4 cyl./better gas milage, long bed vs. 6 cyl. 5 speeds, shorter bed

I never bought a new truck in my life and never thought I would, but recently I did it. I will be traveling around the U.S. (highways, not off-road)...so I figured I should buy a 4 cylinder for good milage, plus I want to put a camper and sleep in it and the V6 trucks have less bed space...so I tried the Access Cab 4 cyl. automatic and really liked it...for what I need, it seems to be just right...not to say that I don't like the V6 trucks. Now, I'm here trying to reassure myself that I made the right choice. If I'm just traveling highways..do I really need a bigger truck and 1 more gear?

What do you guys think? Don't be too harsh on me.

 

OP, u should set up a poll, with all available options for vehicles.you will get a faster result and a much easier read.

But if u dont feel like it, I vote for a v6 dbl cab with a SIX foot bed. U wont regret it witrh the power and for hauling. Just my 02.

 

With a camper in the back, I'd probably go with the V6 AC or DCLB myself. The four would use less fuel (and is a very good engine) but the transmission on the 6 is much more robust and more able to take heat in the mountains. I don't know if the 4 speed has a tranny cooler or not.

Probably with an AAL for the weight of the camper.

Now if I was using a tent, I'd use a 4 cylinder 5-lug without a shred of a regret.

 

Personally, I like the 4 cylinder. My '99 Taco was a V6 and I felt it had too much power unless you're hauling a trailer. Love my 4 banger with 5 speed. Plenty of get up and go.

 

If you plan on running 70 to 75 MPH you will see little if any gas mileage difference between the V6 and 4 Cylinder.If you plan on running 55 to 60 MPH or around town you will see a little more gas mileage with the 4 Cylinder.If you don't plan on having rear seat passengers the access cab with the six foot bed is a good choice.Remember that the more weight that 4 cylinder has to haul around the harder it will be on fuel.The 5 luger should get better MPGs than a prerunner or 4X4.The 5 luger has less weight and sets lower to the ground and higher gear ratio that will give more MPGs.

 

Thanks for all of the input guys.

I didn't realize that there was an automatic, 4 cylinder-5 speed available??

 

I really like my 4cyl reg cab 4x4. I can fit my boys in there, I pretty much only drive it back and forth to work, but it's plenty comfy on the highway. Ton of highway power. I had an 04 frontier with the vg33 and the 4cyl toyota has more power on the highway then my old frontier with a v6. I'm perfectly happy with it, and it gets great gas mileage. I put a tool box in the back to fit anything I can't carry in the cab. I don't think it'll fit a camper shell though, even if it could fit a camper shell I don't think it'd do well with the 4cyl.

 

Thanks Black Seven for making me feel better about my purchase.

That was going to be my next question... How will this small 4 cyl. handle a camper shell?? (it won't be loaded down with any other extra weight...maybe some bigger tires later)

 

oh...but yours is a 4x4

5 speed?

 

Yes, 5spd manual. And by camper shell i mean like one of the ones that slides in the bed, not a cap.

 

I want to get a regular fiberglass camper, to sleep in. Will this be a problem for this small 4 speed truck.

So 5 speeds are only available on 4 cyl. models as manual??

 

I have the V6, campershell. The truck gets 19MPG on 91 octane (manual trans is lower MPG on the V6). If I was going to be traveling cross country for an extended period of time, and fuel cost was a factor, I would give up the extra power to gain MPG.

My work truck is 4cyl 5 speed manual with a lot of weight in the back and a high profile shell on it. Never taken a long highway trip in it, but it gets 18MPG in town with a lead foot. I suspect it would get 25MPG highway with a reasonable load and low profile shell. It has plenty of power, just have to rev it up for the steeper hills.

 

I have a 4 cylinder dcsb and I still haul all my gear for paint balling. And 3 others with two.coolers 10 boxes of paint and 5 people in my truck just fine going uphill about 20 miles from my house. On the first month I had it, I had to move some patio furniture. (table and 4 chairs) 50 miles round trip with 3 full size men. I was surprised it went up hills just fine.

 

I had a 96 Tacoma 4x4 5sp with the 2.7L 4cyl in it.

I also had a slide in Camper which I travelled well over 10,000km's with, with absolutely no issues.
Actually I turned 400,000 km's with the camper in while up in New Found Land.
I needed to add airbags, and fuel economy wasn't any better then the V6, but you'll be fine.

Shawn

 

No, you should not have any problems. I have a regular cab 4cyl auto and get 26mpg with about 80% highway driving. I had a cap on it for a few months and it made no difference in mpgs or felt power. The 4cyl is a great motor and will give you all of the power you need for your driving and you will get better mpgs compared to the 6cyl.

 

DCLB FTMFW

 

4 cylinder doesnt have tranny cooler.

 

^^^^^(GOOD INFO)^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Thanks to everyone for the info.

Hey Sutter...was your 4 cyl. truck a 4 speed or 5?

I'm ok with my new little truck, but it's just the 4-speed thing. I was used to a 5 speed, but now my legs are messed up so it is a pain to drive a standard especially for traveling long periods of time.

Are 5 speeds available on 4 cyl. trucks only as a manual transmission??

 

5 speeds only come as manuals on the 4 cylinder, and the last year they offered the 4x4, access cab, 4 cylinder, with the 5 speed manual was 2010, they discontinued that combination for some reason.

If you want an automatic and a 4 cylinder, the only option you have is the 4 speed automatic transmission