Moving from 2nd Gen to 3rd...what to know

Right. I wonder if these same people hop in a tractor and cry because it doesn't redline high enough.

It's a different engine. The driving style needs to be adjusted. Want power? Put it in a gear that has the rpms over 3500

 

Exactly.....so in my experience, you control the shifting more in the auto. Toyota certainly gives you the option. At least in The posts I read, many just throw the trans in D and expect the computer to do something it wasn’t set up to do, go fast with good acceleratiin . It’s programmed for economy.

 

Exactly. But, many of these guys had the 4.0. You can drive all day under 2000 rpm and still Get lively performance under 3000.
Really, it’s like driving a four cylinder till it gets up there.

 

I had two second gens before this. One AT and one MT. Wheeled both. People get butt hurt and fixed on a number. Rpm is irrelevant. Put it where your truck is making the ft-lbs. If you have the same bandwidth that puts out better torque just at a different range, it's up to the driver to adapt to the truck.

 

Sorry, for me it depends on use and on what you’re using it for and rpm is totally relevant. It’s why I chose a kubota over a John Deere and a 2015 taco over a 2016. One reason I expressly chose a 2015 over the next gen 2016 was because I towed with a 2004 4 runner with exactly the same motor. Technically they tow the same weight. The 4.0 is just a better motor for trucks and does it much easier and with less fuss. There is little debate. Plus of course...I was cheap and got the 2015 OR for the same price as a 2016 sr5.

 

DON'T DO IT!!!

 

No, no it does not. 225ft-lbs at 2700rpms vs 225-ft-lbs at 3400rpms is still 225 ft-lbs. First gear is really the only place you see a difference until you're put in the power band. The difference is great for arm chair bragging rights, but not really a factor in the real world.

And arguing which tows better between the 3rd gen and 2nd is like arguing if spaghetti is easier to eat with a knife or a straw.

The right tool is a fork. Or for towing, a full size. The difference is just not enough between the two and for the rest of the world who drives and tows with bigger trucks, we always laugh at this topic.

 

That’s not quite right.

If vehicle speed were the same in both cases, 225 ft-lbs at 3400rpm would be a good bit more torque at the wheels than 225 ft-lbs at 2700rpm.

You only need 179 ft-lbs at 3400rpm to have the same torque at the wheels as 225 ft-lbs at 2700rpm if the truck was traveling at the same speed down the road.

That’s why power matters, not just torque, and that’s why power and gearing can mean a smaller engine that can rev higher can be faster than a larger engine if it is allowed to operate in its optimal powerband with the right gearing.

Like you said, having low end grunt is nice from a stop to avoid needing high rpms, but that’s really why electric motors are ideal for it.

Jeff

 

Gonna stick, with my 07...I love the spirited debate though!

 

No an automatic that felt sluggish and herky jerky.

 

I have an 07 and had an 18 as a rental while I got my frame replaced. I seriously liked the ride in my 07 better.

 

Do you like the gas mileage better too?

 

The problem is I don't like wringing out the engine to get power - it makes it less day to day friendly.

 

Couldn’t pay me to go back to a 2nd gen. My 3rd gen tows better, looks better, and the mileage is way better. There is seriously nothing about a second gen that would ever want me to go back. The 4.0 was great but this 3.5 is just as good if not better. Push the pedal, the truck scoots quite well.

 

the 3.5L is a better allarounder than the 4.0L, IMO. You need it, crank it up. You don't, let it simmers down and saves you money.

Ideally, a hybrid is great but given that it is a pickup truck and for its intended purposes, hybrid is complex and expensive. You wade it in the puddle once, you have a lifetime of headaches. Pickup trucks are built for abuses and modifications, not to make it jump off the line to impress anyone.

Trust me, If Toyota put a hybrid into the Tacoma, you will see how quickly the resale value gets bombed. And 4-5 years from now when all these skateboard electric trucks hypes die down, you will see what a bad idea it really is.

 

Zero issue here.

Again, another case of the driver not adjusting to the truck. 99% of the issues out there.


165k on an 06' access cab. 130k on a 11' double cab and now 59k on a 17'.

Love hearing the rental stories though.

 

For these engines 3500 isn't that high. Hell to go up over the mountain to Tahoe I usually have it around there and in "S"uper mode to keep it from upshifting so I can maintain speed and accelerate quicker if need be.

 

A truck should really have some low end torque.

 

True, and it would be nice if it had more, but as it sits it's not a bad. If I'm nitpicking then I agree with you, but day to day it more than enough get up and go.

 

You're right.



Boy do all the Tacomas suck compared to trucks that need low end torque.



Sincerely,

The dude with the 3500hd work truck, 60gal fuel cell, rack body, and 1600lb welder who also operates heavy machinery on the side of mountains installing 30k gallon fuel systems.

Yes. Familiar with torque. As someone who's owned both and has thousands of actual trail miles vs "I had a rental for a week", the power is fine.