Honeymoon's over...

Hey guys,
Never intended to make this my first post but oh well it just worked out that way.

Anyhow I bought my AC 4x4 4cyl 5spd manual about 6 mos ago after an exhaustive search. Having owned 4cyl mini trucks in my youth I always remembered their reliability and billy goat offroad abilities. Those traits coupled with slightly better than avg fuel economy it was the logical decision for me at the time. I've never been a fast driver but I've always been a proponent of accelerating along with traffic. Now doing this with the 2.7 definitely took some getting used to. But I got over it in a few weeks and enjoyed the first few mo of ownership...from the slow lane

So fast forward to now, I planned on taking my son on some off the beaten path camping and fishing trips so I went out and bought 5100's, Built UCA's, Eibach springs, Wheelers Progressive leaf kit, and a set of 16" Weld Racing Mountain Crushers. I had planned on buying 285/75 tires in the next month or so and probably do a 4.88 regear next year along with an above cab fiberglass shell (built up sleeping platform) but now I'm really seconding guessing myself. Contemplating selling/trading for a V6 or possibly even a 4.6l Tundra. I still love the hell out of this truck but the lack of acceleration and constant need to stay high in the RPM's to keep up with traffic is getting tiring. I know some of you will say "stopyerwhining" it's not that bad! For a 2WD maybe. But I think the extra weight and drag of the 4x4 drive train really is a bit overwhelming for the 2.7 in modern day speeds. For example on some stretches of SoCal highways you will get downright run over for going 70 in the slow lane. Couple that with some good mountain grades, a lift, 33's etc, and well..you get the picture.

So I'd like to hear from the "Lifted w/33's 4cyl " folks out there who've actually regeared. On 4.88's is your acceleration similar or better than stock? Can you maintain 70-75mph on the freeway on anything but steep grades? Any thoughts on the overall driveability of your rig after the regear? I'm not concerned with mpg's as whatever it would be it's likely better than than a similarly equipped V6 or small V8. Hoping to get first hand feedback as it will likely effect my decision making process in the near future. Thanks again and sorry for the long first post guys!

 

I really can't see how you could possibly be having a problem holding 70 mph except in really extreme circumstances, like running above 6000 feet on a steep incline or hauling a heavy trailer. You may need to get your truck looked at, sounds like something is not right. While I've never driven on the western half of the continent, there are some pretty good long steep inclines in Virginia with 70 mph limits, and I've never had a hard time holding 75 in 4th gear climbing those, passing transports like they're standing still (and they almost are). On the flat, there is simply zero issue, thing would happily go 90+ all day long if there wasn't too much of a risk of getting caught.

No, I haven't changed gearing or tire size or lift. I prefer it the way it is.

 

Local member regeared his 4 cyl to 4.88s and he was on 31 inch tires .. he says it should come like that from the factory.

 

Factory tires are 30.5 inch. Not much different there when it comes down to it.
I strongly disagree with the idea that it should have shipped with 4.88 gearing. That would be very harmful to fuel consumption, and longevity.

 

I've never had an issue with traffic speeds, and the only time I hit high RPMs at high speed is sustained, high altitude, steep grades on the freeway (like going into Lake Tahoe).

Very few bought a 2.7 for speed, most bought it for reliability (as did you).

 

It's hard to say really. I don't have a 4 cyl nor do I have 4.88s, he complained about lack of power and constantly downshifting to make up some speed. After the regear he was satisfied.

 

I can completely understand the need to re-gear with 33s. The difference in felt power even going from the 245/75 to a 265/75 is noticeable, I am not quite comfortable upsizing tires again because I wouldn't want another decrease. I think my stock gears are 4.10s in my configuration..

 

So he basically solved that problem of having to downshift occasionally, by keeping it permanently in what is equivalent to 4th gear. Kinda makes no sense to me....

I.e., 4th gear is 1:1, 5th gear is 0.8:1

0.8 / 4.1 * 4.88 = 0.95:1 Pretty close to 1:1 or 4th gear.

 

If your truck is stock and you like it that way, that's good for you. It wasn't for him obviously and he fixed it to his liking. The thread is still floating around if you want to chime in and tell him it's useless in your opinion.

 

I got 31"s and I wish I had 4.88s. It does fine on the road and highway, its the offroad that I hate. Anytime I get into the rocks I gotta work the piss outta the clutch to get through.

 

How fast do you drive offroad? Might be that 2-low mod would be a good "best of everything" choice for you. You can safely ride low-5th up to around 90 kph.

 

Thanks for the reply guys!
So just to clarify a bit, currently with stock tires and gearing I feel that accelaration is acceptable. However any slight inclined long mountain grade gets me grabbin gears and having to keep revs high to maintain 65-70. And on some freeways here that's still a bit slow. I could rev it even higher but even then above a certain rpm there is no more acceleration, just noise. Some have mentioned that removing the secondary filter and running a higher flow drop in frees up a few ponies and actually helps driveability so I may try that. However, I'm wondering if regearing is enough to compensate for bigger tires, maybe a bumper/winch, and a loaded up camper shell. Or am I just asking too much from the 2.7.

 

I did the numbers a couple of years ago. Turn out the Taco Access Cab 4x4 4-cyl has the second worst power-to-weight ratio of any vehicle in the Toyota/Scion lineup. Both the Prius sedan and the 3-cyl Scion iQ micro car offer better performance.



If you go with shorter final drive ratio, the engine will need to rev higher. Probably not what you want.

 

Well, you're at 3200' altitude and probably go higher than that to camp etc. You added how much weight to the truck and bigger tires? And you drive with the crazies in Southern CA when you have to. Asking a lot for a Nice Little 4 banger rock crawler. It is what it is unfortunately.

Maybe it is time to get something with more Ompff, to each his own. Good luck!

 

I was going to suggest the URD supercharger ($5k but gives more power than the V6). Then I saw dubless is in the Droughty People's Republic of Kalifornia.

 

Haha yeah SC could work...but not in Cali!

I've got a weight budget of about 450 lbs including shell, sleeping platform/cabinetry, winch/bumper, and steps. This does not include the unsprung weight increase due to the 285/75's so you guys tell me does that sound excessive? And yeah alot of the camping will likely be in the local mountain ranges.

I think I may be seeing the writing on the wall...

 

450 lbs? If you get a steel plate bumper and sliders you're already over 300 lbs. My shell weighs 225 lbs in itself, for example, and you still don't have cargo, sleep system, or a winch.

 

Yeah I forgot to mention, to keep the weight down I'm looking at an aluminum bumper and steps (Pelfrey).
Also I'm hoping to use as much lightweight materials (PVC, aluminum etc) for the sleeper cargo systems. But yeah I think 450 lbs is on the 'optimistic' side lol.