Auto Trans in the mountains

My second gen MT climbs mountains all day in 5th and 6th and doesn't lug. I only have to drop to fourth on grades over 10% and never third.

 

I have problems with my auto trans and towing my utility trailer just around town on flat lands here in SLC basin.... forget towing up in the mountains!

 

I just got back from Sequioa National Forest with my V6 auto TRD OR and didnt really notice any issues driving up. I also liked that I can throw it into S and keep my trans in 1st and 2nd when going down the really twisty one lane sections. ECT was on the whole time for me as well, and I just let the truck do it's thing when going up.

I don't know though, cause this is my 1st truck ever so it's all I know.

 

Shift sense fixed a lot of my issues. 35's and stock gearing was a little rough even with that thing. Once regeared even 37's are fine.

It's a pretty cheap fix at less than 200 bucks.

 

Talk about a turd of a diesel, that might be the only time I pick third gen Taco over literally anything else haha.

 

Same with my Frontier Pro-4x 6mt.

 

I dunno, I used to drive a 6.5TD GM 3500HD for work and never felt it was under powered. If we're talking build quality, then yes.. Agreed.

 

Makes me glad I kept my 2012 2.7 4x4 5 speed. 4th gear and 65 all day long at all but the steepest grades that are over a few miles long, 3ed will run up to 4 k

Get a manual problem solved, or a second Gen.

All joshing aside, the above comments about rpms and gearing is correct, you can always also try slowing down a bit if you do not want to listen to the high RPMs but unless you have to drive it every day, id say stick with the 17, they are good looking trucks.
just my .02C

 

The way I built the 6.5, it was goofy quick, would never drop into 3rd going over any pass in CO at 63mph using cruise control.
Now my '85 GMC K3500 SRW Sierra with the 6.2 and manual is much slower.

 

Op, the trans shifting gets better after 1200 miles or so. If not, go to the dealer and request the TSB. It makes a big difference. I had similar problems. I'm often in the Poconos (I know, you guys out west laugh and say what mountains to what we have here east) but it's much improved. Not perfect, but much improved. I actually love my truck now...finally.

 

Just let it scream. Put it in the gear that gets the job done and go. I drive Mt. Mitchell out here all the time and force the truck to use 2nd or 3rd on the steep curvy roads. Revs high, but does just fine. If 4th is wanting to downshift to 3rd, you should have been in 3rd. If you can't get used to it, you might need a different truck.

Nature of the beast.

G.

 

Looks like somebody needs to study the Transmission Software Update TSB thread. Typically, for many of us, the Transmission gets worse once it "learns"...it behaves better when the ECU has just been flashed or updated. After 3k or 5k miles it reverts back to crummy shift patterns.

 

My truck was built in 02/2017. Since the 0077-16 Rev.1 was released on November 15, 2016, don't you think my truck would have had that from the factory?

I'm cool with letting the truck live in 3rd when climbing or when climbing with slow traffic in front of me like what was going on yesterday, but I think I'll try out the Shift Sense Pro and see if those more linear shift patterns will do the trick and I won't have to futz with sequential shifting as much. I kept thinking, man a 3.5 gear would be awesome.

 

Nope. No need to study on my experience. Had two TSBs. Rev 1 being the last.

And like I said, not perfect but much improved. 4-5-6 will continue to search on hills and acceleration because to the gear ratio. But it hasn't been as bad since Rev 1. Prior to, it was all over the place. Again, my experience.

 

Well that's one.

 

2017s weren't coming with LCA plugs even though it was a TSB already on the 2016s....so no I wouldn't assume anything

 

If you are trying to use 5-6 on any hills, you will be disappointed! It will not "learn" to make you happy in that scenario!
Doing the 7% grade East of Hendersonville I can easily do 70 in 4th with no problem.
However . . . you do have to actually drive it and not let the trans think for itself.

G.

 

I've taken mine into and over the Rockies a few times now and no issues either. I think I just put it into S mode and left it at 4. Used manual downshift a few times as needed.

 

That's how to do it.

G.

 

Do the sensible thing, get a manual transmission and turn that truck into a man handling beast, no mountain will dare to throw problems at your beautiful killing machine of a 6 speed.