Regear? Maggy? Send it and do both?

Apparently you can't post in the performance forum until you've had an account for more than 60 days, so you get it here. Mods can move it if they want.

I've been researching various options to get the best performance and fuel efficiency out of my 3rd gen for my uses, but I still can't really nail down what direction I want to go. Looking for some input from folks who have a similar use scenario.

I live in MN, ~1000ft, flat roads. 80% of my driving around home is at 70mph. We head west a few times a year into the mountains, location varies. A lot of freeway miles between home and the mtns, and then a lot of miles on mtn roads, forest roads, etc. Overall use for the truck on trips is long distance off-road, think BDR's. Because this is also my daily I don't want to set it up just for my trips and not keep daily drivability in mind. I'm trying to find that balance.

*DISCLAIMER* I'm well aware that I bought a truck and not a sports car or a prius. There is nothing wrong with trying to improve performance and/or efficiency out of your vehicle.

Basically my truck will have two configurations, home and trips.

At home:
currently on 32's, might go with 33's
Hiline bumper with winch
4x4 warehouse rear bumper minus swingouts
Westcott sliders
~200lbs constant in bed (drawer system)

On trips its all of the above plus:
LEER cap
swingouts on rear bumper with fuel, etc
typical gear (clothes, food, tools, etc)
often pulling a ~2k lb off-road squaredrop camper (depends on the trip)

Already OTT tuned.

My biggest concern is lack of power in the mountains, especially with the trailer, but anything that will help with that power is going to negatively affect mpg's and with multi-thousand mile trips I want to maintain as many mpg's as I can. To help with this I'm thinking of 5.29's. If my gear calcs are correct they should put me around 2200 rpm at 70mph in 6th, 2600 rpm in 5th. Right now in 5th I'm around 2100 rpm and see 17mpg on average. My assumption is I should be able to maintain those mpg's at home with the regear because I'll be able to better utilize 6th, is this correct?

I've also been looking at the maggy SC, but thats a bit more $$$ than a regear, and a good amount of $$$ if I get a maggy AND regear. I'm concerned that just the maggy wont be enough once I get into higher elevations with the trailer, but I'm also concerned that just a regear won't be enough either.

My understanding is I should be able to maintain close to my current 17mpg at home regardless the route I go. Regear lets me use 6th to keep rpms low, a SC would give needed power but staying at low RPM keeps out of boost. Is this accurate? Both a regear and a SC are big ticket items as far as cost and installation, so I really want to make sure I get this right the first time.

 

Im considering the same combo. You can certainly save yourself some cash by installing them yourself. ECGS offers complete 3rd member and clamshell assemblies, and the supercharger can be installed at home as well with fairly basic tools. Look into the Harrop/D3 Supercharger kit as well. Procharger is another option, but in my opinion a Centrifugal supercharger isn't really ideal for a truck. You want the instant low end torque that a PD blower provides, and the Procharger really only provides a significant power increase when you are spinning the engine above 4,000 RPM. Attached is the Harrop install instructions if you want to review them. Ive been in communications with D3, and they provide everything you need including tuning, as well as free revisions if you changetire sizes, gears etc.

I too have the OTT tune. It's Meh. Not really a significant increase in any aspect but maybe Toyota improved upon the OEM calibration and that is why I didn't really notice much of a change.

https://d3performance.net/index.php/product/harrop-supercharger-kit-3rd-gen-tacoma/

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-23993416-8-75-tacoma-elocker-third.html

 

Install isn't an issue. SC would be easy, rear 3rd member would be easy, front clamshell doesn't look fun from the videos I've seen.

Wasn't aware of the D3 blower. I'll have to check them out. I do hae an OTT tuner nearby that has a maggy tune as well, so thats why I was leaning towards them.

 

I would suggest the regear before a SC. Reason being, a regear allows the engine to work at it's designed RPM after bigger tires are put on, lessening stress on the bottom end, and the transmission & driveline. The SC on the other hand greatly increases these stresses (you really don't want to compound that with too-tall gears).

 

4.88’s here not to heavy. RPM’s at 70 in 6th gear is 2200

 

What size tire?

 

33” Yokohama G003 pizza cutters

 

I’d do 5.29, if you still want more after that then do the SC. 5.29 will help you not downshift as much, you’ll still be in 4th going up steeper mountains and 5th on lighter stuff. 5.29 will lessen the stress on the motor.

 

I've thought about 4.88's as well, but figured with towing the 5.29's would be a better option.

 

Definitely 5.29’s for towing

 

I run a similar truck setup(sliders/skids/bumper/shell/racks) and recommend 5.29s, i have them and KDMAXX tune. I tow an off-road teardrop/ Waverunner/boat/car dolly W/ samurai here in SoCal, the gears/tune made a night/day difference in drive ability and towing. My truck is on 265/75/16s currently, but will go to 285s shortly.

 

One thing to keep in mind is this. Sixth gear won’t like all that additional weight and stress even if you do replace the gears.

I would certainly do gears before a blower. The Magnuson is a whole lot of money for only a bit over 100hp

 

What year truck? A Maggy with tune is going to realistically be pushing $10k. Plus gears is $12.5k. Maybe it’s $15-20k to move to a 2024 hybrid taco that will outperform your mods.

I’m not overselling the virtues of the new taco, just recognizing that the new hybrid specs are damn solid compared to a maggy upgrade.

 

2020 TRD Pro

I've also thought about the '24, but I'm not keen on purchasing the first or even 2nd year release of anything. I also just bought my '20, so after factoring in taxes and all the extra BS I'd be negative on a trade.

 

Definitely negative on trade, but perhaps positive or neutral compared to $12.5k upgrade.

 

They're not mutually exclusive, why not try one first and go for the other if it doesn't work for you? Also, keep in mind that at maggy making 5lbs in Minnesota at 1,000ft is going to make what, 2-3lbs out west in the mountains at 6k+ feet?

 

Too bad this isn't available anymore

https://www.topgunspeedworks.com/toyota-tacoma-3rd-gen-1/3rd-gen-tacoma-mid-mount-turbo-kit

 

Just don't use the 4wd if it's slippery outside..

Sorry, I had to...

j/k, mostly, kinda..

 

if it were successful it would be available. so we're probably better off.

I recall R4T was working on a turbo 3rd gen. wonder what happened there

 

I'm always one for buying fun upgrades BUT think of how much fuel you can buy for the cost of a regear.
Is getting slightly better mpg worth it?

Or you could shave weight off the truck. You could get a lighter topper. Or forgo the heavy swingouts with extra fuel