Burning clutch in reverse

This may be driver error so feel free to tell me how to go backwards.

If I have to back up my truck, especially over obstacles or up hills with a load, I frequently kill the engine. I don't have this problem ever in 1st gear going forward. My feeling is that the reverse gear is way too high - at least much higher than 1st gear. I mean the truck can really go fast in reverse and seems to need me to rev the engine quite high as I release the clutch to avoid killing the engine. So if I am trying to maneuver backwards up a hill or over rocks/holes, I end up with clutch burning smell. Anybody else? Why is it geared this way? Why would anybody ever want to go fast in reverse? Driver error? I have started the habit of just putting the truck in 4 low to avoid the issue.

tx

 

It’s not an uncommon complaint

Can do 2lo mod so you don’t have to be in 4wd

 

It's normal and a byproduct of a hypoid differential, it takes more force to get over obstacles due to counter force.

4lo or 2lo mod is ideal.

 

Thank you. I had no idea I could do 2lo!

 

Just keep on doing what you've been doing. 4X4 is helpful backing up hills anyway since most of the weight is on the front axle even when loaded. It's harder to get traction with the rear wheels when backing up a hill because they aren't firmly planted to the ground. This is even more of a problem backing a trailer up hill. It's darn near impossible with a manual.

The real problem is that most modern engines and axles are not designed to work with manual transmissions. This is true of all trucks and why most of them no longer offer a manual. You are right that reverse isn't geared low enough, but your engine needs 3600 rpm to get max torque which is pretty common with most modern engines. 3rd gens need 4600 rpm. This isn't a handicap with an automatic, but it is with a manual.

Old school trucks made prior to the 1990's got their torque at 2000-2500 rpm which meant you don't have to burn up the clutch to get loads moving. The new 4th gen trucks have addressed this and get their torque below 3000 rpm so they should work better with a manual.

When I started driving 4X4's they had 3 sticks in the floor and manual locking hubs. It was easy to go to low range and not engage 4X4 and/or not lock the hubs. But they had labels on the dash and in the owner's manual warning drivers not to do so. I've seen guys break U-Joints who ignored the warnings.

They no longer put the warnings in the owner's manual because it's impossible to do it from the factory. For the limited time you would need low range you'd likely do less damage just using 4 lo than risk breaking something in 2 lo.

 

If the hills you are backing up are pavement, going slowly, and you need to steer 2lo is 100% the best option.
I use mine all the time for work to back up customers driveways with a loaded bed and occasionally when trying to maneuver a trailer. With 4lo you can only go in a straight line.

Using 2lo properly and in the right conditions won't damage anything. But trying to gas it over an obstacle in 2lo it sends a lot of torque through just the rear driveline which can lead to failure in the weakest link.

 

Thank you. I am usually carrying a 1000 lb camper and frequently backing uphill (narrow dirt road turn arounds etc). Seems like 2 lo might be risky in this scenario?

 

If you can use 4lo without it binding then that's what I would use.
But if it binds when turning then 2lo is what you would need. Just go slow, not give it tons of gas, and don't spin the tires.

Here are some 2lo threads for further reading or getting the opinion of other users who have it.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2lo-modules.708941/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2lo-kit-for-2nd-gens.554456/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-2wd-low-range-for-the-3rd-gen-tacoma.614743/

 

It doesn't matter where peak torque is for backing up a trailer. You're not going to hit peak torque while backing up no matter where it falls in the rpm range. What is needed more than anything is gear reduction, and Toyota simply does not deliver on that with the manual transmissions platforms, with the reverse ratio only being 3.73 or 3.385 on the 2G and 3G trucks. Even if you had more torque delivered lower in the range, it would still struggle to back up anything meaningful. The gearing is what matters.

Backing up a trailer in 2L is highly unlikely to break anything at all. Offroad sure, but most aren't using 2L there.

 

Id add 2lo to your options if I were you
Use it, if tires are spinning, go to 4lo

 

This is why 2LO exists whether you do it electronically or manually via FJ tcase mod setup.

 

I was just talking about this last week. I park on a hill in the city in the mornings and sometimes have to parallel park. Reverse is just too fast fully engaged, so I have to feather the clutch and always burn it. The worst is when leaving and having to engage reverse before slamming into the car in front of me, but not too fast to plow into the one behind me. Then just speed away before the smell and shame hit me.

 

LOL! Yah, my wife thinks it's driver error. I'm going to show her this thread.