Is the 2.7L too weak?

If you’re happy with it, that’s all that matters
I loved my 2.7, but I started towing a lawn trailer with equipment on it.
My truck was a 2.7 PreRunner. The biggest issue was not being 4WD.
Wet grass and 1 wheel spinning was not good.
The 2.7 pulled it. But you had “make it” pull it. (Use your gears)

 

I have the Access Cab 2.7 MT....I just downshift when I need some pep...

 

2.7 with the 5spd is solid and reliable. It'll do you well. When towing keep your rpms high and do not use 5th except maybe on level ground above 60 mph. Your mpgs will take a serious hit, but the truck will do the job. When towing with my 2nd Gen 2.7 5spd Access Cab, I kept my rpms above 2500 ... it was not unusual to run 4500 - 5000 thru mtn passes. The same is true in my current truck (3.5L V6 6 spd). Enjoy your new truck.

 

4cyl does well but not great with heavy loads, sluggish and bad MPG
6cyl is great all around until you tow heavy at its limits, then might as well get an F350 like me.

 

I've got a 2011 5-lug and it's loaded down with a bunch of gear 24/7. Eventually, I'll save enough for something more serious, but nevertheless, I'm getting good use out of the little 4 cyl and I love the truck. I've got 30" tires, racks, and a bed cover, and when I'm loaded with all my other gear it also used to sag pretty badly. I did an AAL and shackle flip in the rear to level it out and while it won't go over 45mph up long steep grades, it still gets me where I'm going without fail.

It's the 4-speed AT and loves 2-3k RPM. Taking it to 4-5k is enough to accelerate in most cases. That being said it's effectively a 3-speed transmission going uphill and it usually just hangs out in 3rd going 50mph or so at ~3k RPM. Accelerating from here means dropping to 2nd and pushing past 5k basically redlining. Currently debating a junkyard T100 differential to regear or just leaving it as is and saving for a new truck. I honestly don't mind the speed so I'm realistically just going to put up with it.

Flat ground and low elevation means I can do 65-75mph comfortably even fully loaded. Obviously sluggish in acceleration but not unbearable for me personally. 5lugs aren't for everyone but if you get one for cheap like I did, they make a very budget-friendly road trip truck. I totally get the people that hate 5-lugs, the trucks are low and slow and for many, a waste of time and money. For me and many others, they offer a fun and easy vehicle to work on. They're great "1st trucks" to start with and move on from. I don't feel bad covering the sides of this thing in pinstripes and I don't get mad if there's a ding here and there. Slow? Very. Reliable? Very. Are you going to do the hard trails? Absolutely not. Can you still have fun and make memories in it? Absolutely.

 

I'm a mid-50's GenX'er retired Army maintenance dude. I'm well versed in the golden age of Japanese 4 cyl pickup. I bought my truck specifically because it because it's the last availability of a solid motor, and basically the culmination of the 20th century Japanese 4. It was built to hum along at 2500-3500 rpms or so indefinitely.

If you're getting a manual, and drive it in that range, it's got plenty of power. You're going to get 1980's fuel economy.

 

My brother-in-law has a 2005 4x4 4 cylinder Tacoma manual transmission and he beats on that thing like crazy including exceeding the recommended tow capacity. He’s between 250,000-300,000 miles. I’ve driven his Tacoma numerous times and it’s always has been great, my Tacoma is a V6 by the way.