Fuel Mileage Of Cab & Chassis Trucks Over Time

[zero]

Looks like the older 2.2 liter Toyota cab & chassis trucks and RVs with manual transmissions had the best MPGs.

2nd to that is the mid-80s with 2.4 carbed engines and manual transmissions.

All the cab & chassis MPGs are for loaded trucks except for the new 2015 listings except for the 1978 cab & chassis.

Also - all MPGs here are in USA "wine" gallons and not the larger Canadian or UK "Imperial" gallons

1978 Toyota 2.2 gas engine, cab & chassis (empty): 18 MPG-25MPG – 21.5 average

1984 Toyota 2.4 gas carbed engine cab & chassis, 4 speed manual: 15 MPG average

1985 Toyota 2.4 gas carbed engine cab & chassis, 4 speed manual: 16 MPG average
1985 Toyota 2.4 gas carbed engine cab & chassis, auto trans: 14 MPG average

1988 Toyota 2.4 EFI gas engine cab & chassis, auto trans: 12 MPG average
1988 Toyota 2.4 EFI gas engine cab & chassis, man. trans: 14 MPG average

1990 Toyota 3 liter V6 gas cab & chassis: 10-12 MPG average

1992 Toyota 3 liter V6 gas cab & chassis, auto trans: 10 MPG average
1992 Toyota 3 liter V6 gas cab & chassis: 5 speed man.: 11 MPG average
1993 Toyota 3 liter V6 gas cab & chassis, auto trans: 10 MPG average
1993 Toyota 3 liter V6 gas cab & chassis: 5 speed man.: 11 MPG average

New cab & chassis trucks with empty MPG ratings:

2015 Toyota 2.7 EFI gas engine: 17.7 MPG average

2015 Toyota 3 liter turbo-diesel: 24.1 MPG average

2015 Toyota 4 liter V-6 gas: 21 MPG average

2015 Volkswagen Amarok 2 liter turbo-diesel: 26.3 MPG average

2015 Mazda BT-50 2.2 liter turbo-diesel: 26.7 MPG average (25.8-38.5 MPG)

Actual cost of USA driving with gas versus diesel here in Michigan?

1978 with 21.5 MPG gas average driven 200 miles costs $18.41 in gas ($1.98 per gallon)

2015 with 17.7 MPG gas average driven 200 miles costs $22.37 in gas ($1.98 per gallon)

2015 with 24.1 MPG diesel average driven 200 miles costs $22.24 in diesel ($2.68 per gallon)

[linda s]

And that is with no camper on it? My Sunrader only gets 12 mpg if I drive 70mph. At 55 to 60 I get 16 to 17 mpg. When it's freshly tuned I have gotten as much as 19mpg. In 10 years on Toyota motorhome sites I have never heard of such low mileage. Dumb numbers there

Linda S

EPA says the average for an 88 1 ton auto Toyota truck is 20 mpg and that would be a single wheel 1 ton with a bed on it. Do I really believe the dual wheels cost us 8 mpg, nope

[zero]

And that is with no camper on it? My Sunrader only gets 12 mpg if I drive 70mph. At 55 to 60 I get 16 to 17 mpg. When it's freshly tuned I have gotten as much as 19mpg. In 10 years on Toyota motorhome sites I have never heard of such low mileage. Dumb numbers there

Linda S

EPA says the average for an 88 1 ton auto Toyota truck is 20 mpg and that would be a single wheel 1 ton with a bed on it. Do I really believe the dual wheels cost us 8 mpg, nope

I don't know which number or numbers you claim are "dumb." I've met many a Toyota RV owner with a 2.4 engine and fuel mileage 12-13 MPG. Also met a few getting 9-10 MPG and a few getting 15-16 MPG. I also do not believe there is a 21 foot high-roof Sunrader getting an average of 19 MPG on any highway. Once in awhile, at a low altitude, with a wind at your back, coming down a hill, yes. My 1988 Minicruiser gets 13.5 - 15.5 @ 60 MPH with the 2.4 and auto-trans.

[linda s]

18ft Sunrader. All those numbers are dumb. Did you make them up?

Linda S

[zero]

No numbers have the ability to be "dumb." Just the way they might get used.

Accusing me of "making up" all the numbers might fit into that category though.

The loaded cab & chassis specs are USA EPA ratings.

The 2015 cab & chassis specs are from overseas from Toyota spec sheets.

As far as I can tell these are average fuel mileage specs for empty trucks, not loaded like the USA figures are.

[mobilehippo]

I have a 1978 Toyota 2.2 gas 20R engine with manual transmission... I have never achieved that high MPG ever... My average is probably about 12-13 MPG in city/highway. I wish I could get 21.5MPGs....

I just changed the alternator, regulator and battery so I haven't really driven her since then because of winter... Maybe I might achieve more this next season....

[zero]

I have a 1978 Toyota 2.2 gas 20R engine with manual transmission... I have never achieved that high MPG ever... My average is probably about 12-13 MPG in city/highway. I wish I could get 21.5MPGs....

I just changed the alternator, regulator and battery so I haven't really driven her since then because of winter... Maybe I might achieve more this next season....

The 1978 cab & chassis MPG figures were given for an empty truck. Not a loaded truck or motorhome. A best of 25 MPG is in the correct ball-park. My 1985 pickup with a just a four speed (no overdrive) got 23-25 with a 2.4 and a carbed engine on high-way trips pretty consistently and that was at 2400 feet elevation.

My 1978 Chinook with pop-up roof, 5 speed manual trans and 2.2 engine has gotten a high of 18.5 MPG but 16-17 is more of the average for highway driving.

That's with gasoline with 10% ethanol most of the time. I usually have no choice. My figures are in the mountains of New York. I know it will do better when I get it to the flat highways in northern Michigan. My Ford F250 diesel pickup never got better then 14.5 MPG empty in New York. Now that I have it here in Michigan I've gotten up to 17 MPG with it.

[Derek up North]

Perhaps the way 'we' drive in a motorhome is different from the EPA 'drive cycle'. I also don't know if the drive cycle for a C&C would be the same for a car.*

EPA testing procedure through 2007

Two separate fuel economy tests simulate city driving and highway driving: the "city" driving program or Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule or (UDDS) or FTP-72 is defined in 40 C.F.R. 86 App I

and consists of starting with a cold engine and making 23 stops over a period of 31 minutes for an average speed of 20 mph (32 km/h) and with a top speed of 56 mph (90 km/h).

The "highway" program or Highway Fuel Economy Driving Schedule (HWFET) is defined in 40 C.F.R. 600 App I

and uses a warmed-up engine and makes no stops, averaging 48 mph (77 km/h) with a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) over a 10-mile (16 km) distance. The measurements are then adjusted downward by 10% (city) and 22% (highway) to more accurately reflect real-world results. A weight average of city (55%) and highway (45%) fuel economies is used to determine the guzzler tax.^[38][39]

The procedure has been updated to FTP-75, adding a "hot start" cycle which repeats the "cold start" cycle after a 10 minute pause.

Because EPA figures had almost always indicated better efficiency than real-world fuel-efficiency, the EPA has modified the method starting with 2008. Updated estimates are available for vehicles back to the 1985 model year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_economy_in_automobiles#EPA_testing_procedure_through_2007

*EDIT:- Seems the car driving cycle differs from 'others'.

"The EPA Federal Test Procedure, commonly known as FTP-75 for the city driving cycle, are a series of tests defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to measure tailpipe emissions and fuel economy of passenger cars (excluding light trucks and heavy-duty vehicles)."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FTP-75

[zero]

To claim I made up any of these numbers is beyond absurd. (Not you Derek). Note also I never made any claim to their accuracy as applied to someone's motorhome. What they do show is a trend over time. Also the differences in controlled testing between manual trans trucks, auto trans trucks. a small engines versus bigger engines. All data I find useful. I also wonder at times if some people lack the understanding of what the word "average" denotes and connotes.

I also like the ability to see possible gains in same tests. between modern diesels versus gas engines.

I'm going to assume "average" figures for cab & chassis trucks are for "average" uses in USA EPA testing. I'm also going to assume that RV use on a cab & chassis is not "average" use. At least not for me. I don't do much "stop & go" driving in my Toyota RV. The vast majority of my use is highway driving getting from point A to point B.

Now in the case of the Toyota cab & chassis box truck I junked? It spent its entire life making relatively short trips picking up cargo and dropping off cargo. They guy I got it from was the original owner and said he averaged 12-13 MPG with it. 1987 with an auto trans, 2.4 EFI engine, and an aluminum box. He replaced it with a Chevy box truck with a 350 engine and now, doing the same work, he says he's averaging 9-10 MPG.

Some of the info I posted comes from the US EPA. Other info comes from the "Green Vehicle Guide" from the government of Australia. Also from Toyota cab & chassis spec sheets.

I will also note that for my own personal vehicles - I've found EPA figures to be pretty accurate. I also keep life-time fuel-mileage averages for all my vehicles.

[linda s]

Yes I did check and you posted real figures. It is just so far away from the real world mileage posted by thousands of Toyota motorhome owners on these sites for so many years. I can't possibly take those figures as a statement of fact. Maybe just how badly the EPA is at rating mileage. I would have to believe that 6000 people can't figure their mileage, including me. If those were real numbers, after adding the weight of a motorhome on the back the mileage would drop to 8 or less at least for the v6 models. This site would probably not exist. Why buy a Toyota when you could drive a roomy rig with a V10 and get the same mileage. Like I said Dumb

Linda S

My Explorer gets way more than the EPA estimate too.

[darrel]

I ran a average gas mileage of 17.43MPG on my 1984 Dolphin. That was the average over 6 years and 58,ooo miles. Drove at a top speed of 53 MPH except down hills.

[zero]

Well - I obviously talk to different people then you do , Linda. I've been quizzing people about their personal fuel mileage for 40 years. One thing for sure. People in general either lie, fantasize, or mention that "one time" fill-up when they calculated a very high number. Especially with Toyota motorhomes. That's not to say they do not get good mileage compared to other RVs. But some of the claims are just plain silly. Especially the ones I've heard about 21 foot Sunraders averaging 22-28 MPG in California.

As far as the EPA goes? At least for stuff I have a first-hand knowledge of - they've been dead on. Granted I've lived in the mountains at high altitudes most of my life so people who live in flat areas will do better. But the EPA numbers are average predictions.

One example. My father-in-law is a retired Ford engineer. He has kept a log for the past 60 years of every drop of gas he has uses and has lifetime averages for all his vehicles driven mostly in Michigan and Indiana.

His 1995 Ford F150 with a 300 cube six and 4WD has a lifetime average of 14.9 MPG. EPA says 15 MPG; Pretty DAMN close.

His 2010 Ford Escape AWD 2.5 liter four has a lifetime average of 23.5 MPG. EPA puts it at 23 MPG. Still DAMN close.

My 2001 Dodge GrandCaravan 3.3 V6 has an average of 17 MPG. EPA has it at 18 MPG.

My 2001 Chevy Tracker 4WD with 2.5 V6 has an average of 16.5 MPG. EPA has it at 17 MPG.

My 1986 Chevy diesel Blazer with 6.2 has an average of 17 MPG. EPA has it at 17MPG.

My 2001 Subaru Impreza AWD with 2.5 has an average of 20 MPG. EPA has it at 21 MPG.

My 1992 VW Jetta diesel 1.6 has an average of 41 MPG. EPA has it at 33 MPG (they are low on this one)

Here's some random comments I've gotten from small RV owners.

I recently picked up a 21' Class C Toyota-based motorhome. It is a '92 with a 3.0 liter V-6 and overdrive automatic trans. My mileage so far has been 15.5, 17.2, and 15.6 mpg. This is on mostly flat freeways in western Oregon, at around 50 mph.

1976 Toyota Chinook pop-top camper.
20r, 137k miles, comes with new Weber 32/36 and 38mm carbs (38 is currently installed). Runs good but haven't got it tuned perfect yet. 4-speed manual, good tires. Only considering selling because so far, best mileage we've gotten is 17mpg.

I have a 85 Toyota Dolphin RV with the 22r w automatic. It sits on a 1 ton frame and I have rebuilt the read end seals, new 1 7/8 inch exhaust, new gas filter, tune-up and I still only get 13 MPG. This doesn't make sense. I have seen hundreds of ads saying that this motor on the RV frame gets between 15-17 MPG,

We owned a tiny little 1984 Mirage Toyota chassis motor home since new for 24 years so I knew everything about that little thing. 2.4 engine and pop-up roof. 4 speed stick. Pop-up roof. To average 20 mpg on trips we had to limit top speed to 57 mph. Going 65-70 mph didn't buy us any time because of stopping more often for gas. At higher cruising speeds it would get under 15 mpg.

I purchased a 1988 Toyota Odyssey 21 foot motorhome with 22RE automatic. People I bought it from said it got 14-17 MPG, however I get 11 MPG. I had a full tune-up at the dealership and the injectors cleaned, now my mileage is: 11 MPG.
This is frustrating because fuel economy was the principle reason I purchased this motorhome (in addition to reliability).

1984 Lesharo with 3.8 Dodge minivan engine i just drove 180miles at 6000 to 7000 ft in the high desert, and had a 20 to 25 mph crosswind.. my 3.8L Chry conversion got 15.1 mpg at an avg of 65mph, under these conditions (topped up tank before heading into Colorado tomorrow.

1986 Winnebago Phasar (fancy LeSharo). Has 2.2 liter gas engine and auto-trans with OD and lock-up converter. 4400 miles of driving – overall average – 13.6 MPG.

1978 Toyota fixed roof 17 footer. 4 speed trans. This vehicle gets approximately 250 miles per tank (16 Gallon Tank) at
around 16 mpg

1989 Allegro class B+ rv built on a Chevy Astro chassis. 63K miles. All aluminum frame, roof and body. No leaks. 21 feet. Seats 2, sleeps 2. Twin beds, 4 cu ft refrig, wet bath, propane heater, roof ac, pressure water, propane stove, electric hot water heater. 4.3L 6-cylinder engine that get 13-15 mpg

I just purchased a 1986 Lesharo. When I took it on my first trip I was getting anywhere from 14 to 17 MPG. I got less in Minnesota and South Dakota than I did in Wyoming. Everyone I talk to says this thing should be getting 19 to 20 MPG

1986 Astro Allegro, 22 feet, 4.3 liter V6. I got 14.3 mpg from Minnesota to Montana driving at 70-75 MPH all the way back. On the way back from Minnesota I pulled it out of overdrive because the V-6 motor didn't have enough horse power to handle a headwind or any hills with a small grade. It ran great in drive all the way back at 70-75 mph, although the motor was running at a higher RPM I managed 14.5 mpg

1988 Nissan Sunrader. 18 feet. Gas milage ranges from 16-18 MPG. It is a five speed manual tranmission. It has a 3.0 litre V6 engine that has plenty of power to handle the load

1989 Toyota Odessey V-6 motorhome. We averaged about 16-17 mpg throughout the trip, but we weren't in a hurry and I don't beat up my equipment. Don't believe the bs artists that say they get 22-25. They're lying.

2002 Dakota 3.9V6 and carry a Sunlite (Apache) 6.9 foot campe on the back. I had to install a set of SuperSprings to level off the back.
Acceleration to 50 mph is about the same. Gas mileage went from about 19 to 12mpg. If I drive at 55-60 mph, the mileage taint too bad, but get a heavy foot and you swear the needle moves as you drive.

Built on the Dodge Sprinter chassis, a platform with a proven track record in Europe, Winnebago's all-new Class C motorhome was created specifically for the American market. The Itasca Navion uses a Mercedes-Benz 2.7-liter turbocharged I-5 that develops 154 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. For 1500 miles, we put the Itasca Navion through its paces. In steady operation across the Mojave Desert at 75 mph, with the dash A/C on high, we averaged a respectable 14 mpg.

Australia:

Winnebago Freeway Toyota Hilux Diesel 1988. Low mileage (195K). Dual rear wheels. Very economical. Seats 2, sleeps 4. Shower/toilet, 3way fridge, 90L fresh water stainless steel tank, new gas HWS, gas stove top/oven, microwave. A&E awning, lge rear storage box. Well maintained, no rust. Ready to go with many extras. Reluctant sale.
This Motorhome is v. reliable, averages (12L/100k). (19.6 USA MPGs)

[Totem]

In my experience, most mileage reported by toy owners is hwy/fwy en route to an exciting destination at 55-60 mph where as if we assume that a typical EPA tester is being well fed and kept in one of America's cities; his or her government and tax payer sponsored testing would occur while driving in said cities abysmal excuses for roads in rush hour or on the way to a nice $100 expensed lunch that ran 3 hours late resulting in same truck being used to speed hastily back to the office to finish putting in "dumb" numbers into manuals so as to raise the CAFE requirements on the offenders' fleet sheets...

Also there is an effect known today as the "ATU" effect aka "about to upgrade" effect whereby a toy home owner embellishes on his MPG stats while in the process of selling off the home in an attempt to go larger.

[Skydancer2992]

The car magazines used to mention that car manufacturers would have the tires shaved down, removing most of the tread, before a car was submitted to EPA for testing. My own cars do seem to get better gas mileage as I let the tires go down to almost no tread before replacement, followed by a drop after replacement.

My most common gas mileage is 15 mpg at 55 mph. This was confirmed last week. With a strong tailwind on the return trip, I was getting 17.3 mpg at 65 mph. On the outbound on I40, going into the wind gave me 12 mpg at 70 mph. However, on the state highways in Arkansas, consistently 15 at 55.

From my flying days and ship days, each vehicle had a chart showing fuel consumption at different speeds, resembling a bell curve. Go too slow and your systems are not at optimum efficiencies, go too fast and friction becomes dominant. At the peak of the curve is the maximum efficiency.

My hybrid Civic seams to reach peak efficiency around 48 mph at about 50 mpg.

A Toyhome is likely to be slightly less due to the aerodynamics but not much depending on where overdrive gear is for the V6 or 3rd gear for the 22R/RE.

[linda s]

A pop top Mirage? No one ever told you they had a pop top Mirage.

Linda S

[RVdaytrader]

My 1989 sea breeze with 3.0 averages 12-13 mpg at 50-55...the 3.0 is not known for good mileage!

[Derek up North]

How Vehicles Are Tested

Fuel economy is measured under controlled conditions in a laboratory using a standardized test procedure specified by federal law. Manufacturers test their own vehicles—usually pre-production prototypes—and report the results to EPA. EPA reviews the results and confirms about 10-15 percent of them through their own tests at the National Vehicles and Fuel Emissions Laboratory.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml

[Totem]

"For vehicles using carbon-based fuels (e.g., gasoline, diesel, natural gas, etc.), a hose is connected to the tailpipe to collect the engine exhaust during the tests.

The carbon in the exhaust is measured to calculate the amount of fuel burned during the test. This is more accurate than using a fuel gauge."

LOL you have got to be kidding me. Using that or a fuel gauge is not what I would call accurate... How much fuel was in the tank and whats left when you get there or have to stop is what I would call accurate. These tests are simply to count carbon emissions while buying expensive Ann Arbor Michigan lunches. I wonder, do they prefer Zingerman's or Maize and Blue corned beef... that could mean the difference between 12 - 17 MPG!

[Derek up North]

I'm afraid your methodology doesn't remove the greatest variably: the nut behind the wheel.

[Derek up North]

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorCompareSideBySide.jsp?column=1&id=7443

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorCompareSideBySide.jsp?column=1&id=7119

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorCompareSideBySide.jsp?column=1&id=2889

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/calculatorCompareSideBySide.jsp?column=1&id=2512

[zero]

Well - at least I can say, for sure what I've gotten for fuel mileage with my rigs. My 1988 Minicruiser with a 2.4 EFI engine, auto trans and a 4.10 rear-axle ratio during these trips ( I changed it this winter).

Overall average this past year of 14.11 MPG.

14.11 MPG average so far

Trip our place in central NY (near Oneonta) from Michigan May 22, 2014-05-23

107 miles 7.4 gallons 14.45 MPG

106.7 miles 7.5 gallons 14.45 MPG

85.7 miles 5.9 gallons 14.52 MPG

104.8 miles 7.5 gallons 13.9 MPG

118.5 miles 7.7 gallons 15.3 MPG

95.2 miles 6.3 gallons 15.1 MPG

125.5 miles 9 gallons 13.9 MPG

118.3 miles 7.49 gallons 15.7 MPG

130.1 miles 9 gallons 14.45 (worse hill climbs and 60-65 MPH)

Sept 14, 2014 got the Minicruiser back from the shop in Salamanca, NY where I’d left it after a break-down. Had a valve job, new head gasket, fuel filter, and water pump.

Tested four tanks of gas at around 60 MPH and wind.

Got 12 MPG, 13.3 MPG, 12.3 MPG, and 14.1 MPG heading back to Michigan.

Took a trip to the Upper Peninsua in October. 2014. Lots of wind going up. Got 13.2 and 13.5 MPG going up, and got 13.97 and 14.89 MPG coming back.

[Totem]

Wind is a great point; not much of that on the dyno. no hills either.

[Derek up North]

'Virtual' wind and hills can be 'added' on a rolling road.

I've no idea how they figure the consumption for a C&C. No box? Or something as big as an Odyssey? Loaded to 6000lb GVWR or overloaded by 1000lb as ours sometimes are?

[Totem]

dyno's are great for testing engineering; that's about it. the dyno says the DPF and other exhaust gizmos reduce carbon and therefor increase MPG. Getting in a new turbo diesel and trying to see if it goes as far as your old 2000 model year turbo diesel will quickly say otherwise.

They probably load the dyno with speed limit speeds like 70-75 MPH also; when in reality we would never get or try that.

[mobilehippo]

How big is your gas tank? Seems like you have fill up pretty frequently. One of the downsides of the toyota RVs. I though usually fill up around 10-12 gallons when I have to stop. My tank is 16.5 I believe.

Well - at least I can say, for sure what I've gotten for fuel mileage with my rigs. My 1988 Minicruiser with a 2.4 EFI engine, auto trans and a 4.10 rear-axle ratio during these trips ( I changed it this winter).

Overall average this past year of 14.11 MPG.

14.11 MPG average so far

Trip our place in central NY (near Oneonta) from Michigan May 22, 2014-05-23

107 miles 7.4 gallons 14.45 MPG

106.7 miles 7.5 gallons 14.45 MPG

85.7 miles 5.9 gallons 14.52 MPG

104.8 miles 7.5 gallons 13.9 MPG

118.5 miles 7.7 gallons 15.3 MPG

95.2 miles 6.3 gallons 15.1 MPG

125.5 miles 9 gallons 13.9 MPG

118.3 miles 7.49 gallons 15.7 MPG

130.1 miles 9 gallons 14.45 (worse hill climbs and 60-65 MPH)

Sept 14, 2014 got the Minicruiser back from the shop in Salamanca, NY where I’d left it after a break-down. Had a valve job, new head gasket, fuel filter, and water pump.

Tested four tanks of gas at around 60 MPH and wind.

Got 12 MPG, 13.3 MPG, 12.3 MPG, and 14.1 MPG heading back to Michigan.

Took a trip to the Upper Peninsua in October. 2014. Lots of wind going up. Got 13.2 and 13.5 MPG going up, and got 13.97 and 14.89 MPG coming back.

[Derek up North]

Most of the Toyota motorhomes from the 80s & 90s will have a 17.2 US gallon tank (standard Toyota for LWB trucks). I don't think Toyota offered a larger tank. Thin on the ground, I think anything else was aftermarket.

[linda s]

So your own experience with a Toyota motorhome shows that the first mileage ratings you posted from the EPA are wrong. We are in agreement.

Linda S

[shibs]

Great mpg information here,

gas is $1.80/gal and Diesel is around $2.90/gal (it will suck unmentionable farm animal's derriere to drive a diesel at these prices)

I am guessing the toyo takes 87 octane?

17.2 gallon (thanks I kept think that I read somewhere it had a 20 gallon tank)

that gives it roughly 230 mile range??

[zero]

So your own experience with a Toyota motorhome shows that the first mileage ratings you posted from the EPA are wrong. We are in agreement.

Linda S

In agreement with you? Perhaps not. #1 I did not make up any of these numbers as you alluded to . #2 I don't think the EPA numbers are dumb. I find them to be a good reference frame. They never claimed they were testing motorhomes, with people often making long highway trips. Their figures for Toyota cab & chassis trucks might be dead-on accurate. I don't have those kind of numbers to show what an "average" Toyota cab & chassis is, nor do I know exactly how the EPA tested them.

[zero]

How big is your gas tank? Seems like you have fill up pretty frequently. One of the downsides of the toyota RVs. I though usually fill up around 10-12 gallons when I have to stop. My tank is 16.5 I believe.

Standard 17 gallon tank. We stop a lot because usually my wife or my kid wants to use a bathroom. When we see a place that has a bathroom and a gas station, we stop and get two things done at once. Also - I rarely drive anything with less then half a tank. We sometimes get into rural areas when we don't know when we'll find any gas stations - so another reason to fuel up when it's easy. Now - if my 30 year-old daughter was driving - she doesn't even think about buying gas until the "low fuel light" comes on. And since my 1988 has no such warning light - she'd probably drive it until it ran out - and then blame Toyota when she got stuck with a dead engine.

[Totem]

Shibs I usually get 275-289 miles range if i take it to below empty on the gauge with our 22re efi. i almost consistently get 14-17 MPG, but have had miracle trips where i did better. I have also gone up against wind storms head on and done worse.

[WME]

A 200mi range is 3-4 hr. drive that's a perfect time for a break. This is from someone who drove a VW Rabbit diesel with 26 gallon fuel tank.

[Totem]

This is from someone who drove a VW Rabbit diesel with 26 gallon fuel tank"\

good lord WME, I bet you were a Stalin to your kids on trips for potty breaks, good thing they had a bathroom in the rear of the rig

[WME]

Trust me I needed to stop more often than the kids.

The idea of the tank was to fill the car once a month during normal commuting, going cross country rest stop areas become more important than gas stations.

[shibs]

Shibs I usually get 275-289 miles range if i take it to below empty on the gauge with our 22re efi. i almost consistently get 14-17 MPG, but have had miracle trips where i did better. I have also gone up against wind storms head on and done worse.

Thanks, I make sure I drink a lot of water when I drive, don't want kidney stones. so stopping every 3 hours is fine,

I too get anxious when my fuel gauge is half way down, even with 35 gallon tank in my diesel, take the first exit with decent diesel.

I wonder if putting in after market headers will get more mpg? it is worth the $$?