Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

New to TW. Old to Tacomas.
Born n raised in Wisco. Currently living west central.
You might see me lingering around here. From time to time.

 

My 4.56 puts me right around 2k RPM at 65 mph in 5th and will hold it on a good hill. For off roading , my truck stays in 4 high most of the time when I head out with the GRC, only used 4Lo once by myself the night before a GRC run. Got stuck at night but got myself out. ( somehow ) only on 32s at that time. I'm not sure why you'd need to go that low but hell go for it, I'd like to see how it works out for ya . And I'd get to see what 5.29 really does for your truck, sorry not trying to be a dick but I or we may be able to do a side by side comparison someday. Both trucks same size tire , Both locked , Different Gear Rato.

 

Here's a great site with gear ratio calculator to compare rpms and mph. http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html

 

In the spirt of friends helping friends spend money

This weekend only

 

Similar to the one(s) I have used. Seems spot on for the RPM's I use now in stock form on 33's. What is the ideal RPM for the 2nd Gen 4L at highway speed? Probably a subjective question (noise, feel, MPG etc.) The calculator says I would have 2560 RPM's at 70 MPH in 5th (5.29's) versus the 1900 I have now. Seems like a sweeter spot for the 4 L here as it could actually start up an incline without dumping to 3rd gear. Truck doesn't have much "umpff" at 2000 RPM in my opinion. Tune might help but come to find out the 2nd Gen and 2015 in particular are fussy to tune. Gears will help with the mess that I have. My thinking is do it once and go a bit over for the offroad advantage. It shocked me how much pedal I had to use in MOAB to get up things; and, as impatient as I am no wonder I broke the stupid thing. 4Lo felt like 4H to me...

 

Y'all driving these trucks on big tires with armor at 80 mph and complaining about gearing ... Slow tf down and it'll do fine lol.

I find it odd that you're struggling in 4Lo. Sure 2.52 isn't the lowest low range out there, but it's still quite. A bit. Unless you're trying to race over obstacles ....

What's fussy about 2015s for tuning?

 

No problem at all aside from it’ll be a little buzzy around 3k doing 80+. That’s going to be the same situation I’ll be in if I go down to a 34” and I’m not particularly concerned about it. Iowa of all states gave me the most annoying time on cruise control where it wouldn’t hold 5th gear in the rolling hills and made me consider what the correct gear ratio/tire size is for the second gen.

The older I’ve gotten, the more I’m not scared of deeper gears and turning some RPM. It’s a much more pleasant driving experience not hunting for gears and the mileage is about the same. We aren’t driving diesels with a sweet spot for cruise RPM that’s less than 500 RPM wide

80mph+ makes up some serious time and it not unusual out west where the speed limit is 75 on interstates and 65 on 2 lane highways.

 

Ah... 4lo is 2.57. Come on man, get the facts straight lol

The trip out to Moab I went up to 110MPH for a very short stint on some flat highway in CO. Had plenty of power left but that was the point truck felt like it was about to vibrate apart.

 

ECU may not be supported by VFTuner from what I've read in the KDMax tuning thread.

 

I found a cool potential campsite right in the area we were exploring in June. You have to go through a little mud to get there, though.

 

Mine's definitely happier at 65 than 80. But, it had no problem doing 80-90 with stock size tires.

With 285's and 295's I could definitely see the benefit of a regear, but for now I just leave it in S4 all the time.

It's not about racing over obstacles. It's about being able to creep up and down steep grades. A regear would help. But, I would love a better crawl gear.

 

Sounds perfect for @Supr4Lo

 

KDMax tuner said this. I don't know enough about tuning to know, but he wanted me to know there could/would be problems if we proceeded

 

I am trying to crawl over obstacles. Go find a big rock to put a tire on-try it in 4H and then 4l. Now imagine big steep things where just punching it isn't the right approach, but geared like you are in 4H... This si why I want a regear...

 

You need this https://northwestfab.com/collections/eco-crawler/products/eco-crawler-vf4

Best of both worlds, good highway then double low range for the rocks.

 

What size winch is needed to help pull a taco out of some mud? 5k# min?

 

My opinion (so take it for what its worth to you...) you are way too low at 5k. 9k maybe, but a loaded Taco in the mud might be a stretch. I have a 12k and have never felt like I have over taxed it (and I have been buried and considering calling for help) Proper set up is key and doubling can help a smaller winch succeed. I always want more than I need and with the price on the Bad Lands, just get the 12k then you don't have to worry.

 

Yes, more is better.