Gas bill is killing me on my 99 F350 Crewcab (12 MPG). Love the truck but can't afford to drive it.
I may be able to get a 2004 Tundra extended cab V-6 (5000lb tow capacity) for a good price. How well does it do pulling a Mac26X?
Anybody Tow a Mac with a Toyota Tundra?
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Terry
- Admiral
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- Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada. '03 26M - New Yamaha 70
Tundra?
My neighbor has an 04 tundra V8 with the full tow package and he loves it but pulls a speed boat with it. If it weighs more than the Mac & trailer and has a long wheelbase it will be adequate with 5000# capacity.
12MPG is not that bad, how much better do you think you'll get with the V6 Tundra?
My Trailblazer inline 6 only gets 14.5 MPG but it weighs 5100 lbs & has 3.73 axle ratio. With 130" wheelbase 275 HP & 275 lbs/ft torque and full tow package it is adequate for the job, but I can't help but wonder if the V8 would get better milage. I think the inline 6 has to work harder than a V8 with the same load therefore I think it gets less milage. You may wish to check what milage the V6 Tundra gets vs the V8 before buying it.
12MPG is not that bad, how much better do you think you'll get with the V6 Tundra?
My Trailblazer inline 6 only gets 14.5 MPG but it weighs 5100 lbs & has 3.73 axle ratio. With 130" wheelbase 275 HP & 275 lbs/ft torque and full tow package it is adequate for the job, but I can't help but wonder if the V8 would get better milage. I think the inline 6 has to work harder than a V8 with the same load therefore I think it gets less milage. You may wish to check what milage the V6 Tundra gets vs the V8 before buying it.
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Simon
- Chief Steward
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The tundra is a great toyota truck for Mac towing!!
You can also buy a "restored" 70's chev pickup for a lot less money... Old truck.
But if I had the money I would take the Tundra V8:)
S
You can also buy a "restored" 70's chev pickup for a lot less money... Old truck.
But if I had the money I would take the Tundra V8:)
S
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PeteC
- First Officer
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- Location: Hampton, VA...2001 Mac 26X, Honda 50
According to the Tundra owner (trustworthy coworker), he got 16/20 MPG (all city/all highway). He must be heavy footed; it should get better than that.
My F350 gets 12/15, which is actually pretty good given its size. When I towed a 10,000 lb trailer I got about 9 MPG. I never pulled the Mac far enough to get a good mileage number, but I estimate I would get about 10.5 MPG.
I'm not sure the numbers justify making the switch but the Toyota sure is tempting.
My F350 gets 12/15, which is actually pretty good given its size. When I towed a 10,000 lb trailer I got about 9 MPG. I never pulled the Mac far enough to get a good mileage number, but I estimate I would get about 10.5 MPG.
I'm not sure the numbers justify making the switch but the Toyota sure is tempting.
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Frank C
GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 with 3.73 gearing ... gets 12 city, maybe 16 on the freeway if I'm careful.
It also gets a solid 12mpg towing the Mac at a solid 65 mph.
On a 1,000 mile trip, it showed this consistently tank-by-tank.
Since 85% of my driving is in the city, this truck pretty much gets 12 mpg!
No debate, no quibble, it sniffs every gas station like a dog passing a tree!
C'est la vie!
It also gets a solid 12mpg towing the Mac at a solid 65 mph.
On a 1,000 mile trip, it showed this consistently tank-by-tank.
Since 85% of my driving is in the city, this truck pretty much gets 12 mpg!
No debate, no quibble, it sniffs every gas station like a dog passing a tree!
C'est la vie!
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Chip Hindes
- Admiral
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- Location: West Sand Lake, NY '01X, "Nextboat" 50HP Tohatsu
You guys thinking about buying new vehicles because you "can't afford" to put gas in your existing vehicle need to back up, take a deep breath, and a more realistic look.
Your current truck gets 12mpg in normal driving. If you drive the national average of 10,000 miles per year and gas is $3 per gallon, you're spending $2500 per year on gas.
That's it. If you really think about it, that ain't much.
If you buy an imaginary truck that runs on sunlight and pure air and uses no gas at all, you'll save $2500 per year. But unfortunately, with your real truck capable of towing the Mac, you can expect 20mpg (except when towing) and you'll save -get this- a whopping $1000 per year in gasoline.
Certainly, $1000 per year isn't peanuts. But it won't even make a dent in the payments toward a new or good used 20mpg truck.
Continuing your real life example: A 2004 Tundra V6 is going to cost you roughly $10K, which is $20K minus the $10K you get for your old truck. Of course that assumes you can get Kelly Blue Book for your 12mpg truck (A lot of others are thinking just like you are). We're talking round numbers.
$1000 per year savings in gas put toward a $10K truck. Not including financing, and increased cost of insurance. Maybe you'll save a little on reduced maintenance. There still may be other reasons to justify a new truck, but saving money on gas is only one of them, and taken by itself, if this is the way you save money, you're going to be a very poor man. If you really want to save some bucks. Park the truck except when you need it to tow the Mac, and get a 1990, 30mpg Corrolla for your driving around town vehicle.
This calculation is sensitive to the assumptions, but for most realistic numbers the conclusions are the same. If you drive 20K miles per year (but then you ought to question why you need to use a 12mpg truck for 20K miles per year) double the numbers. $2000 per year savings: still tough to justify a new truck. If gas goes to $4 per gallon, $1333. Ditto. If you drive 20,000 miles per year and gas goes to $5 per gallon, you're up to $3333 per year savings. Now you're getting to the point you might be able to justfy a new truck to save gas, but look at how far you had to stretch the assumptions to get there.
And BTW, despite what those who own them are telling you, a V6 Tundra won't work quite as well towing the Mac as an F350. And with either, while actually towing you can expect to get a "solid" 10-12 mpg.
I have a suggestion: Suck it up, write it off as part of the cost of owing a big sailboat, and be happy as long as there's gas to buy.
Your current truck gets 12mpg in normal driving. If you drive the national average of 10,000 miles per year and gas is $3 per gallon, you're spending $2500 per year on gas.
That's it. If you really think about it, that ain't much.
If you buy an imaginary truck that runs on sunlight and pure air and uses no gas at all, you'll save $2500 per year. But unfortunately, with your real truck capable of towing the Mac, you can expect 20mpg (except when towing) and you'll save -get this- a whopping $1000 per year in gasoline.
Certainly, $1000 per year isn't peanuts. But it won't even make a dent in the payments toward a new or good used 20mpg truck.
Continuing your real life example: A 2004 Tundra V6 is going to cost you roughly $10K, which is $20K minus the $10K you get for your old truck. Of course that assumes you can get Kelly Blue Book for your 12mpg truck (A lot of others are thinking just like you are). We're talking round numbers.
$1000 per year savings in gas put toward a $10K truck. Not including financing, and increased cost of insurance. Maybe you'll save a little on reduced maintenance. There still may be other reasons to justify a new truck, but saving money on gas is only one of them, and taken by itself, if this is the way you save money, you're going to be a very poor man. If you really want to save some bucks. Park the truck except when you need it to tow the Mac, and get a 1990, 30mpg Corrolla for your driving around town vehicle.
This calculation is sensitive to the assumptions, but for most realistic numbers the conclusions are the same. If you drive 20K miles per year (but then you ought to question why you need to use a 12mpg truck for 20K miles per year) double the numbers. $2000 per year savings: still tough to justify a new truck. If gas goes to $4 per gallon, $1333. Ditto. If you drive 20,000 miles per year and gas goes to $5 per gallon, you're up to $3333 per year savings. Now you're getting to the point you might be able to justfy a new truck to save gas, but look at how far you had to stretch the assumptions to get there.
And BTW, despite what those who own them are telling you, a V6 Tundra won't work quite as well towing the Mac as an F350. And with either, while actually towing you can expect to get a "solid" 10-12 mpg.
I have a suggestion: Suck it up, write it off as part of the cost of owing a big sailboat, and be happy as long as there's gas to buy.
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PeteC
- First Officer
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- Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2004 7:06 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Hampton, VA...2001 Mac 26X, Honda 50
Well I did the math and listed the intangibles and here's what I got:
Replacing Ford w Toyota truck saves about $350/yr in gas cost ($1,170 vs $826/yr). Figured $2.80/gallon and 5000 miles/yr (yes I have cut back).
But have to pay $570 sales tax, title/license-$150?, Personal Property tax increased $100/yr, insurance cost increase of $100/yr?
And buy reciever ($150), transmission cooler, trailer electric hookup...
And I lose the following: full crewcab, tow capability, tow safety, truck camper capability, crash safety, familiarity (I know how to work on it), possible reliability (Tundras have had some problems).
So no, it doesn't make sense to make the switch.
But oh how the temptation of a new vehicle is hard to resist.
(Chip: I had already done what you suggested. Got a 98 Corolla to do the majority of our driving around town, and for son to do 20 mile commute to college)
Replacing Ford w Toyota truck saves about $350/yr in gas cost ($1,170 vs $826/yr). Figured $2.80/gallon and 5000 miles/yr (yes I have cut back).
But have to pay $570 sales tax, title/license-$150?, Personal Property tax increased $100/yr, insurance cost increase of $100/yr?
And buy reciever ($150), transmission cooler, trailer electric hookup...
And I lose the following: full crewcab, tow capability, tow safety, truck camper capability, crash safety, familiarity (I know how to work on it), possible reliability (Tundras have had some problems).
So no, it doesn't make sense to make the switch.
But oh how the temptation of a new vehicle is hard to resist.
(Chip: I had already done what you suggested. Got a 98 Corolla to do the majority of our driving around town, and for son to do 20 mile commute to college)
I ran the same numbers trying to decide to go down on my communter car. I drive an Explorer everyday and thought about going to small car.
The math told me I'd have to drive ~20,000 miles to make up for every $1000 I had to spend in a trade. Since resale on Explorers is relatively low, I'd be looking at several thousand to get a decent car, which would take years to recover. I'm talking about "recover", not save...
Then, I got to thinking about the fact that my Explorer is a loaded Eddie Bauer model with every option and the cars I was looking at were either worn out or stripped down... So, the comfort level for those MANY thousands of miles wasn't going to be the same...
It just isn't worth it for me...
Obviously, the higher the gas prices go, the more this math gets scewed in favor of trading down. But, they have to go up alot for it to make sense for me...
The math told me I'd have to drive ~20,000 miles to make up for every $1000 I had to spend in a trade. Since resale on Explorers is relatively low, I'd be looking at several thousand to get a decent car, which would take years to recover. I'm talking about "recover", not save...
Then, I got to thinking about the fact that my Explorer is a loaded Eddie Bauer model with every option and the cars I was looking at were either worn out or stripped down... So, the comfort level for those MANY thousands of miles wasn't going to be the same...
It just isn't worth it for me...
Obviously, the higher the gas prices go, the more this math gets scewed in favor of trading down. But, they have to go up alot for it to make sense for me...
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Don T
- Admiral
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- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: 95 2600 "SS OTTER" - Portland OR - Tohatsu 50 - Hull#64 (May 95)
Hello:
I also have run the numbers. I have an 84 GMC van, gets 11 miles to the gallon towing or not. I too think about getting a small car. I drive the van 5000 miles a year and even a $1000 cheapo car getting 30mpg does not warrent getting one. My break even point would be around 14k miles/ per year. Since I want to have a tow vehicle for the Mac, I just have to keep driving the old BUV (but ugly van).
I also have run the numbers. I have an 84 GMC van, gets 11 miles to the gallon towing or not. I too think about getting a small car. I drive the van 5000 miles a year and even a $1000 cheapo car getting 30mpg does not warrent getting one. My break even point would be around 14k miles/ per year. Since I want to have a tow vehicle for the Mac, I just have to keep driving the old BUV (but ugly van).
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Dimitri-2000X-Tampa
- Admiral
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- Location: Tampa, Florida 2000 Mercury BigFoot 50HP 4-Stroke on 26X hull# 3575.B000
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LOUIS B HOLUB
- Admiral
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- Location: 1999 Mac-X, Nissan 50 HP, Kemah, TX, "Holub Boat"
YEPPERs to all that "foreign" stuff...
Owning an "imported" motor is enough ! At least my MAC X and Ford Tow vehicle are AMERICAN MADE. Lets BUY American products...folks...or is it possible anymore ?? 
Happy Sailing 
Happy Sailing -
Compromise
- First Officer
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richandlori
- Admiral
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Boy I guess I should stay out of this one, but here is goes. I have a 1998 Honda CRV and a 1999 Honda Civic. Are gas Prices high, I haven't noticed.
Then I have a Honda 50 on the Mac.
I keep my boat at a mast-up storage for $105/month where they splash and pull the boat for me. I have been TRYING like hull, frankly, to see how I can justify a tow vehicle and trade in the 1998 CRV. In the end I just can't do it! It just doesn't make since in the spreadsheet. Two paid off cars and an equivalent tow vehicle and Mac storage for $105/month! I just can't beat it. I now can drive the two hrs drive to the cost and my Mac in my civic that sips gas like a tea-totler at the bar.
Now I do lose the aspect of towing around my Mac, which is a bummer, but the extra cost just doesnt justify what more I could do. For heaven sakes, Im in the Channel Island Harbor, what more could I want?
I do have to applaud you guys for not making your decision purely on the "emotional...I want it" basis, I wish more people in this country acted that way, but sadly.....
Then I have a Honda 50 on the Mac.
I keep my boat at a mast-up storage for $105/month where they splash and pull the boat for me. I have been TRYING like hull, frankly, to see how I can justify a tow vehicle and trade in the 1998 CRV. In the end I just can't do it! It just doesn't make since in the spreadsheet. Two paid off cars and an equivalent tow vehicle and Mac storage for $105/month! I just can't beat it. I now can drive the two hrs drive to the cost and my Mac in my civic that sips gas like a tea-totler at the bar.
Now I do lose the aspect of towing around my Mac, which is a bummer, but the extra cost just doesnt justify what more I could do. For heaven sakes, Im in the Channel Island Harbor, what more could I want?
I do have to applaud you guys for not making your decision purely on the "emotional...I want it" basis, I wish more people in this country acted that way, but sadly.....