Overdrive (5th Gear) Question on auto trans

Just traded in my Sequoia for a 2011 TRD sport and I love it. It is my first so I am trying to get used to all the new noises associated with a used car. It has 126K on it V6 automatic.

When I drive the truck normal not accelerating quickly and I get to about 40MPH the truck shifts into 5th dropping the RPMs to 1000, the truck feels like its lagging or sputtering, no noise or anything just feel a light lugging. Its similar to shifting a manual car too early. If I push the accelerator down a little it will downshift and its fine, if I continue to accelerate slowly the lugging goes away at about 12 or 1300 RPM. Just wanted to reach out and see if I was just being paranoid or not.

Hope this makes sense and thanks for the help in advance.

 

These trucks run through gears quick under light throttle. Keep it in 4 instead of D if you want to avoid overdrive going 40mph

 

Thats normal I know exactly what you mean.

Think of 4 as D and D as OD
Its fine driving around in D all the time if u want but I kick it over to 4 on hilly two lane 40-55mph roads or whenever Im towing and D on the straightaways and the freeway.
Wait till you are in D doing 60 or 70 with the cruise on and go up the slighest of hills haha

 

. . . .and it gets worse as you go to a bigger tire size!

I'm getting ready to regear, can't stand the low room lugging with the 285/70/17. 4.30 and an ARB should fix it!

 

Thatll work
I like how they made the shifter with the "gates"
I go thru the gears manually shifting it all the time.
I rarely ever just put it in D and leave it there except on long freeway runs.
Oh, and even in D @70 mph with the cruise on, if u shift it over to 4 before u go up a hill u might beat the psycho cruise control and cruise up it in 4th without the insane kickdown into super passing mode!!!

 

When I'm pulling the trailer with the yxz the cruise control just decides it can't be bothered with maintaining speed on the slightest of inclines.

 

Yep I gave up towing in D

Its weird now when Im in someone elses vehicle not a tacoma and we just cruise along and theres never a whoaaaa there turbo! Easy boy! moment
Guys that ride with me are like, whats up with your truck?
I just say oh, it just has to be the first one up every hill