

Deleted, tuned and driving for max mileage-maybe.........

[RACarvalho]

My F150 towing our previous Roo 23IKSS would do 10mpg.
With the current camper, it makes between 8.5 to 9.2mpg.
So depending on how much you tow, the change to a truck may not be worth if its only for the better mpg.

I do have the 3.73 rear diff.