The SR thread, let's see them!

I'm in NJ too. My daily commute is about 35 miles one way. I noticed that anything over 65 seems to eat gas. I get my best gas mileage on short trips on back roads cruising 45-55 mph (if all my driving was like that I'd average around 22mpg). I do admit that I drive this 2.7 different than my 3.4 first gen. I'm lighter on the pedal, my 3.4 will get it at any point in the throttle band -- my 2.7, not so much -- it's kind of a turd- any time I mash the gas my mpg goes out the window and the truck immediately downshifts to find higher RPMs -- in return I just dont feel the ooooomph that my 20 year old 3.4 has. That being said --- I'm lighter on the throttle and at the pump much less in my 3rd gen. My 2k2 gets 16-18 consistently since day 1 even with 31s. This all equates to a couple extra days of driving without refueling, which adds up quick. Filling up every 6 days vs every 4 days is reason enough for me to adjust my driving habits and keep the RPMs low and travel the speed limit.

 

Thanks for the info! I’ve noticed I’m literally pedal to the floor a lot of the time yearning for more power but I guess I just need to learn to like the right lane which is difficult being in Jersey lol. Coming from a 425hp wagon it’s going to take a while to not drive like an a-hole. I guess driving 65 I’ll be on the other end of the a-hole spectrum in Jersey; not driving fast enough lol!

 

Yeah man. I totally get it.... it took a little getting used to. The left lane is a thing of the past in the 2.7 (if you want to keep mpgs at a reasonable level). You know as well as I that a 55mph speed limit here equates to 70-80

 

Congrats and welcome

 

I drive 18 everyday on the jersey shore, which is this weird zone of no cops. The locals aren’t allowed to sit on it because it’s a state highway and the troopers won’t drive down that far so it’s the Daytona 500 every morning. It’s not out of the ordinary to be set on cruise control at 90mph not having to worry about Johnny law.

 

You are probably right on the money with your sales manager scenario. I sold Toyotas for a short time a decade ago. I had a dick of a sales manager that seemed to reject all the deals I brought him, saying to go back to my desk and squeeze some more out of the buyer.

Then, one month I noticed he seemed to automatically OK every deal I brought him. It turned out that my Toyota region in fact did have a sales manager contest for a family vacation in the Caribbean. And my manager did win it!

 

Yep. I was at 25MPG or even a bit better with the skinny stock tires on the flat GSP. I went to 265s on Toyota Off Road wheels And I’m around 21 now. There’s also way better mileage at 65MPH than the 75 (at least) that is necessary on NJ highways.

 

Did the lighted mirror/sunvisor mod today. More details here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-sr-vanity-lights-via-sun-visor-swap.665608/#post-23974745

Happy wife, happy life.

 

So you went from 245/75/16s to 265/75/16s and lost 3-4mpg? That’s not that big of a tire increase is it? About 0.8” larger. Did you upgrade to alloys or keep steel stock? AT tread?

Interested as I’m looking at changing out my stock to 265s, and staying with 16’s but alloys (should be lighter)

 

Yes, I went from stock 245/75/16 road tires along with stock 16" steelies to 265/75/16 falken wildpeak at3w 114t (not the e load option) and scs f5 wheels. The wheel and tire setup weighs roughly 60lbs per corner which is pretty close to the stock weight (if not less). The f5s weigh 17-18 lbs each so they are super light. I did plenty of research on the lightest possible setup, while still having an aggressive looking tire and not breaking the bank.
I also removed my front air dam when I installed my tires and wheels as it was definitely going to interfere with the negative offset.
My truck only had 1200 miles on it when I swapped, but i was around the 22-24 mpg range bone stock. Now at 3k miles my last 3 fill ups were 20 on the nose (hand calculated and using the on board fuel economy tech). I averaged 19 on my first tank and i got about 21.5 on a tank as well. I honestly believe the air dam helps fuel economy to the tune of about 1-2 mpg.

Consider the fact that the wheels are pushed out about 2-3 inches further, the tires are roughly an inch wider, they are roughly an inch taller, aggressive tread compared to road tires, and the fact that the air dam was removed all play a part in mpg loss. I'm not complaining by any means. I knew the repricussion of upsizing, it's just something I monitor closely since I drive about 70-120 miles a day. I have a 96 and an 02 (both v6) both have 31x10.5x15 KO2s the 96 has a 3in lift and 15-17 is as good as it gets. The 02 isnt lifted at all and it gets 16-18. So either way I'm ahead of the game.

On short trips around town at 45mph or below taking it EASY on the gas I can get 25-26 mpg, but that's not tank average, and it's not ideal to drive like that just to get good mileage, so i just drive at a comfortable pace. The i4 is a turd without using ECT and having larger tires. My 02 has some ass to it, you step on the pedal and it gets up and goes. My 96 with a lift is also a turd

 

I hear you. How did the air dam interfere with the wheel offset?

I’m thinking about removing my air dam but may keep it on now.

 

Loosing a couple/few mpg isn't that big a deal when you get to drive a reliable pickup that doesnt look lame. Honestly my truck will stay this way for 15-20 years

 

The air dam curves in as it gets close to the tires, as soon as I got my tires and wheels mounted I had scrub radius rubbing. I took off the air dam, but that still didn't alleviate 100% of the problem, so I had to massage the fender liners in a few places. I also added small mud flaps, not really sure if they contributed to mpg loss, but its probably negligible .

 

Exactly the reason I decided on a 2.7, want to keep this thing for some time and hand over to my boy in 15yrs.

 

V6 is probably just as reliable. I have 2. Each with over 250k. They rot out before they break down

 

Great price on a nice topper. I bet it has a tool box on left side and glass windoor on passenger side and no carpet liner. When I bought mine off Missouri Craigslist, the seller had another topper just like yours for sale. My topper is same as yours without the rack. I paid $600.00. Adding a screen to my passenger windoor in prep for eventual camping trip.

 

Does the SR not have chrome vent rings, cup holder surround, door handles? It looks like yours are all black.

 

Correct - SRs never did. Meanwhile, the TRDbros were busy painting or plastidipping theirs

 

The only chrome on my SR was the 4x4 badge on the tailgate, the knob rings on the radio, the 4wd selector ring. Everything else is black or silver

Edit -- the sombrero on the steering wheel is chrome too. The tiny bits of chrome in the interior aren't annoying to me. The interior is real basic and blended

 

Man, the SR is really all you need, especially with the SX Package!

I think that chrome piece is really necessary to black out.

I really wish they'd do the SX in the double cab.