2.7L for towing 1500-2000 lbs

Gotcha. So the I4 doesn't have a Auxiliary transmission cooler? Do people who tow a lot with the V6's put in after market ones?

 

Yes to both and they do it on I4 as well.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/easy-transmission-cooler-install.731014/

 

The I4 is definitely under-powered. Wish I'd been able to get the v6.

 

You're not missing much champ

 

Good to know, not that I'm towing with this one yet. Just commuting so far.

 

I4 = 159 HP.
V6 = 278 HP.

Not missing much ? ? ? Seems substantial to me.


But I'm old...

 

I'm in camp 6.

Also, get the SR5 over the SR. You will want some creature comforts, like intermittent wipers.

I had a bare bones ram with the smaller engine. Crank windows and bare floors. It had air and a radio and that's about it. I enjoyed it for what it was, but in a lot of ways life was made less comfortable by it. I'm still a guy that doesn't like top trim luxury, but I no longer want to suffer with an engine that can't get out of it's own way or never having those mid tier options. It really sucked going on road trips and not having cruise control.


Just saying.

 

Practically, it's still slow.

Mathematically, 1.74x of slow is still slow.

 

I think 2021 SR now has intermittent wipers standard (the SR work package seat delete may still have the two speed ones) and cruise is a $79 part plug and play IIRC

 

Hahaha. OK, if you think so. I would think you could feel that much difference in HP in the seat of your pants while driving. Perhaps it has to do with your driving technique...

Maybe a 3/4 ton with a diesel would suit your needs better.


But I'm old...

 

The myths being tossed around in this thread about the resale value of the I4 being less and hard to sell are just that, myths and not true at least where I live. Checked just for fun and Carvana offered me around 4k more than I paid for mine new. Recently had mine serviced, dealer had been trying to get me to trade or outright buy mine for more than I paid. I4s don’t stay on the lot long nor do the V6’s here.
Not selling I have exactly what I wanted.
2021 and I think even 2020 SR has intermittent wipers, although the Utility package deletes it for 2020 others have said their 2021 Utility came with intermittent wipers. Just have to check. In any case it was easy for me to add that on my 2019.

 

The I4 will pull what you want to pull. But the V6 will pull what you want to pull a lot better. I have the V6 and often pull a utility trailer loaded with 2000-4000 lbs. I know it's back there even with 2000 lbs. Sometimes you need power to spare in order to accelerate at an interstate on ramp or to fit into an opening in traffic to change lanes. The V6 gives you that option.

Percentage of resale value may, or may not be the same. But it certainly won't be any worse on the V6 and even if it costs you $6K more initially, you'll get that back when it's time to sell/trade down the road. Not enough difference in fuel mileage for me to put up with the lack of performance.

 

I own both. My 2017 SR utility 4x4 access cab is a manual 5 speed. I believe 2017 was the last year for a manual transmission with the 2.7 motor. I would say 2k is probably the max towable. Truck is fairly slow unladen. It would have its work cut out for it in stop and go traffic or on difficult terrain. And really NO noticeable improvement in fuel economy vs. the V6. But I bought the for it’s simplicity, legendary reliability and the fact that it was $24,142 new from Kings Toyota in 2017. I wish I had bought a couple more for that price. You can’t touch it now for that.

 

Legendary reliability of the I4 is spot on. Just for fun a while back I did a search of engine issues for the V6 and the solid cast iron block I4 because of all the V6 owner “I4 is a turd” type comments lol. That tweaked a few V6 owners haha
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4-banger-sucks.726696/page-7#post-25924135

 

Imo, if towing anything 2k lbs or over, you'll be far happier with the v6. I've towed that weight with the 22r powered motor in my 86 4x4 toyota pickup. It barely got the job done. I had a 93 v6 3.0 that wasn't a whole lot better, and i gotta believe it at at least 150 hp. The latest tacoma is much heavier powered by a proven 160 hp 4 banger, but at a 160 hp in a 4k lb truck thats towing 2k or more just won't cut it when you need it. I found the v6 3.5 v6 tacoma today is worlds better towing my 2k lb boat...like it was made just for it.

 

When did toyota delete the transmission cooler in the gen3 tacoma? My 2020 has one you can clearly see by the radiator.

 

Haha, I mean I have the V6, drove the 2.7L. Didn't feel much of a difference in practice (Horsepower is just one factor of vroom vroom difference). if money was a factor like it seems to be for OP, and I wasn't towing 11,000lbs, I would've took the 2.7L. Either one is cool IMO, I just don't think one is "so much better/faster" than the other.

However, I think the 2.7L can last a lot longer than the V6. The guy with the million mile Tacoma is on a 2.7L (original engine)

 

Engine's that work easier last longer. I beat the crap out of my old 22r which was a proven 4 banger, but at 90k it was very tired.

 

Fair, but doesn't the 2.7L have higher revs at every speed?

 

My 2017 2.7l access cab 4x4 5mt was adequate, even with around 1000 lbs in the bed, going cross country from TN to Colorado on multiple trips hauling motorcycles and gear. Sure, I found myself downshifting a bit on the interstate at 75 mph on the slightest grade, and in the mountains I could barely do 55 mph uphill, but I was technically doing the speed limit, and wasn't being passed by everyone like I was a rolling chicane.
I was able to cruise at 75 mph with a 16' tandem axle trailer with my 1980 pickup on 37's for a couple of hours without issue.
Now you can only get a manual transmission in a double cab short bed v6 TRD, so that's what I'll probably get when I'm ready to buy a new truck again. Crazy how they just keep taking away one option after another until all we'll be left with will be black, Grey, or white v6, 4door, automatic TRD's with sunroofs, heated/cooled leather seats, and all the safety nannies, for $50k, take it or leave it, and no you don't get to choose the color.
Just like the Land Cruiser and 4runner, there will be no stripper models, and no unique colors, and plastic bits will come along to kill approach and departure angles a little more each time they redesign the bumpers, and the people who wanted a rugged offroad truck will be shelling out $40k for 1st gen tacos with a 3.4 and 31's....
Sure wish I had just kept my 2.7, 5 speed 4x4 lol....