Saddle road Hilo to Kona

Howsit, got a 17 TRDOR automatic, haven't gone over the new saddle road yet, anybody drove up that road with the automatic? How was it, did you just leave in drive, S, ECT? Just wondering how it handled the up and down hills. Gotta go next week, just curious....thanks

 

I drove it a couple times and just left it in drive the whole way. Truck handled it easily. Congrats on the new truck. Aloha.

 

Thanks for the info my man....now I feel better!

 

Yah, you were right, was a breeze, no problems.....trans was hunting on hills but I just stepped on the gas and wow that truck has some balls.....75mph uphill no prob. Still got 20mpg......

 

Cheeeeee......

It’s a super nice drive too

 

I had to put gas twice going to Kona and back

 

the worst is that fricken straight 10 mile incline from mamalahoa to mauna kea state park. i feel like i use 1/2 tank on that part alone. lol

 

But no moa traffic like Honolulu

 

With all the rain we have been having at least the scenery is nice and green. I love driving saddle road a lot more then hamakua or kau routes.

 

brah, i was there for 2 weeks for work and i had enough after the first 2 days. lol

 

Yeah it’s been super wet lately. I don’t remember the last time it rained for so long. Like almost 3 months with a break here and there.

 

If you haven't already gotten it, try getting the reflash of the ecu at Toyota. There was "shift enhancements" done to the computer controlling the auto trans. Helped little bit with the hunting and the shifting in cruise control, especially going over saddle. I had the 2017 Tacoma and it didn't come with the updated flash.

 

Its worse in an old skool toy, screaming 4th and 5th, doing 45 and tryna get it to 60. Then by the time you get to mauna kea access rd, its already under half tank.

 

Haha I used to run my old 98 tacoma up in 3rd/4th gear engine screaming. 15x14 too heavy my 2015 cruises up smooth now.