Tundra guys...we know they are thirsty but what kind of fuel mileage are you getting towing?

[StuckInTheEast]

Wrapping up a 3300 mile trip to and from wyoming for a mostly successful antelope hunt( thats a different story for when I have a real keyboard).
Just for back ground my hunting rig is a 2016 crewmax 5.7l non-flex fuel. It sits on 34.5" tires 18" fuel wheels. Stock gearing c4 front bumper, skid plates a the way back, rock sliders, Dobinson springs with RAS, roof rack, RTT and all aluminum deck Nuthouse bed rack with 20 gal pressurized water tank, 70qt fridge/freezer and 200 Ah of house batteries and solar amongst other bits...long of it short this thing is a tank but rides, drives and handles great for how heavy it is.
Keeping it locked out in 4th and 5th other than down hills my wife and I fully loaded with gear for 2 other folks as well and 3 processed cow elk in tow averaged 11.6mpg round trip on same route to same area of Wyoming ladt year. Alot less back road and 2 track driving that trip.
I didn't think that was too had for a 9k lb 1/2 ton truck.
So this year I took my dad and oldest son out for antelope, same route but pulling 16' all aluminum v-nose enclosed traler with camp gear for a week and pioneer 1000-5 inside as well...I figure about 5k lbs in tow.
We ran 65-75mpg whole way, nasty head/cross wind all through south dakota.
We averaged 7.58mpg. Hand calculated which is surprising close to the dash read out of 7.4mpg.
It may actually be a touch better as thats not accounting for the oversize tires giving lower odometer reading than what was actually traveled.
That being said, it sounds abysmal at face value but not outlandish for what im motivating down the road.
Just curious what you other 2nd Gen 5.7L guys are seeing when towing?
Tire size? Weight in tow? Any gearing changes?

 

[TNHunter18]

I haven’t towed very far but pulling about 4500 lbs in mowers and trailer around town I usually see between 9-10. I don’t have all the weight in aftermarket upgrades so that probably contributes to the lower. Also only on 33 inch tires. Will probably be going to 35s soon though.

I have a 2017 with 5100s on the top setting for reference.

 

[SloppyJ]

My old one would get 12 or so around town and about 8 or 9 hauling my boat. Seems legit. Thats with 35" tires.

 

[Beendare]

A good internet Resource on all of these trucks is "Getty Garage"...he does a towing loop comparing them all. The Fast Lane channel does the same with trucks.

The problem with the new Tundras- I think it's rated the worst engine for reliability with recalls and such. I had the 5.7 and it was bulletproof.


I've had Diesel and gas trucks. The Diesels have an advantage towing by design- they are high torque motors at low RPM.

The truth; All of these new mototrs- Gas and Diesel are designed more for EPA emissions than efficiency and performance. Thats where all of the Climate weinies have taken us.

The new low displacement turbo charged motors can pull a trailer just fine but you can watch your gas gauge move. The Latest Diesels are much better dedicated tow vehicles but nothing will get stellar mileage towing a heavy trailer.

It really comes down to poor mileage with Gas...or dealing with more maintenance on a diesel.