2.7 Automatic 2wd 3rd gear question

I live on Long Island where it is pretty flat and the 2.7 has plenty of power for my use. LI is flat. I went upstate NY today and was wondering how it handle the inclines on highway mountain roads and found with cruise control it downshifts to 3rd often on inclines. Also if Im in 4th doing 70 and push the peddle down say around half way without changing gears it doesnt maintain the speed. So i was manually shifting down to 3rd and it stayed under 3k rpm. And was able to keep speed better and a few inclines it shifted down to 2nd and was over 4k rpm. So my question is if I shift manually to 3rd sometimes at highway speeds is it bad for my transmission? Is it bad to just run in 3rd when in the mountains? my 5 lug seems happier in 3rd up in the mountains. The 3rd gear ratio is the same as manual 5 speed 4th gear. I have a double cab 5 lug.

 

I have 2.7 2wd auto also. I tow small trailer in 3rd gear for 6 hours at a time. Running in 3rd wont hurt a thing.

 

I have 2.7 auto transmission as well, except 4wd and reg cab. I towed an uhaul trailer halfway around the country about a year ago (W. TX to N. CA) most of the way in 3rd gear (going about 55 mph). Occasionally drove it in 4th, but was rare when driving in flat areas with no headwind.

 

Thanks for the responses. That was exactly the info I was looking for. I do intend on getting a utility trailer eventually. when revving the 2.7 it pulls just fine.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...sions-write-up-your-4-speed-automatic.325531/

 

Are those tires bigger than factory? My eyes may be playing tricks on me, but they seem closer to a 6-lug's wheel size.

The 5-lug trucks are also geared higher than 6-lug,
AND,
AT is generally geared higher than MT.

Add all those up, and yeah, it might suffer a bit in overdrive on inclines.
Shouldn't be a problem keeping it in 3rd where needed. The only thing that will suffer is fuel consumption!

 

Yes I put 235/75r15s on. first thing I did. Thanks for the response.

 

these will make the engine lug and work harder than the stock tires, but nothing wrong with downshifting to 3rd I do it all the time

 

yep. those stock tires are just too small. 3rd it is.

 

I run 245/75R16 and my truck is an auto. The engine lugs in most cases but I have been running it that way since 2010 with out any issues other than higher fuel consumption. A Prerunner with a 2.7 usually comes with 4.10 rear gears for the larger tires which were 245/75R16. The small 3.58 rear gears on the 5 lug are pretty borderline for 235/75R15 but is under geared for tires I run. The key is to stay with a light and very round tire. My Toyos require very little weight to balance and are fairly low rolling resistance.

As far as down shifting goes you won't hurt a thing. The accumulators in the transmission cushion the shift very well.
Do not allow the transmission to shuttle shift between 3rd and 4th. Over long periods it will increase transmission fluid temps and cause unnecessary wear on the clutches.

 

Great info. those 245s must look awesome. thanks.

 

They do and they are very quiet when they are not irregularly worn due to bad struts.

 

So that makes me curious. You think bad struts could be due to the lift?

 

Not remotely. More like abuse .


You get the idea.

I ran this truck in the south Texas oil fields and had the truck running 45 and 55 on the lease roads. Been airborne a few times too. The truck earned the nickname "The Baja Truck".

 

Thats pretty awesome. I guess I dont have to worry about my struts too much then, Long Island is pretty flat.lol

 

Probably not. Average life is about 60k to 100k depending on the roads your on.