Access vs Regular cab

You 5 lug guys seem to have a different view on the power issue than us 4x4s

This isn't the first time I've seen 5 lugs say that there is ample power, once you take a 4x4, lift it and add slightly larger tires the 2.7 is a bit of a dog. Sure, I could regear but it's not really bad enough to justify it yet. Even with factory size tires I would never refer to my truck as a powerhouse

 

I think I might have found the issue

 

Right, it's certainly worse now

Even stock it wasn't real quick though.

That said I do love the 2.7, it is a torquey motor and is fine for what I do. Just a bit slow (granted I came from a v8 too )

 

Of course.
And no, it's not a powerhouse, but compared to the 22RE in a pre-Tacoma, it absolutely kicks ass.

Put bigger tires on anything and it'll hurt. Even with a regear, the weight of the tires still hurts and fuel economy takes a dump. Every couple of weeks I tell a 2.7 owner that if they put 32's (or larger) on their truck they are going to hate life.

But I don't see anything in the OP about any of that.
The only issue is his desire for towing.
But even that is fine if it is flat terrain. If it is hilly terrain, then he's definitely going to want a 4.0, but it is also going to come at the expense of MPG.

On the difference between RC and AC, I'd have an AC if one had been available in my price range when I bought my '08.
The AC with it's longer wheelbase is going to be more stable for towing, and that is important with a towing vehicle that weighs less than 5,000lbs.

 

Oh ya... my '03 Tundra was scary quick (and yes, there were many on Tundrasolutions that claimed it was a dog).

 

Don't forget also...the 2.7 is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) 4-bangers in NA production. If yer gonna get a four, you gotta work to get a better balance of power, MPG, and weight.

You can get other engines with similar displacement and more cyls but you get WAY worse something else.

My wife had a 6-cyl 2.5 in her Mazda 626 for years. Ran like a scalded dog if you LOOKED at the gas pedal. Fun to drive for a four-door. Awesome power. Shit MPG and reliability.

The new F150 has a 2.7 or 2.8 V8 with a turbo....ye gods, I can't imagine how that's going to have torque or endurance, but we'll see.

The Toyota 2.7 is the gold standard for larger-end I4s, period.

 

I have had a 5 lug manual reg cab and now a 4X4 manual reg cab. Even the 4X4 is fine on power. No it won't win many drag races, but you won't have a problem merging into a busy interstate either. I agree with other posters that it will probably do just about any reasonable task you ask of it. I also think many of the gas mileage numbers for the 6 on here are a little rosier than in real life for the average user. It seems to be around 18-20 for most. My 5 lug got 26-28. The 4X4 gets 23-24, with Hankook ATM RF10 (P rated) tires. My guess is that people getting only slightly better mileage with their 4 cyl's (over the 6) are driving like asshats. Finally, if you don't have kids and don't need to carry a bunch of crap that has to stay in the cab the reg cab is the way to go. Looks the best IMHO and does much better off road than a limo-length double cab.

But... to each their own!

 

And the 2.0 Ecoboost in the Escape is being advertised on the radio at 20mpg.
My 2.7 pulls 24 consistently.

 

They're advertising 20 MPG?

They're more desperate than I thought.

 

I've had my 2013 2.7/Auto, AC Prerunner since September and couldn't be happier. I thought it was a little "doggy" at first, but as it got broken in, performance and mileage has improved significantly. Would have considered the regular cab, but I hate the look of the 5 lug wheels and tires, and they don't make a RC Prerunner. I love having the space in the cab, even if it's not much use if you want to take 2 normal size passengers. IMHO the AC looks much better than the DC, but I can sure understand why some folks choose them.

 

Ford.com lists "up to 32mpg"

Of course, they cheated on the EPA ratings for the Fusion hybrid.
The EPA test runs up to 55mph for highway.
Ford tweaked the software so the gas engine doesn't kick in until 60mph.

Then they had to issue a recall with a software update when customers complained they didn't get near EPA ratings.

 

Access cab for sure. It's always nice to be able to throw stuff in the back seat. Some people will tell you to just toss all the cargo in the bed but sometimes there's stuff you don't want to be bouncing/rattling around.

 

My last Taco was on 06 Reg/2.7/4x4/5spd. I felt it had plenty of power and I loved the routine 21-23 mpg. I never got below 20, and hit 24 once on a highway trip.

I now have '14 Access/2.7/4x4/5spd.... and I find the extra 400lbs does show down the 2.7 a bit. I have hit 23 mpg once but mostly just barely clear 20. I added a set of racks to the truck and seem to have lost another .5-1 mpg.

Were I to do it again I'd go with the 2.7/Reg/5spd or the V6/Access/Auto. I really prefer a stick, but the V6/6spd mpg sucks.

 

I towed with my 2.7L Gen 1 Tacoma a lot. Thousands upon thousands of miles every year. A 2 place enclosed snowmobile trailer in the winter and a 2000 lb fishing boat in the summer. It tows good, not great, you will be on the gas hard on any uphills but it did the job. I would tow right through the White Mtns. every weekend with that 2 place trailer loaded up with some heavy iron and really it was fine. My '13 I got a V6 and it is a lot more comfortable to tow with, but really, if you like the 4 it will tow 2000lbs just fine. I even towed my buddies 3 place inline trailer up north once, that is probably a 3500+lb setup and it was a dog, but it got there!

 

If MPG is your intent wait another year as the new standards will be out and the trucks should be much better on MPG.
If towing or hauling anything is your desire get a V6.

 

I have a 2011 2.7 manual AC 4x4 and LOVE it. There was a RC 2012 2.7 auto 4x4 available, too and I just didn't like the RC. Auto was doggier and I felt like I was in a tin can with the window just behind my head.

You will love and USE the extra inside space.

 

Luggage is always a pain in the ass when I'm traveling.
Even with the shell, if the weather is bad, I'm always concerned about things getting wet.
When traveling with my wife, EVERYTHING except her purse and tablet has to go in the bed... including my camera bag and gear. I'd much rather be able to lock it in the cab.
Not that I'd leave $3k in gear back there overnight, but I wouldn't sweat a stop at IHOP with it being out of sight in the back of the cab.

My '94 was broken into 3 times. Every time it was the shell that was broken into... never once the cab.

 

I just got a 4x2 access cab 4 cylinder manual tranny two months ago. Before that I had a 1988 4x2 regular cab 4 cylinder manual Toyota pickup. The extra space behind the seats is incredibly useful, and being able to recline the drivers seat is really nice compared to having a bench seat. Lots more power compared to my old 26+ year old Toyota pickup, but not significantly better mileage except on the highway. There's more than just a little extra space with the access cab, but it's considerably longer than the regular cab!

 

Id go with the AC for the extra cargo space.