Complete Newbie ? about Auto vs Manual

I've only driven manual (1989) pre-tacomas off road and I can creep down a rocky, semi-steep road very slowly without much braking using 1st low. My question is in an Automatic 2006 TRD Sport Tacoma, is there going to be a gear that will allow me to do the same without much braking? I guess I'm asking is an automatic transmission going to allow me to do the same things I can do with a manual one? I'd appreciate any help you can give me. Doug Dillingham Ohio City, Colorado.

 

Yes and with my TRD OR I can use hill decent control or wtf it's called.

 

Hi Doug, Welcome to TacomaWorld!

The 2nd Gen automatic trans is great if you ask me. It allows you to shift from Drive to 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and Low. I use the Low gear when going down hills and it usually limits me to about 5-10mph depending on the grade. It's very useful to keep your brakes cool heading down the mountain. The shifter works by not allowing the transmission to shift any higher than the gear selected, so if you were in 2, the trans would not shift any higher than 2nd gear.

The TRD Off-Road has an optional downhill assist which utilizes the brakes but is very useful when going down steep hills with little traction.

 

ttt

 

I've got the automatic. Useing the DAC (downhill assist control) while in 4 low with the shifter in 1st gear will get you crawling down a steep desent...no need to even touch the brake pedal.

 

With the Sport 4x4 in L in 4LO , you creep pretty slow down hills , even without DAC

 

ttt

 

Still hopin' a couple more people will chime in and let me know if an automatic 2006 TRD Sport (without downhill assist control) will have a low enough gear to be able to CREEP down steep, rocky mountain trails without excessive braking like a manual transmission would allow me to do.

 

I don't know the answer directly, but I seem to recall that the granny gear in 4LO on the manual is a bit lower than the automatic.

 

Yes is the answer, you can crawl in 4L in L gear, with minimal braking or without.

 

As he said, I'd be surprised if you ever had to put your foot on the brake in low gear 4 low.

 

Did a test for you today OP

Decended a 15% gravel / rock grade today

Put the truck in 4LO , and in L

Decended the hill without touching the brakes once , the speedo needle never left the 1/8" thick line that signifies 0 on the speedometer , so I would guess I was going 1 MPH , maybe