Towing in 3.5L vs 4.0L

Perhaps this has been addressed already, but I have a question about towing power.

I have owned a few Tacomas, one of each generation, all V6. I currently have a 2017 Access Cab which I need to get out of because I need a double cab. With a baby boy here now, I need to move my wife from the jump seat behind me, up to the real passenger seat. My wife and I only drive standard transmissions...

I had a 2005 4.0L truck previously, but I didn't have to tow with it while I had it, I just remember it had a lot of torque and was geared really well. I have since moved into a 2017 3.5L truck, and it feels like it can't move out of its own way in comparison. I have towed a good deal with this new truck and I am forever underwhelmed by the torque... I usually just tow a car hauler with some track gear, totaling around 4500-5000lbs and it is just wheezing the whole time.

I once hooked my fathers 6000lb dual axle camper up to my 2017 and with the wind resistance, I floored my truck in 4th gear and it wouldn't go any faster than 55mph, that was it. Pathetic really.

I think the 3.5L engine with the gearing in the stick shift/axles, is unacceptably poor. I hate it.

Long story short.... Is the 4.0L torque as noticeable while towing like it is when unladen? I'm looking at going with a certified pre-owned 2nd gen rather than another 3rd gen, simply for the torque.

Thanks in advance.

Keith

 

I've towed with both and have no complaints. I've towed with a 3/4 ton Duramax and drove semi for 2 years also.

The Tacoma is what it is.....you can't put 6000 lbs behind any compact truck last I checked!

 

I tow a 3500-4000lb load pretty regularly. Trailer is a 14' Aluminum car carrier with a 1991 Miata on it. Also have a toolbox and a set of spare tires on it.
I used to have a 2019 4Runner with the 4.0L V6, and it struggled all around. Going up even slight inclines on a highway, it would make all sorts of noise and complain throughout. my 2020 Tacoma with the 3.5L V6 handles it like a champ.

 

The 3.5 is rated to tow more. The truck only feels like a dog with ECT turned off... but that's to be expected, and I don't mind it one bit.

I've towed a couple 3-4k # loads ~100 miles without any issues. I had ECT on in both cases.

 

OP has a MT with 4.30 rear end too. Strange that he had to floor it in 4th just go 55mph. Maybe something wrong with his truck?

 

So would you say the difference is insignificant in towing torque/gearing? The automatics seem to tow a lot different than the manual's. I think the autos just hang the revs higher and the truck is happier there. The chassis seems to hold up totally fine in my 3rd gen, it's just the lack of low end torque (sub 3500rpm) is my only complaint.

 

I brought my truck in a few times since new complaining about lack of power and the dealers always said it's just how they are. These MT have a 4.30 rear end?! Holy smokes where is the torque?!

 

Yes, I would. No Tacoma is going to pull 3 tons well.

Now, the 3.5 definitely will need to spin faster than the 4.0 for the same feeling of power, towing or not.[

 

what, that’s impossible. That would imply the manual isn’t perfect

 

Yup. Why do people insist on making a vehicle something it's not. I too had a 3/4ton Duramax/Allison combo. The thing was a beast and even with that if you towed 6,000lbs you knew it was back there. Especially a camper. What gets campers is their wind resistance.

 

Really tall transmission gearing so you dont feel the rear end

 

The manual in this truck is horrible. The 2nd gen was really good!

 

Hate to break it to you. But Manuals after the year 2010 in almost any car mfg. are after thoughts. Even the new JEEP manual was trash compared to the AUTO.

 

I had a 4.0 Taco years ago... torque difference is not that big IMO. These 2nd genners are acting like they have V8 Hemis under the hood or something...

 

I was referring more to the 4.30 rear end.
MT in the taco has its own little annoyances, we all know that. You tried though.

 

you guys are going to awaken them. RIP this thread

 

Yes i agree. I drove my buddies 4.0 and i dont fucking know what all these folks are talking about. Its got a hair more torque at low rpms, yes. But nothing too spectacular.

 

nah just wanted to see if I could manage to get under your skin this evening, I’ve fucked with you a few times on some other threads and it’s always enlightening

 

Welcome aboard!

 

I never said anything about towing 3 tons regularly. That's just for reference. I use my fathers duramax for big truck stuff. I use mine to tow a car hauler with a Lotus on it. Trailers don't get a lot easier to tow than that.

The 3rd gen truck has done everything very well. I admit I overload it all the time with a yard of topsoil, but it does fine with that.

I simply asked if anyone has any experience with both a 2nd gen and 3rd gen V6 MT, if the 2nd gen MT V6 trucks have any noticeable difference in towing capability. Not chassis stability or braking, just torque due to gearing/torque curves, etc.. That's it. And it sounds like the answer is no. Which is okay.