Torque #'s Finally Here

Didn't think we were talking full size trucks. The heavier the tow vehicle the better .

 

Show me the Torque curve for the 3.5 L. No one knows how it looks at this point.

I never said the 3.5 L will out tow the 4.0 L. I said the 3.5 L may surprise us and be quicker off the line and tow slightly better because it is geared better. What you said is just plain stupid though. Rear axle ratios make a HUGE difference when towing.

 

F150 out tows everything in it's class and is 300-800 lbs lighter than anything else in the class. You may want to stop now.

 

I'll withhold judgment until I see a dyno graph. It could produce 250 lb/ft at 2k rpm with max coming in later at 4k, I would be ok with that considering the extra gearing the new truck will have.

 

Did you expect anything less from the sinking ship that is Turdota America?

 

Let's bring this back for a moment. The 1GR-FE in the 2015 made 236 hp (176 kW) at 5200 rpm with 266 lb·ft (361 N·m) of torque at 4000 rpm. The new engine basically makes the same power levels at roughly 15% higher RPM. So, and this is a total guess just like everyone else is making, let's say the torque curve shifted about 15% towards the top end we should still see decent torque down low and a 4.10 ratio stock. I'm okay with that.

It won't stomp the 4.0 L, but with the truck being lighter and that rear end ratio being 4.10 versus high 3's the truck should perform well against the current Tacoma.

 

I just want my next Taco to pull my trailer (2500 lbs dry, 3500 absolute max weight) up a steep mountain without downshifting to third gear . Driving a full-size around town as a commuter just seems so awkward to me. Yes, Tacomas aren't mean to be heavy duty work trucks, but they wouldn't offer a tow package if they weren't meant for some type of towing. Towing capacity means something, even in a Tacoma.

 

If you can't tow it in fourth now, you won't be able to in the next one

 

I have a gen 1 now. I can tow it in 5th (I have a the 5 sped manual) on flat highways but usually keep it in 4th at around 65 mph. I live in Wyoming, so lots of topography. The steep mountain roads and my Tacoma don't get along.

 

On a steep mountain my F150 drops into 3rd....

Staying in high gear up hill at speeds over 55 mph is difficult for everything short of a Diesel 3/4 ton TBH.

This truck will more than likely out tow your first gen. Wait for the 2016's to come out and find a dealer who will do a test tow. My Ford dealer was fine with a test tow and so are a lot of dealers.

 

TacoJonn - can you tell me a little more about how that trailer tows with your taco? I'm looking for a new truck to pull a trailer exactly the same weight as yours (3,500 GVWR). The new 2016 is at the top of my list, but I'm worried about towing 3,500lbs up mountains. I'm in the same boat as you tho, it will also be my daily driver so not excited about getting a full-size truck.

 

That is a good idea. I don't think towing half the tow limit should stress a truck too much. I get that towing a 6,000 lbs will make a Tacoma lethargic, but not ~3,000 lbs.

 

I have a gen 1, so obviously power output is much less than even the gen 2. My Tacoma pulls it ok. It will keep 75 mph fine on a flat highway but lots of downshifting, momentum loss on hills. I am sure a gen 2 would be much better for towing it. I don't take it too far from my hometown to camp so I just put up with the lethargy. It squats a little, but not much.Trailer brakes are essential IMO, even with a smaller trailer like this. All in all though, it doesn't do a bad job.

 

Do you two go offroad much? If you don't you really should try driving an F150 and the other full sized offerings. TBH there isn't much difference in length between the full sized trucks and a DCLB Tacoma. You get about the same mileage too if not a bit better with a fullsized truck.

That being said the Tacoma should handle 3000 lbs fine so I wouldn't panic to get into a bigger truck. If you are looking to tow with ease up large grades then the bigger truck is going to perform better though.

Offroad in tight spaces is where the full sized trucks don't work well.

 

I won't be doing any 'extreme' 4-wheeling, but being able to get around on forest roads is a must. I had a dodge 1500, and even that truck was a PITA on some of the tighter forest service roads.

 

Yup. It's in those spots where a Tacoma shines.

 

Thanks TacoJohn.

Are there any 2nd gen owners out there that can enlighten me on it's abilities towing ~3,500lb travel trailers (specifically up mountains)?

 

My Tacoma did OKAY with 4000 lbs dry behind it with and without the supercharger. My wife ended up buying a bigger truck because the mileage was so bad on the Tacoma when towing that weight though. Around 3500 lbs you might be a bit better but I find travel trailers have too big a profile for the wind for the Tacoma.

 

But to the wheels they make less than the 4.0...by 20 ft-lbs all across the rev band.
So the new motor will probably still win out there.

At least peak HP isn't at 7000! That's just insanity.

Having said that, I'm a little happier with my 4.0 now. Not concerned about gas mileage.

 

I take my Tacoma on tight Forest Service/BLM roads quite frequently. A full-size would be hard to maneuver on most of those. Especially with the low air-damns trucks come with now. Another reason why I prefer a smaller truck. Having and old, paid-off truck also means I don't worry about taking a tree branch to the side of the my truck. Has plenty of battle scars on it by now. =)