Help better towing?

You know what's funny? If you google tacoma towing or second gen towing capacity, you get a bunch of threads from 2013 talking about lack of power towing, towing at 4K RPM's, getting 8-10 MPG, and talking about how they didn't get a Taco to tow with anyways. Now suddenly since there is a new gen to shit on, second gen owners and disgruntled third gen owners have pushed the second gen to some throne that it only achieved with rose colored glasses.
And as far as I know, any direct towing comparison between the 2 had the third gen dumping all over the second gen.

 

You're suggesting I make and post a video of me laying rubber pulling away with a heavy load? Ok, if I get 10 likes on this, I would consider this as a genuine interest. i have no reason to lie about the abilities of the gen2... they are well known.

 

Yeah, they are.

Do what ever you gotta do, but you're the one making extraordinary claims, so provide some extraordinary proof as required.

 

In for vid, folks like the post above for good vid potential.

Edit:it's up 2 now. I used the slow type font tonight.

 

I gave it a like.

 

Bye.

 

This is what I tow during the race season. 14’+2.5’ v-nose. Haven’t scaled it loaded so I am unsure about the actual loaded weights but I anticipate it to be around 3500lbs loaded. Everything inside is built from aluminum to keep weight down.

In my experience the weight is less of an issue compared to wind resistance / aerodynamics. Around town and when accelerating I have no issues. Once up to speed or running down the hwy the wind resistance makes the biggest problems in terms of “load” vs weight. To be accurate the owners manual says tow in no higher than 5th and use ect (if nessecary but I usually don’t). I find that the weight / aerodynamics forced me to use 4th as 5th only comes into play on downhill sections.

Now my fuel economy takes a serious hit when towing my parachute. I would hate to try and tow from one coast to the other. For that kind of travel I WOULD want a full size. But for 6-8 trips a year of under 1000km round trip I am able to live with it considering I get the perfect sized truck for the other 350+ days I year don’t need to tow. If you tow more often, longer distances or approach the tow limits regularly then once again maybe consider a larger truck.

 

Use 5th if it gives enough power to hold speed. No worries. The axle ratio is relatively low in the MT. The "don't tow in OD" thing is just a rule of thumb. Mostly for ATs where it would cause excessive shifting and TC slip (heat). I tow a light utility trailer in 6th and my little '47 jeep in 5th (~3,500lbs including dolly). 5th in the MT is about the same as 4th in the AT....just a bit higher. A very good towing gear.

 

Honestly try getting the OVTune. I’ve been extremely happy with the tune and it gave me much more useable power and torque throughout the midrange.

Up to 30+ ft lb according to OVTune and it’s noticeable. I had a 2005 4.0 4Runner before this and yes it had more torque than my now Tuned Pro in 1st and maaayyybe 2nd but I now produce way more power beyond that. And I run 33’s.

Bet it would help! And your ECU can be reflashed to stock if something ever went wrong for warranty so the dealer would never know. Talk to Mathew at OVTune and ask about towing. I’m not sure how his revised shift points on the 1.02 version would affect a 6,000 pound trailer (in terms of how close to redline you might get) if you really mashed on it. My guess is you’ll be much happier.

https://www.ovtuned.com/collections/tacoma/products/toyota-tacoma-2grfks-calibration

 

Regear.

Be honest to yourself how often do you actually tow the boat? Just rent a big truck. Then you arent driving a huge truck around for the 99% of the time you arent towing.

 

Clever, love that, fave movie.

 

Post has 10 likes.
You talked the talk, now walk the walk.

 

Now you have to be patient as I don't have any loads to haul at this time. Next time I go to the saw mill to pick up, I will make a short "Errrt" video for ya.

 

I'm not sure why some are complaining of the 3.5l for towing. I tow a RV that weights in at around 3700 lbs with my 2012 Tacoma auto (4 speed) with a 2.7l. The truck pulls the trailer fine on flat ground and run at speeds between 60 and 65. The truck only has 160 hp. This year we went out west to the mountains and even though the truck managed we just needed a little extra. I've ordered a 2018 TRD Sport with a manual and I'm confident that with more than 100hp over the 2.7 I won't have any issues.


21' Jayco Skylark

 

Patient?
Fuck it, I'm out lol.

 

Hang in there buddy! I won't forget ya.

 

Or get a smaller boat? Wow the problems we have, right....

 

1st world problems

 

Take your time, steadfast, you don’t have to prove anything. We’re all guilty of rhetorical hyperbolation from time to time, and no one except Lt. Dangle is going to hold it against you. Even if you demonstrate your claim, it’s a meaningless test, and depends more on tongue weight than anything else. Anyone who tows a lot knows that. Relax.