The area where I live in south central WV is all mountains. I'm driving my 2001 , 4x4, Tacoma auto with 31" tires and a 2.7. To get to town I have to cross over two of them and then a large hill. The biggest one is about a 30 degree climb of 3 miles to the top. I can go around this one through the valley on flat ground but it would ad an extra 2 miles to the distance to town.
Which way would be the best for less fuel consumption? Mike

 

Im thinking around...you have a 4-banger and youre worried about a extra 4 miles?

 

go around. Not enough distance to be an issue. I would think the savings in gas would be worth it. Heck, it is only a few miles.....

 

Boraxman, I'm just trying to cut back on the gas as much as possiable. It's $2.60 a gallon here now and they said on the news last night that it will be over $3.00 a gallon before mid-summer.
My 4 banger is not all that great on gas due to the everyday mountain driving as it is. Plus I carry about #250 of gear and I weigh #200 . My milage is about 14-15 in the winter and a little better in the summer. Mike

 

You would definitely be better off going around. Hills kill the 4 banger, especially when there's a load in the bed.

Easy way to convince yourself going around is better: start off with a full tank and drive a week going over the mountain and note how many miles you get to that tank of gas (use the trip meter and start from 0). Then drive a week going around the mountain. Once that's over, you'll subtract the difference in miles from the second week (if it's 4 one way, then 8 total for the day), and see if your mileage is better than the first. If not, you'll have your answer.

 

Sorry there Bro, wasnt flammin, just didnt think saving 4 miles was worth considereing. Guess with all that gear and stuff it may be....

 

Boraxman, Never took it as a flame at all. I understood what you were getting at.
My daughter lives in Calif. (Oxnard) and the cost of living is much higher than ours but so are the wages and you guy's are used to higher gas prices in some areas. A house around here that you would pay $250,000 for goes for $700.000 out there,Lol.
To us gas prices over $1.75 is to high. If they raise ours to over $3.00 a gallon this summer I have to wonder what it's going to cost you folks on the West cost!

 

If you are worred about gas mileage, get another vehicle. You drive a Tacoma because you like it, pick whichever way you enjoy more and go that way.

 

I'm thinking of buying a motorcycle to help with gas. It's only $2.35 here now, but this summer... I've heard bad things about how much it's going to be. I've heard it's going to hit $5 on the west coast...

 

Yep! , My wife was watching some news program last night and they said gas was going to be out of site this summer and they gave figures of over $3.00 a gallon for us and much more on the West coast.
Maybe I better get some of my property ready to sell
Go East young man, Go east!

 

in the summer I ride my motorcycle about 90% of the time.. it really helps on the fuel milage... plus it makes me appreciate the 4runner more