Is the 4 Cyl. more reliable?

Friend of mine has a stock 2009 SR5, 2.7 5mt ... tows a Starcraft ar one 14rb all over the country. 2600lb dry weight. It gets 10mpg towing this, and it's screaming up hills... but it hasn't failed to maintain the speed limit.

 

I loved my little truck and if it would have done that it would still be in the driveway. I hate to seem the villain here for I assure you that was not my intention. I was very sad and confused at the difficulties it had and I miss the truck but i am still in a Tacoma.

 

could just be the difference of terrain, I completely understand.

 

I've got a 2.7 in a 2004 4X4 and I'll admit, it's gutless. However, anyone that buys a 2.7 needs to realize they are NOT buying an interstate queen that will run with Super Duties. Mine will barely climb a 7% grade empty, in fourth gear, at 55 mph, at 6000 feet. The thing is though, that I took a 2000 mile trip in it 2 years ago with 700lbs in the bed (I weighed it at a truck scale) and I never knew the weight was back there. It drove exactly the same. With even better mileage than I get every day at home. I drive 15 miles each way to work every day. I idle "alot" especially in the winter. Then there are "other" errands on the weekends. On that trip I was using 91 octane which was usual back then and running anywhere from 75-85 mph and as high as 90 mph for short periods. I averaged around 24 mpg on that trip. Truly bizarre. I'm running 87 octane deathanol free now and the mileage is about the same as 91 octane with the deathanol. I do live at a high elevation. Around 6000 ft. I usually average right around 19 mpg when at home with the idling and all.

The 2.7 is gutless because most people, including me, don't want to rev the shit out of it on a regular basis but when you get the revs up over 4000 rpm it really does pull well for an underpowered 4 cylinder and I never had to do that on my trip. I don't think I ever ever got past 3000 rpm. Except when I did it just to "ring it out". I did get it up to 100 mph in 4th gear once though. The 2.7 is basically an "industrial" power plant and if you baby it and drive it like a grandma with very regular maintenance they will go well over 300,000 miles. If you tow heavy loads or rev it to the moon and use it to haul it's max payload I highly doubt you'll get to the 500,000 mile club. Or even the 300,000 mile club.

The bottom line is that if you want to really "get down the road" it's not going to happen in a 2.7. If you tow and haul heavy loads you can get anywhere you want to go with the 2.7 but you will be revving it all the time. That's what it was really built for. Work, but don't expect to get into the 300,000+ mile club working it at it's max capacity every day as some do. All in all a Tacoma with a 5 speed and a 2.7 can't be beat for every day driving especially with the 4X4 option and even if you want to throw 1000 lbs in the bed every now and then or tow a 2500 lb trailer on a vacation once a year. Just add an extra day or two to the vacation if you are going very far and rev it to the moon in the mountain states. They will last almost forever with normal maintenance as long as it isn't "worked" hard and revved to it's limit every day.

 

Oh my God! Just an expression. I'm not religious. The way I have to rev mine empty up a 7% grade is enough! I can't imagine pulling a 2600 lb trailer around where I live. I'd be in 3 rd gear at 4500 rpm just to do 45 mph, or less, at this elevation on a 7% grade. You're right though. He has got be be really screaming the 2.7 to even stay anywhere near any speed limit. Even if it's 55 mph. I just can't "molest" my Taco like that. It has sentimental value.

 

Try this with a 6cyl and you'll probably spin your fawking rod bearings.

 

That looks like quite the beast. It has a 2.7 in it? The newer Taco's do look great!

 

I've gone on 3 hr rides as a passenger, and the 2.7 has proven to me how much abuse it can take. It was designed for this, but I know what you mean. I want to baby my truck, too ... but I also got it to perform within its limits.

I'll be pulling an aliner with mine, hopefully by next year.

 

We have a great dealer down here that deals with aliners also and usually has a nice selection on hand let me know if interested and I'll send you info.

Edit: You can also go on my campers build in my sig and there's a number in the OP it's Roadtrip camping in Orange, Va.

 

The 16+ have dual vvti, and it makes a big difference, it's still slow, but you can't hurt it. It's detuned to shit, and everything is overbuilt, you could run it pegged out all day long.

I also read the 2.7 manuals have 26 spline output at the transmission, and the 4.0's have 23 spline. Not positive, so correct me if I'm wrong.

I drove mine on 35's and stock 3.92 gears for 4 months, and it did fine.

 

Plenty of high mileage threads on here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/high-mileage-club.376326/

If you've got the money, go for the v6. I understand sometimes it comes down to local availability and price though. I have owned and worked on more than a dozen Tacomas and 4runners, and in looking at one when I bought them, I always tried to buy from the oldest crotchetiest dudes I could. Because they took the best care of them and their trucks were the closest to stock and the least "wrung out". One of my current tacos has 412k, I raced it in May and DD it 80+ miles every day at 70 mph. 4cyl VS. v6 - owners of both are going to have persuasive arguments and anecdotal evidence aplenty. These are well built vehicles with few exceptions. Drive what you want and what you can afford.

 

Well said sir

 

I tow this trailer over to the highest spot in WV about 5 times a year (from central VA). My truck is a 15 2.7 5sp 4x4. I need 3rd gear on some of the longer grades, but it goes up the twists and turns as fast as I would want with any tow vehicle.
I also checked my fuel consumption and was getting 16.8mpg last Friday on my way over towing the trailer (~ 2100lbs).

 

Your just rt down the rd from me. I guess it's the automatic that just didn't cut it with mine towing the camper I just would have never thought a 900 pound camper woulld have ever effected it

 

I have driven nothing but sticks for 48 years, but if I had wanted an auto I would have gotten the 6.
I traded in a 98 with the 2.7 5sp. Loved that truck and was set on another 2.7 manual.

 

I work at Dulles airport and live here in Culpeper and had the initial idea that when my commuter died I'd drive the truck as a dd so in the city traffic I didn't want a manual. It just didn't seem a pleasant prospect. I decided like 10 years ago I wanted a Tacoma with a 4 cyl 4wd and automatic so when the time came I found one and jumped on it. I also had no intentions of regular towing so figured it'd work out fine. I had no idea I'd get into what we are. I really loved the truck but seeing the strain that was put onit just trying to get over the mtn to Luray and with desires to drive all over We decided to make the switch before it hurt the truck. I did keep the LCE header I got for it this Christmas and am selling it if you know anybody who may be interested

 

I have the 2.7L 5 speed. I test drove a v6 6 speed. I drove it up a steep and windy mountain road very noticeable difference in power. BUT if i wanted or needed power that's what they make the tundra for..

 

Well said:

Aside from gas mileage, the old V6 is awesome. The new V6, with new head, takes care of the mpg. But my money is on the 4 cyl out lasting the new V6, and a fraction of the maintenance costs.

 

I bought my 2012 base 4 cylinder new for $17,500 out the door, I traded it in July , got $15,000 for it and applied that to a new 2017 SR5 4x4- 4 cylinder,

 

What made you buy the SR5 over the SR? I love that they hold their value, that is wild and an awesome deal.