OK, the 3.5 should be a good engine

Yes they can, and they probably will.
Superchargers are inefficient, and they for fuel saving reason they all will have to go to Turbocharged vehicles.
In Turbocharger you don't get as much power as supercharger but it makes setup much more efficient.

 

thanks, might be good thing for me anyway, more power
always = more tickets for me and the reason why I never
went all out with the s/c on my '11.

 

Hence why I said manufacturer supported boost in my first comment.... Toyota could give to shites what you do without their explicit support. Just don't come crying for warranty when something leans out and gets exploded.

 

You are right in that many people tow way too much with their Tacoma. All I ask is that I can tow my small TT and still be able to cross mountain passes at the speed limit. I currently cannot do that with my '02 3.4. Driving with a trailer and sluggish motor is mentally exhausting.

 

Cheers, Sterdog, and you made some very logical points. Would be nice if TRD didn't chicken out and make the S/C available for the dual VVT-i. Although there are a few tuner FI options.

I think that ultimately this downsizing would be a good move by Toyota, on that they must please the ridiculous CAFE standards, but at the same time a slight change in consumer behaviour due to volatile gas price fluctuations. The end result could be this new gen that is marginally better on power, efficiency and economy, without sacrificing reliability.

Having said that, low end torque with mid-top end grunt is my dual VVT-i drug

 

S/C are very efficient at producing low end torque. The parasitic draw, especially at high RPM's, is what kills the efficiency of a S/C.

To get the same low end output of a S/C you'd either need a variable vane turbo, or a set of smaller dual turbos. Either way you are talking about a much more complicated setup than the simple, easy, and durable TRD S/C kit. I doubt Toyota will come out with a Turbo kit for a truck.

 

I towed your weight at speed up to 5000 feet with a 2013 Tacoma. Once without boost and a few times with boost. The boost helped big time, but the truck was capable of it either way.

I'm sure the 3.5L will be able to do it as well. Just expect high RPM's, high transmission temps, and terrible mpg when doing that.

 

That made no sense.

 

I live at 6000 feet and will tow up to 11,000 feet. So towing 3500 will make most engines lethargic. I'd consider a full size, but all the full size pickups have gone to the "I am compensating for something" look. The new Tacoma barely falls sort of that with the new grill, but still looks rather modest in comparison.

 

Sounds like you could use a 2015 Tacoma with the TRD S/C. The S/C really makes a huge difference at high altitude. I go on a lot of logging roads and I never bog down because of altitude when I hit the tree line, unlike some others. Or an F150 Ecoboost. I've towed the Ecoboost over Monida Pass with 8000 lbs behind it and felt no loss of power at all.

Where are you towing up to 11,000 feet . Colorado?

 

When towing something that weighs nearly the same as the truck, especially where there are hills involved, most feel safer doing with a truck that weighs more. Both the Taco and Colorado are trying to get lighter. While good for economy, that doesn't bode as well for towing safety as a full size truck. These things should be thought of as occasional towers. When I move my pontoon boat around that weighs less then 5000 lbs, I am convinced, regardless of the capabilities of the drive train, I am not doing it on a full time basis as safe as with a full size truck. By no stretch would I advise using either for Weight anywhere near their capacity through the mountains on a regular basis.

 

The new F150 is nearly 800 lbs lighter than the old one lol. They up sized the brakes, brake booster, and reinforced the frame which makes up the difference. The F150 "feels" light, but the more I drive it the more I realize it's because it no longer snowplows into turns and the electric steering gives a slightly number feedback. With the trailer behind it the truck feels extremely confident.

Anyways, getting back the 3.5 L, I'm also noticing that there is almost no room in that bay for something like a S/C...

 

Boost is boost, people want to have a lot of HP in a truck, and they will find a way to. supercharger or turbo, it doesn't matter. Most people that buy want something that is bolt and go.

 

Maybe not the way I wrote.
What I ment Turbo setup is more fuel efficient than supercharger setup.
Turbo is even more efficient than non-turbo setup.
But when it comes to generate extra HP nothing can beat supercharger.

That is my point, superchargers are better at achiving maximum performance, but they suck at fuel efficiency compared to Turbo.
Turbos greatly improved in generating extra power but they will never be able to match Superchargers.
However, since everybody want fuel efficient cars, Turbo will come, superchargers will have to go.

 

Except that the bolt on S/C's don't count under CAFE...

So as long as Toyota is willing to make it and people are willing to pay for the extra gas they will exist. The question isn't will people pay for it, because honestly my mpg didn't take that big a beating with the S/C due to it's bypass design, but whether or not Toyota is interested in making another TRD S/C.

 

Meh if you interested in just pure horsepower with no regards to how much it costs you just strap two SpaceShuttle booster engines.
Believe me once you ignite those suckers no Cop can catch up to you.

 

The F150 IS 800 lbs lighter but it is still 1000 lbs heavier then a comparable Taco and with a much stiffer frame for towing. It is also a bigger truck giving you much more stearing leverage with a wider track which helps account for the added control. As far as towing is concerned, Tacos and Colorados don't hold a candle to a full size truck.

It is interesting to note now that you mention it. , all the engine options still available for the F150. It makes you think they still don't have both feet into the SC commitment.....or worse still, their customer's don't.

 

For us it was about towing and gas mileage. If you want both the best motor Ford makes is the 5.0 L coyote. The 3.5 L Ecoboost not only costs more to add on, but it gets a bit worse mileage. I help manage a fleet of trucks at work and I've seen both of those motors. The 5.0 L is slightly more efficient but slightly less powerful than the 3.5 L. Pound for pound the 3.5 L is a better motor, but it was excessive for us and honestly will have a lower maintenance cost due to the lack of turbos. The 2.7 L Ecoboost is in it's first year so I didn't want to go with an untested design, plus when we test towed the 5.0 L seriously destroyed the 2.7 L.

Your comments are all true about the F150. The new frame is super stiff considering it's now over 70% high strength steel and the track argument is something I've made myself several times on here.

The problem with the Tacoma and the 3.5 L will probably be the same as the problem with the Colorado. In order to make enough power to move a load it's going to have to stay above 3000 rpm, and with lots of weight it'll stay right next to the redline. That can hurt an engines reliability.

 

well its not like im gunna buy some plain ass truck. it has to be able to be modded, and if the new Tacoma isn't it, a slammed 5.7L tundra with a s/c will be it for me.

 

As long as you don't get airborn, a two way and a road block should do the trick. if you do get airborn, it's now up to the FAA.