Is gear hunting fixed in the 2021 Tacoma?

I went from a 2017 to a 2021, the 2021 does not hunt as much as my 2017 and feels like it holds gears much better on inclines.

 

My buddies 2019 trd does the exact same sometimes when you let off the throttle then make a turn. Engine races like the transmission shifted in neutral....which it likely did.

 

I am used to much quicker vehicles. However, acceleration on the Tacoma is not a strong point; it needs 4,000 rpm to be on that power band but is shifting too early.

Finally just had to sit back and channel my inner thought of my old FJ60. It always got me where I was going, but never the first one there. Then again, since I was "Tail end charlie," I was always the one to pull Jeeps out.

 

I test drove one a few years ago. Can’t remember for sure, but it was either an 18 or a 19. I remember it searched for gears and shifted pretty constantly. I didn’t buy the truck and kept what I had.

Later I test drove my current 2020. I found that it was much better and didn’t seem to have any trouble holding the right gear.

 

Wow. my 2017, rear tire would easily break loose .

 

Idk, my 2020 v6 is far from what i'd call slow. Yesterday a newer chevy tahoe pulled behind me, and tried to race me up an entrance ramp to the highway to pass me. Saw him buried in my rear view mirror the entire way, but couldn't make the pass. I ended up with this guy a few feet off my rear bumper for a dozen miles following me all the way to tractor supply's parking lot when he pulled along side looking pissed, and then sped off. People are weird. Don't know what his problem was.

 

My 2018 did the gear hunting thing, my 2020 does not. I must say cruise control takes some getting used to. Drove it 1200 miles (total) back and forth to my home state of Nebraska from IL. First time the 2020 was on a long trip. The long rolling hills of Iowa was the area that the cruise control was either quite good (helpful) or a detriment at times. Got 19 mpg, I think 2000 rpm at 80 mph. Drove extremely well but did feel a bit under powered on longer climbs, but overall was quite pleased with the driving. Seats were comfortable and suspension took bumps like a champ.

 

I often wonder how much of the gear hunting problems are a result of people keeping their lead foots buried on the pedal, expecting the Tacoma to be a high performance sports car. I test drove a '19 auto and manual, and a '21 auto before purchasing my truck and have to say that I didn't really experience any odd shifting - even on the '21 with 0 miles on it I felt like the computer did what I would expect in an automatic. If anything it was very responsive and shifted smoothly.

Temper expectations. Know you're buying a light duty pick up that you will mostly use to get groceries and brag to coworkers who know nothing about it's off-road prowess. That's what I do, anyways.

 

At 80 mph my auto v6 spins more rpm than that. Thought all these v6 automatics were geared the same?

 

Don't those modified turbo diesel trucks take forever to get moving until they build boost?

 

OEM wheels, tires and diff at 80 mph, you will be at or around

• 2000 RPMs in 6th gear
• 2400 RPMs in 5th
• 3400 RPMs in 4th
• 5100 RPMs in 3rd
• 7200 RPMs in 2nd

Stole this from somewhere on the forum...

Never had a turbo diesel, but I'd imagine there's not much lag since my 1JZ is spooling a turbo the size of my head in no time, and those diesels are able to push a lot more exhaust than my little 2.5 i6.

 

Or ask yourself this question: "If Toyota has addressed the gear hunting issue, why are there literally dozens and dozens of threads dedicated to vF, KDMAX, OV Tune and other 'fixes'?"

 

Never had a gear hunting issue truck drove great right off the lot drives better after about 2000 miles. I really think the gear hunting issue is people who stomp on accelerator expecting the truck to just take off. You need to learn the skinny pedal it takes some fineness.

 

Or you don’t drive up the mountains

 

I don't think there is much lag on a stock TD. I don't know what the modifications include, but the factory tuning is changed to where the engine has less power and more lag. That is until the turbo builds boost, and then delivers more power.

I see older diesel pick ups that performe like this on the road.

 

Drove across half the US twice up over mountains both times never an issue.

 

Ok if you said so

 

I live in the Smokies.
They aren't much, but they are mountains.
No shifting issues with my '18, and no TSB's applied.

 

Toyota’s “fix” is still geared towards meeting EPA standards. It may satisfy some but still lacking for most. Whereas @OVTune, KDTune et al provide the solutions that fit what the driver wants. With this vehicle a one size tune does not fit all. It’s what happens when the gov’t tells car makers how it’s going to be. You end up with a lukewarm, vanilla flavoured, driving experience.

Then, along came Mathew.

 

My 2019 lugs into higher gears (3-4-5) as soon as it can and the pedal/throttle response is relatively muted. Of course this is all in the name of maximizing fuel efficiency. While not optimal from a driving experience point-of-view, these behaviors are highly predictable and I've learned how to drive my truck to minimize unwanted lugging or revving. I engage and disengage my CC frequently on the interstate, knowing that my foot, but not the CC computer, can keep the truck in 6th gear going up a slight incline. I also use S mode quite frequently to cycle through 5th gear when, say, merging onto the interstate.

Overall, I really have no complaints but may get TSB-0092 or KDMax 6.0 more out of curiosity than anything.