Show us where the new 3.5L fails for offroad or towing /to the old 4.0L

Duh TacOMa iz TuRRiBle cuZ Ferarry FAsTuR an Dump TrUCk HaULz MoAr

 

Sure they will last, just not with all original parts. As soon as my warranty was over I started dumping money into my Ford replacing breaks, suspension components, bearings. That stuff should last more than 3 years under normal use, but in a Ford it doesn't.

 

But good God man that ranger is ugly as hell. And there have been thousands with huge problems with that 10 speed transmission. Recalls, lemons, plenty of issues!!

Nothing that's produced in mass is perfect. But at least the tacoma looks good and will hold its value past its warranty.

I've had 3 different tacomas without a single issue. I'm lucky i guess... But my transmission works great. My 2017 hauls my boat wonderful and i off-road more than most without a single problem.

 

Totally happy with the way my 3.5 tows. Coming from a 2001 5.3 V8 GMC, the Tacoma handles the boat just as well, highway, hills, boat launch, it's never been an issue for me. Yeah the transmission is geared for fuel economy and likes to drop two gears down on a hill, but no big deal, that 3.5 loves rpm and rewards you with a ton of power in the high rpms (and decent mpg when loafing around at 1800 rpm too!)

 

My old 2013 escape actually ate its own transmission out at 140,000km.. no signals, no warnings. Just switched from "park" to "drive" and the engine spun to 4000rpm out of nowhere the trans just desintigrated, had to drag it off the road.
Loved the little shitbox for the economy but its caused lots of issues between the transmission and the various evap valves being stuck open or closed. Also recalls... every other month i got a letter for a recall notice.

 

My 2018 trd 4x4 towing on a flat trailer my antique jeep (3500 # gross) struggles on flat land. Taco desperately needs a 8 speed (or 10) tranny and revised engine software management.

 

It has become VERY apparent, that some Tacoma owners do not know how to drive.

"What do you mean? I had it in drive."

Yeah, you. It's not a microwave.

 

What do you mean by 'struggling '? I tow 5700lbs regularly, flat roads and two small mountain passes and my Tacoma doesn't struggle at all. No lack of power, doesn't over rev, nothing. Mind you I'm not trying to set land speed records when I tow either. Usually do 60-65 mph (100-110 kph)

 

Yeah, this. And this stuff reminds me of the mountain bike forum posts where guys bemoan how their old forks from 1999 felt so “buttery” compared to their “crappy” new $1,200 suspension up front in their 2010+ rigs, and then finally one of the designers would pipe in and explain that just because it felt a certain way — and that people were used to that past feeling — doesn’t mean it’s the best for handling descents, pedal bob, rebound, etc.

The new truck engine doesn’t feel like the old truck engine. Got it. But most of the anecdotal responses I’ve seen here don’t demonstrate a decline in performance. Most of the numbers are the same or better for the third gen.

But really, can we get both a third gen and second gen owner towing the same crappy trailers side by side up and over a major pass and see how they compare? Let’s do it next time we’re going “rock crawling” (off-roading) or “”overlanding” (camping). Hell, I’ll supply the SR5 2WD V6 with tow package. Anyone have a Gen 2 Prerunner and love science?!? Let’s tow something over the Cajon pass, compare performance and fuel numbers, then do the reverse Mojave Road run and see how everything shakes out. We might enjoy our rad trucks and see some beautiful sights along the way too—anything is possible.

 

Id like to see that real world test too. Sounds fun.
@anyone

 

Sounds like a fun weekend adventure with literally any other tacoma group

 

These guys did it. Not side by side but a 2015 and a 2016 pulling the same trailer up the same pass. From what I remember the 16 did better but it’s been awhile.

2015


2016

 

I just drove 1100 miles today in mine, it’s... frustrating at best driving by foot on inclines at interstate speeds. I’m pulling a 5x8 trailer though,sub 2k pounds so factor that in.

Don’t even fucking think about putting the cruise control on though it goes absolutely bonkers,downshifting unnecessarily and thinks 5k rpm for extended periods is the thing to do for even the very slightest incline. When I turn it off it does the same speed fine at 2.5 rpm same conditions.

Really the first thing I’ve found I genuinely disliked about the truck.

 

My brother has a pretty bad ass 2nd gen and he gets out of my truck giggling like a school girl. I have no idea where all this dick measuring comes in, but it nearly always involves an "upgraded" version of what someone else bought. People always want to justify their purchase and reluctance to change. It's human nature to defend your ego. The 3rd gen Tacoma was an upgrade in nearly all meaningful ways, period. Are we really comparing the engines? Stop light to stop light it's no contest, towing no contest, passing power I make him look like he has an anchor on his hitch. I pulled him pretty good getting onto the Interstate with 800 lbs of landscape rock on a utility trailer while he had nothing. Sure he can chirp his tires better than I can from a dead stop, but what is the comparison? Transmissions? Mine does exceptionally well, especially in ECT. The cruise control programming on the 3rd gens is an EPIC fail. That's all Toyota. Horrible. Other than that I can't think of a reason I'd want to go back.

 

Driving up an incline is user error. Got it.

 

Found On Road Dead

 

On the ranger,

I have seen more new jeep trucks in the last week than I have rangers, since the ranger was released

 

Were you in Drive or S5 with ECT on when towing that trailer?

 

It's simple, some people are too stupid to own a Tacoma.
They make Fords for them.

 

Everyone struggling and not liking the way the 3.5 auto tows should get the manual. It doesn't hunt for gears and is in what rpm band YOU select so there is no complaining. Mine tows a 3,200lbs Nissan Maxima on a 2,000lbs trailer with a bed full of gear just fine. Hills both up and down.