3rd gen tacoma is a dog

The tunes do not make it drive like a normal vehicle. I bought the 2.0 tune pack under that impression, and was wrong. It basically drives the same with a tiny bit more power. Still won’t hold a speed or downshift going up a hill without loosing ~5km/h. The engine doesn’t mind high revs. It’s designed to be wound out a bit.

 

I know about that but shouldn’t have to spend all that money on a $40k truck not to mention what that would do for my warranty. It’s only got 15,000 miles

 

I'm always confused why people complain about the drivetrain. Did you not test drive the thing? It's pretty apparent 5 minutes into the test drive that it favors fuel economy and geared too high IMO. That said, you have 300 lbs in florida and are having issues...I don't think anything you do short of regearing will be enough. Tune, ETC mode helps but is more of a bandaid IMO.

 

Reason I got a 2nd gen

OP, do you have any tires or a lift kit? That makes it a little worse

 

Can you not slip into sport mode and/or drop it down a gear when you carry a load?

 

I’ll just keep winding it up.

 

I tried every combination and it sucked in all of them. I wouldn’t even consider this a load. A 225 lb mx bike and some gear. Does the same thing empty. It’s just the way it is

 

Yeah I don't think the OVTune changed my opinion too much, but it definitely helped wake the truck up. The low end isn't there, that's what everyone is missing out on and there's no replacement for that outside a new truck. I'm curious how gears will do, but at the same time I'm tired of dumping money to try and make me like my truck again. 2k gamble.

Ever heard of the honeymoon phase?... Can test drive a truck all you want, sometimes you can just be blinded by one thing and it'll fade.

 

ECT button should help. Push it. Then report back.

 

I don't get why you think 3500rpm is high on these trucks, I towed my 3500lb camper in s4 at 4000rpm in the mountains of NH and had plenty left to pass vehicles as needed no problems.

 

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I’ve hit 5500 rpm when in cruise behind a slower vehicle and then pulled to pass, it tried to make the speed set point up all at once lol. Sweet sound at higher rpms, smooth running truck. Typically 2100-2200 at highway speeds, sometimes 3500, I’m happy with it.

 

All comes down to area and speed limits. When I visited back home I was getting low 20s in NH, in the midwest I get 13 on a good day. (rpms aside).

 

Yes it's a dog. Yes it's made to rev high.

Also, anyone telling you LT mud tire with one size up doesn't change anything is either lying or doesn't care that it does.

 

Why don’t you just trade it in for something else?

 

Wasn't there a TSB for the trans and shifting points?

 

Yeah 2”lift and 265/70 17 ridge grapplers. I did test drive it but not on 120 miles highway trip. It is what it is

 

Had it done and didn’t make a difference

 

Because I don’t want a payment right now. I paid cash for this truck expecting to keep it for awhile

 

You could trade it for something cheaper?