Boat Ramps

Tacoma Forum; I'm driving a 06 2.7 ltr access cab 5 sp with 82k miles. I tow a 2600 lb sail boat no problemo! The only issue I'd like to resolve is the boat ramp drama. It seems geared a bit high for the ramp tug. I'm thinking of lowering the rear end gear ratio to resolve this. This truck will do 70 in 3rd gear, so there's plenty room for some sacrifice at the high end. And I rarely used 5th gear anyway. Advice?

 

On my 06 2.7 ltr 5 spd I have drama getting up a steep boat ramp with a 2600 lb boat & trailer. Other wise this truck is the BOM! I wanna lower rear end ratio to resolve this Advice?

 

re-gearing sounds like what your leaning towards, its gona cost a pretty penny but if thats what you really want it should be work it.

ever consider upgrading to a 4.0 V6?

 

Define "drama"? If you're losing traction there's a million factors in play...is the boat ramp wet (probably)? Is is dirt or asphalt? Quality tires? 4 wheel drive?

If the vehicle just seems to be struggling, well, yeah, that's power and gear ratios may be able to help you solve that.

 

I did consider a v6 4wd pathfinder, but I love this 2.7 Taco. ( I bought new) it does everything well except the ramp. I drove a stick for 30 years, well schooled, no slipage of the rear wheels. Just gotta rev it a little too high a little too long and feather the clutch too long to get 'er done. (It's more about the resistance of the water on the trailer than weight) At 82 k the last ramp pull did her clutch in. I'm thinkin' it's cheaper to swap out the rear diff than to up grade to a new ride. I see alot of off road posts about this but none on the street trucks. I'm hoping it can be done easily for 3-6 hundred bucks.....

 

yeah, wheels are 5 lug, if that's what you mean...

 

How often do you use the boat? If you re-gear the engine will be running at a higher rpm all the time. Things will wear out faster and your mileage will plummet. Is the cost of a clutch worth the cost of running lower gears all the time?

I'd just get the clutch if it were me and use a heavier pressure plate.

 

I'm currently researching just what gear ratio is optimal. Bottom line is, clutch is shot and I need a new one. I will heed your advice and opt for the heaver duty pressure plate. The towing issue is a real counundrum. I commute 100 miles a day in the truck. Mostly on curvy mountain roads with speed limits of 50mph (Zealously enforced!) I do have a stretch of 15 miles of freeway where I can hit 80mph. So my Tacoma runs at 2.5 k rpm at 25 mph in 2nd gear. 2.5k rpm at 45 mph in 3rd gear, 2.5k rpm at 60 mph in 4th gear, 5th gear I rarely use and don't remember rpm data. The truck feels best at about 2k rpm. I'd really like to get 1st gear down to a real granny gear and use 2nd-5th as driving gears. At least that's the plan. Any advice is appreciated. THx in advance to this forum it's already been very helpful.

 

You might come out cheaper to sell your truck and buy another one with 4WD, this will give you the lo gear that you are looking for.

 

70 in 3rd gear concerns me

 

if you do regaer i recomend randys ring and pinion dad has his stuff done there and i do to and ill swear by it, great service freindly and fair!