Auto trans torque converter off road

So question for those that have the new auto etc and have taken it off road.
I've only ever gone wheeling in manuals so for me downhill I'm just used to 1st gear low and thats it, no need for brakes just engine braking etc.

Some autos work to do the same, but not sure if the new taco does

So those that have it how is it on hill descent?
Can you just put it into the manual option set it to first in 4lo and have the engine do compression/engine braking or no? I know some 4x4 will actually lock the converter and hold 1st gear.
I wouldn't be getting the Off Road since it isn't offered as a double cab here so TRD sport it is. Besides I cant see crawl control being all that great as it does use the brakes and braking down hill isn't always a good idea.

I've been confused on which to get whether it be the auto or the manual.

SAVE the manual is better bullshit I know manual is probably better. But I am wondering about the auto here. As of right now I am leaning towards the auto, for a daily driver the throws are too long for the taco, but if I wont be happy with the auto I'll just learn to deal with it. I've now test driven both but I can't test drive them off road obviously so I need input from others here.

 

I did some steel descents last weekend. Keep it in 4Lo and gate it in 1st gear. It did about 3mph down the steepest Hills. I was covering the brake and I thought I was actually using the brake until I lifted and realized I wasn't on the brake at all.

When you do shift it to 2nd, it drops hard like it's using the ECT stall speeds instead of regular stall speeds

Automatics are better than manuals in every way.

 

So you didn't have crawl control on or anything? Just put it in the manual mode in first and 4lo?

I'm just wondering if a trd sport will do the same

 

Yes, that's the way automatic transmissions work.

 

In what are you referring to?
Because I've seen some autos that do not cause engine braking at all. They just continue to accelerate. Or some transmission that will shift up regardless. Most dsg will do this unless you code it out. If the speed gets too high for that gear it will change.

 

You own the truck, try it and find out. Toyota provides a lot of engine braking on their automatics if you haven't noticed. Too much for some, it's a common complaint.

 

Read. I do not own one yet. Haven't decided on manual or auto yet. That's why I'm asking

 

did it have a selectable gear or just the L option.

 

Yes I have the sport, and in 4 Lo and 1st you stay at 3 mph going down hill. Done it a few times. Go wheeling every weekend

 

Sport or off road doesn't matter. Same thing

 

good to know.

I was leaning more towards the manual, but the auto is nice for city driving with all the traffic.
as much as I love manual I would kinda rather the auto for daily driving. just hate how the new auto seems to search for gears a lot. but I was told using ECT helps a lot to prevent that.

 

I love mine. First auto car I've ever had though! So nothing about it really bothers me, I think it's great

 

....well thats comforting lmao.
the car I have right now is my first auto ever, and its a DSG. Love it, great transmission, but I know the new auto for the taco is nothing like a DSG. I've test driven it a bit and I find its fine for city but on the highway it was kinda a let down with its gear changes.
To be honest its not the greatest auto I've definitely been in much better.
But if you're finding it great as a first time owner thats pretty good. too me if that was the first auto I ever owned I'd be scared what the fuck is wrong with it haha.

 

I think the opposite, I just figured that's how it's supposed to be haha. I'm at 2600 miles right now and it doesn't change gears as much as it did. Around town it doesn't get into 6th gear until 60mph, when it was new it would do it as soon as possible. Idk, I'm just not as picky as others I guess. Do think a manual in this truck would be cool though

 

hmm thats good to know.
I have been hearing that once its done break in and gets some milage on it the tranny does begin to behave.

I liked the manual aside from the throws.
Just too long for what I am used to.

 

it does. Like I wrote above, it feels like 4LO uses the ETC stall speeds. When I bump to 2nd gear in S mode while in 4LO, it revs a bit more and then shifts while going down hill. 4LO might have it's own stall speed settings for the automatic

OP, get the auto, it's great in every way

 

The torque converter doesn't use a variable pitch stator . That fancy feature hasn't been used for a long time within the torque converter .
Too many problems with busted impeller fins .
With this said , the stall speed will always be the same or fixed to a certain rpm . The A750E uses a stall speed of 2250 - 2550 stall .
I believe what you guys are feeling when using S mode is a longer delayed shift pattern .
What is nice about a torque converter for crawling is the fact its a fluid coupling and you dont get that jerky twisting feeling that you do with a clutch in a manual transmission .

 

I have to agree with 'automatics are good at crawling'

love the near millimeter precision I have driving automatics in the woods, cannot be compared
to manual tranny at all. so easy on the drivetrain, easy on the stress level or navigating nasty terrain

 

Then why does it shift at 1500 when ECT is off?