Moving to CO and thinking about the 3rd gen 3.5

My wife and I are moving to Co Springs this summer. I currently have the 2nd gen 2.7L and it struggles going up hills in the Appalachian Mountains. I was thinking of upgrading to the 3rd gen but they only offer a 3.5L engine.

In y'all's experience does the 3.5L 3rd gen engine suffice in the Rockies? I don't want to make the same mistake of going underpowered twice.

Any insight is helpful!

Thanks,

 

My 3.5 has been fine for 140k plus miles in CO. The bigger issue for most is usually the transmission hunting on hills. I usually bump it over to S mode and pick the necessary gear for the hill climb. The 3.5 is happy to rev out if you're willing to let it.

It comes down to what your expectations and needs are.

 

If you are running stock gears, upgrade. Keep the 2nd Gen and re-gear to 4.88s or 5.29s. The 2.7 isn't the issue, it is how it is getting that power to the ground. Give it mechanical advantage by re-gearing. My 3.5L 2021 TRD Sport Auto hunts like a m-f'er in the Colorado and Wyoming mountains. It is plenty of motor for the Taco it just doesn't have the gears I need. 5.29 Nitros are on the list as soon as I have a few gs to spare.

Check out the 4.88 and 5.29 mega threads on the forums. I bet you will find some bubbas with your motor/trans/year rig and their experiences with performance gains (or losses?) making the switch. Grass isn't always greener when switching to a 3rd Gen.

 

Test drive test drive test drive

The 3.5L has plenty of power for the Rockies, as long as you are willing to press the gas pedal and rev it a bit.

Most modern cars have the power to drive safely in the Rockies. Maybe not quickly, but safely. Get an “underpowered“ manual vehicle, drop it into 3rd gear and see how it does at lower highway speeds (aka not 85mph) uphill. You might be surprised.

 

I live at 7000' and easily go over 12,000' with my '17 TRD OR DCLB automatic. I have the OV high octane tune, TRD cat back one-piece exhaust, Green Filter, HPS intake hose, and TRD Intake Air Accelerator.
The 3rd Gen engine/ AT transmission ECU system learns how you use the skinny pedal. Do Not low rpm lug this V6 engine, it is designed to rev high and that helps the odd shift points. S-Mode works very well including ECT.

 

my 2019 works pretty well. its pretty much all stock. i've only floored it a couple times to pass someone on a 2 lane road. i dont tow anything but have had a bed full of camping stuff with a rtt on top. im also not trying to race or go too fast.

coming from a 2004 expedition, this thing is loads better.

everyone seems to have their own expectations though.

if your 2nd gen is 4wd, just bring that out here and see how it does before getting something different.

also, i thought you could still get a SR access cab with a 2.7 4wd

 

The 3.5l is a dog but it is still enough for the mountains out here. You won’t break any speed records but it’s safe.

 

I would wait for the 4th gen. Turbo will make up for the altitude.

 

My 2nd gen 4.0 is great in the mountains. Even loaded down for my camp/fishing trips it has done well

 

You definitely won't be the slowest thing going up the mountain roads. That being said, forced induction really helps out here. My Expedition, tuned for 93 octane, eats up the hills. I just got a 2020 manual 3.5L Taco so the Expy can be more of the family hauler for trips. I really hope to be able to add the supercharger to it.

 

It does well but probably won’t blow you away or anything. Never had any issues though, even loaded with 4 adult males a bed full of camping gear and towing a raft trailer.

 

My 3.5 made it to the top of pikes peak once.


Ive driven some absolute dogs through the mountains. Once upon a time some of those same grades couldn't be climbed faster than 45 mph. The 3.5 is not a dog. It's kept my trailer sailing at the speed limit all across Colorado, no matter how much the Coloradoans complain about it.

 

I’m new to the Tacoma world, just switched over from a great 2004 4Runner. Took it up to the hills for the first time last weekend over Loveland pass to ABasin and it was great, no complaints! In general you shouldn’t worry about moving slowly on I70 because most of the time you won’t be going over 35mph due to this being the constant state of i70!


Okay it’s not that bad… at least that’s what I tell myself. Plus down in the springs you’ll probably be going on highway 24 most of the time to access the mountains. In my experience that way always feels like a more pleasant experience than driving 70! Welcome to Colorado!

 

I own a 4 cylinder ‘05 and a ‘16 3.5 v6
They are different on stock gears for sure.
Regearing a 4wd kinda sucks price-wise. I did it on my ‘02 Tundra and I’m stoked on the result but 3.91 to 4.56 in a v8 with a tire size upgrade is a different ballpark.

My ‘05 is a 2wd and I’m contemplating 4.56 (not much of a bump from 4.30) or 4.88 but I’m scared of 5.29 with only 5 speeds. If I had the 4.0 and 6 gears it might be different.

I wish I had the driving experience to advise on how much difference a regear makes for the 2.7L

But, TLDR, a stock 3rd Gen Tacoma isn’t necessarily going to solve what I think you are concerned about.

 

SO much this, I think vast majority have done a re-gear. A few have "updated their tune" and a few done both.

 

I have no issues with my '21 MT OffRoad. It has a Human Transmission Interface with a highly developed and adaptive learning algorithm for shifting into the proper gear when going up hills or passes . When traversing hills or passes, select a gear that keeps your RPMs over 3500 and you won't have many issues.

 

You will have zero issues, mine has been >11,000' many times/places in the West. Compared to your g2, the g3 will be a rocket sled. You will be happy.

 

It sucks here. Try Kansas. Otherwise welcome to the forum!!!

 

Honestly, my advice is to supercharge the 4-cyl. Don't bother with the 3.5. It has issues with off-camber PCV leaks and oil pressure management. Its powerband and gearing is quite bad for mountains, too. Regearing is required.