I wish these had more power! Any options?

It helps to drive with ETC on. My older 1992 Toyota Pick Up V6 seemed to have more power, however, that has been so long ago so I couldn't say for sure.

 

I agree with Chazmann, I think the only way to get the torque balanced better in the auto is to do the 4.88 gears. So that's what I will be doing. I pull a 25 foot center console boat and it has less guts than my second generation had when moving this load.

 

Interesting....

 

Yee-yee!!!!

 

Mm-hmmm.

 

They picked that Engine because of Kaizen, they will just use it across the board on as many models because they will save money even if it is not the correct Engine for a particular platform. I unfortunately do not think they will quit using it in the Tacoma but I can see some changes coming to it to give it more Torque or to move the Powerband lower in Revs.

 

We would be more likely to see a diesel than see the 3.5 go away soon. Neither will happen.

 

The dyno sheet for the 3.5 is amazing. Amazing in the way that it somehow made it into a truck. Awful torque curve to say the least. when it comes down to it, at least you can FEEL torque. At least there's an illusion of speed there.

 

As for OP's original question "Any Options?"
I can think of following:
> Sell and get something else.
> Wait/pray for a turbo or s/c kit.

I would not waste $$ on a CAI or catback system that usually makes loud noise only unless there is substantial power/torque gain in usable rpm range is proved on a dyno chart (not likely).

 

A very popular company is developing a supercharger right now. I don't know when it will be available, or what it will cost, but I know for sure that it's being developed.

As much as I tow with the truck, I'll be getting one for sure.

 

X3....

 

I would opt for the Tundra. More room for your future kids and 120+ lb dog.

 

That may be true for North American market Toyotas. I don't believe the 3.5L is an engine option on any Hilux overseas as new models still use the old 4.0L.

That probably means Toyota knew the minivan motor 3.5 wouldn't cut it overseas in the Hilux.

 

Yeah I pull a horse trailer with my 2nd gen, and the 4.0 is perfect for what I do. I already know that the 3.5 is too light for my purposes, so I'll probably have to switch brands when my 2015 dies. I don't need a test drive, the power curves say it all for me.

 

Yes power curve tells it all. With out even looking at it. More cubic inches an longer stroke will make more torque an horsepower at lower rpms. Small cubic inches can accomplish same thing but it takes more rpms to do so.

 

I've pulled an aluminum horse trailer with one horse in it with my third gen a few times.

It's fine around town, but trying to maintain any speed on a hilly interstate requires constantly running at 4,500 RPM. Honestly, it's fuckin embarrasing.

My girl asked, "why is it doing that?"

"Well honey, they put a minivan engine in my big tuff truck"

 

They only axed the 4l in the Tacoma. 4Runner and Hilux still use it.

 

Maybe in the year 2525. Lol

 

I run mine in 4th, and it stays around 2500 rpm. No mountains, but a few hills, and sometimes on big highways where I need to cruise at 110 km/hr to keep up. My trailer is aluminum also, and with two horses and gear I'm still under the 6400lbs limit. I run stock tire size so that I don't lose even a little gearing. The truck works great, that 4.0 is tough and loves to work. I never worry about it. Mind you I've pulled horses with a Hi Lux 22R back in the old days, when life was slower and I was young and foolish. I even built my own hitches. Haha, I'd never try that today.

 

I've had three 2nd gen Tacoma's, an FJ, and 2015 4Runner, and never experienced the "screaming engine syndrome" with any of them.

I haul tons (literally) of parts for KB Voodoo, so the supercharger is happening as soon as it's released (as long as it isn't much over $5K, and as long as I can install it myself).