Does your truck suck at freeway hill climbs?

I drove from Reno to San Diego and back this last week, and boy did my taco suffer on the mountain passes! I wasn't even hauling much of a load. Have you experienced the embarrassment of getting passed by the smoking family van? Would a supercharger cure this? Wish these things had a V8!

 

I have an 03 as well. mines a manual and i have had no problem on uphills or mountain passes. try downshifting to get some power. Also look into the deck plate mod. theres plenty of write ups on here. it definantly helps with mpg and hp.

 

i have an 03 manual also and i dont notice any problems. i have done the deckplate mod and that makes a diff. also, for what its worth, my college is located on the top of a mountain so every road around here is a windy mountain road

 

I read your profile to see exactly what you have.......V6 automatic. The V6 should pull you up just about any hill as long as it is shifting down. Sometimes I will push the little button on the auto shifter (left side) to force her out of over drive to get the RPMs up (or to keep it from shifting in/out of overdrive).

I had a '91 V6 (3.0L) (Toyota PU) that I would have to sometimes put in fourth (it was a stick) if I was doing 60-70MPH and on a hill, but then she would pull just fine up. Do you hear her shift, but just don't have the power?
Matt

 

i got an automatic too and that o/d button on the shifter helps when going up steep freeway hills

 

my 98 4banger wouldnt go past 55 on the freeway incline... but again i also had 33s and never re geared it, so it was my fault

 

i have an '01 double cab and it dose suck going up hills on the highway. maybe i should look into the deckplate mod...

 

I have an 02 V6 and lots of long climbs at altitude. I have no problem at all, but I find that if you let it drop to 2500 or below, you lose it quick. 3000 to 3500 rpm keeps her cruising right along.

 

Whats a hill? I don't think we have those here..

 

yes i know what you mean, i think its just a case of downshifting and not letting the engine get below 3000k. in my 3.4, under 3k it will suffer.

 

I have the 2.7 Auto with the deckplate mod and it ate up the Grapevine pass in third gear. I just took it out of O/D and was able to hit 75 easy. If you leave it in 4th gear, you'll lug and then downshift.

 

I havent had any problem with my 04 v6. My 98 2.7 was horriable though. Great motor but just sucked to be on the highway with.

 

No problems downshifting. I guess I just don't like to rev it up beyond 3500 for an extended period of time. Thanks for the input fellas!