Supercharged guys: Towing suck any less??

[Whitson Metalworks]

So today I loaded up my 6x12 enclosed trailer with some racks to ship out and headed to town. I haven't had the trailer long and this was the first time I had it on the interstate and man did it suck! I knew the runner wasn't built for towing but this is probably around a 2000# tow and I used almost a quarter tank on the 40 mile trip. OD was off and I didn't go over 60. As I plan to use this trailer more often, should I start looking to make a move to a Tundra or look for a deal on a S/C? Does the blower help with towing and maybe towing efficiency?

 

[Dous]

Efficiency wise it won't help, probably make it worse really. You will have more power so it will definitely help....but without supporting fuel mods the gains aren't super impressive.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

My hopes were that the blower would keep the motor from working quite as hard, given the boost. This would equate to less throttle used and therefore less fuel given by the ecu?? Maybe I'm thinking too much along the lines of small turbo diesels and this is a very different animal... just hoping that with a blower I wouldn't be limited to such slow speeds and terrible efficiency while towing, my scanguage read between 9-13mpg for the drive.

Also I drive like a grandpa and rarely push past 4k rpm so would fuel mods really be necessary?

 

[djskorch]

Ok I have to completely disagree with you Dous.

I just got back from a 1500ish mile round trip to moab for the tacoma meet.

I hauled my jumping jack tent trailer (around 2000lbs) and around 500-750lbs of camping gear on top of it. Terrain was all hwy with lots of ups, downs canyons, flatlands etc. Basically a good mix of everything.

I averaged 65 to 70 mph the entire way with a few stops for gas, food etc.

On the way down, my first leg was 14.6 mpg at aprox 70mph, 2nd leg was 15.8 at aprox 70mph, 3rd leg was 17.7 at aprox 65mph and 4th leg was 17.6 at aprox 65mph.

Back was nearly the opposite. 1st leg was 17.4 at aprox 65mph, 2nd was 17.8 at aprox 65mph, 3rd was 11.6 (CRAZY strong head wind. I was in 3rd gear the entire way at about 60) and 4th leg was around 13.5 with the head wind still there just less running at about 65mph. (jumping between 3rd and OD)

Keep in mind this is on 33" mud terrain tires with the 2.37" pulley making 7-8lbs of boost.

I had no problem pulling the entire way and was still faster on any full throttle pulls than my buddys 96 tacoma with the 3rz. He struggled to keep at 65-70 on some of the hills where the 4runner had no problem building a little boost and pulling right through.

I dont have the 7th injector kit or any supporting mods except trd catback and tranny cooler and noticed no pinging like some talk about as well as never saw eg temps above 1350 degrees even on some very long steep grades (safe limit from what I have read is around 1600 and it is not uncommon to see 1400-1500 while towing or full throttle pulls on most vehicles)

I would say that the blower does make the engine much more efficient since it is no longer lugging/bogging down.

I do however see that you are in florida. This means that you are at a much lower elevation so I would say that you would most likely need some kind of fuel support. Most cases I have heard of pinging come from people closer to sea level.

Hope this helps

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

That does certainly help, very good info. I always heard the TRD charger was an "ok" bolt on, meaning it would run and work fine just slapping it on the truck with no mods. Again my aim is towing help, no high rpm stuff, though ping would be at lower revs. I guess I'll have to research that a bit.

 

[farmerjon]

I have to say though, an enclosed trailer is terrifically inefficient, especially since it is wider and taller than a 4Runner... So, more power will help, but you'll still have efficiency issues, like Dous said... That's my line of thinking...

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Oh I know, there's no smooth way for a box to move through the air lol, its just the feeling of killing the truck, well, kills me and I need to be able to tow the thing out of state for camping/4wheeler stuff. I'd hate to actually try to tow the maximum the truck can take given how it feels at less than half of that weight...

 

[LittleCaesar]

I'd look for a Tundra personally if the tows will become more frequent. I towed a 6x10 a couple of times behind my non S/C 4runner going less than 60 and it stunk. Using my 1st gen Tundra with the same trailer was a night and day difference in regards to power as well as in control.

 

[A.Wilson013]

If I were going to regularly towing any trailer, I'd be driving a Tundra. Knowing me though, I'd probably Supercharge that bastage.

I hardly ever cross 70mph, when towing I am at around 60-65.

With a Coleman E3 I average 16mpg on winding Oregon backcountry highways. Multiple mountain passes, all sorts of elevation gain / loss. I enjoy towing it, but I only do it once a year. Tundy is not needed in my use.

 

[Snowy21]

It's just the nature of towing an enclosed trailer. I got crap mileage (11-12) pulling a taller 5x8 trailer loaded with karts and gear a few years ago; Granted I drove fast (70-75). When I got a 16x7 that was 7' tall my mileage dropped to 9ish. I had zero other ill effects than that but can't recommend doing it

 

[Ruiner]

I'd look for a Tundra personally if the tows will become more frequent. I towed a 6x10 a couple of times behind my non S/C 4runner going less than 60 and it stunk. Using my 1st gen Tundra with the same trailer was a night and day difference in regards to power as well as in control.

im sure the gearing difference alone made most of the difference

 

[JayRolla]

I know someone that installed the SC on there new FJ. Gas mileage went too around 12-14 city and 15-17 on highway. He said it was not even worth the extra power to lose so much gas mileage. Thats why Im scared to SC. I cant live with worse gas mileage but you guys make it sound like its not that bad. Best I got mpg is 17.3 on the highway fully loaded up mountain passes without the SC.

 

[steezemcqueen]

My UG shows i averaged 17.6mpg doing 70-75 to and from Moab last week. Thats a heavy ass 4runner on 35's with full armor and loaded down with camping gear.

 

[Bandit Runner]

What about going with lower diff gears? Are you still on stock gears? Tire size?

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

stock gears and stock tire size, i guess i'll just have to deal with it since good deals on superchargers dont come around too often and no one's lining up to buy my 260k rig lol.

 

[paddlenbike]

Personally, I couldn't go back to being naturally aspirated. At low elevations where I live, I found the fuel upgrades necessary. And like others have said, just the charger by itself wasn't really worth the investment. The extra $850 for the fuel upgrade added as much power as the SC and made the driveability much better. I check my mileage at every fill up and if you don't drive it like you stole it, mileage won't change. My mileage is actually better the steeper the terrain gets, compared to before the SC.

Towing is significantly improved with the SC. The torque graph below is more relevant to towing:

 

[8sm]

My experience duplicate djskorch, where as we tow with our s/c 4Runner pulling a trailer hauling wood or our tamdem axle car hauler moving vehicles 120miles oneway from 1200ft - 5000ft elevations in Arizona winter and summer conditions. Depending on the time of year, air density will affect the performance and putting a load on the engine with make it ping. Either way, it pulls like I stole it, LOL with plenty of pedal going up the hills.

If gas mileage is of concern or your expectations are to tow alot, there are better choices other than a s/c 4Runner. However, by the time you add the additional cost to purchase the Tundra or ? vehicle, insurance and maiintenance into the family budget you maybe ahead until she gives up. Like you said, whos going to purchase a 260K mile vehicle, it's your's to run into the ground at those numbers.

BTW..... I have a 1st Gen S/C I may consider selling. Shoot me a pm if anyone interested.

Regards...... 8sm

 

[S14]

How much weight are you towing with the tandem car hauler & car? I'd like to tow my 2600lb track car and would rather not be limited to a tow dolly!

PM on the supercharger too.:llama:

 

[IanB]

Another factor to consider, if you go SC you need to run premium going forward, so you need to factor that in with your fuel economy to figure out the increased fuel cost, which is what really matters in the end.