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aardvarcus · 12-09-2015, 11:49 AM

Filled up the truck after the Air Dam adjustment and tire PSI increase. This tank showed an approximate ½ to 1 MPG improvement over the prior four or so tanks. I am guessing a lot of that is due to the tire PSI increase. I got some lawn edging, and am going to make temporary “test” tire air deflectors and see if they offer any improvement. I would like to see how good I can get the MPG with these obviously not LRR tires on there, but I will most likely get another set of Michelin tires early in the year. I am hoping they will release their new Defender LTX M/S tire in a LT235/85R16 before I have to purchase, which is part of the reason for delaying replacing my worn out M/S2s.

Part of the problem I am having is that at higher pressures the rear tires wear quicker than I would like in the center, mainly due to the lack of weight on the rear axle. This is especially aggravated by one particular spot I drive by often, which is a stop sign that you have to turn sharply at on a very steep hill. It is extremely difficult to make this turn without spinning the tires, and if it is wet I usually just put the truck in four wheel drive. There is no practical alternative route. I would guestimate this one spot took 10K miles off the life of my last tires.

My solution to both of these problems is to try and improve the weight distribution by shifting some of the existing weight on the truck to the back of the bed. Step one is getting some tool storage that can relocate some of my factory and added tools to the back edges of the bed. For step two (further down the line) I would like to relocate my battery from the front driver’s side corner to the front of the bed on the passenger side.

For tool storage, I presently have a tool chest bolted to the front of the Tacoma bed as well as some tools in the factory storage under the truck seat. I try to watch how much weight in tools I add, but I am constantly using the tools and several times I have needed and not had tools because I took them out to save weight. To store the tools, I bought two pelican cases (1520) and am going to mount them to the sides of the bed near the back, so that I can let down the tailgate and access the tools without climbing up in the truck bed which is very annoying to have to do constantly. The toobox I have now is annoying because it inhibits placing large items all the way forward. These pelican cases shouldn’t protrude significantly beyond the wheel wells, but they are taller than the wheel wells so 4’ wide sheets will have to sit on top of them. I figure this is an acceptable compromise, since I don’t carry 4’ sheets nearly as often as I carry lumber or other long items.

For those who haven’t figured it out, I have about ten different projects going on the Tacoma all at the same time, so my ADD always has an avenue to vent itself.

12-09-2015, 11:49 AM	#96 (permalink)
aardvarcus Master EcoModder Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Evensville, TN Posts: 676 Deep Blue - '94 GMC Suburban K2500 SLE 90 day: 23.75 mpg (US) Griffin (T4R) - '99 Toyota 4Runner SR5 90 day: 25.43 mpg (US) Thanks: 237 Thanked 580 Times in 322 Posts	Filled up the truck after the Air Dam adjustment and tire PSI increase. This tank showed an approximate ½ to 1 MPG improvement over the prior four or so tanks. I am guessing a lot of that is due to the tire PSI increase. I got some lawn edging, and am going to make temporary “test” tire air deflectors and see if they offer any improvement. I would like to see how good I can get the MPG with these obviously not LRR tires on there, but I will most likely get another set of Michelin tires early in the year. I am hoping they will release their new Defender LTX M/S tire in a LT235/85R16 before I have to purchase, which is part of the reason for delaying replacing my worn out M/S2s. Part of the problem I am having is that at higher pressures the rear tires wear quicker than I would like in the center, mainly due to the lack of weight on the rear axle. This is especially aggravated by one particular spot I drive by often, which is a stop sign that you have to turn sharply at on a very steep hill. It is extremely difficult to make this turn without spinning the tires, and if it is wet I usually just put the truck in four wheel drive. There is no practical alternative route. I would guestimate this one spot took 10K miles off the life of my last tires. My solution to both of these problems is to try and improve the weight distribution by shifting some of the existing weight on the truck to the back of the bed. Step one is getting some tool storage that can relocate some of my factory and added tools to the back edges of the bed. For step two (further down the line) I would like to relocate my battery from the front driver’s side corner to the front of the bed on the passenger side. For tool storage, I presently have a tool chest bolted to the front of the Tacoma bed as well as some tools in the factory storage under the truck seat. I try to watch how much weight in tools I add, but I am constantly using the tools and several times I have needed and not had tools because I took them out to save weight. To store the tools, I bought two pelican cases (1520) and am going to mount them to the sides of the bed near the back, so that I can let down the tailgate and access the tools without climbing up in the truck bed which is very annoying to have to do constantly. The toobox I have now is annoying because it inhibits placing large items all the way forward. These pelican cases shouldn’t protrude significantly beyond the wheel wells, but they are taller than the wheel wells so 4’ wide sheets will have to sit on top of them. I figure this is an acceptable compromise, since I don’t carry 4’ sheets nearly as often as I carry lumber or other long items. For those who haven’t figured it out, I have about ten different projects going on the Tacoma all at the same time, so my ADD always has an avenue to vent itself.