Drivability from ‘16-21

Took ownership NOV 2019. Now at 28k miles. Have ~300lbs of broverland crap. Just added 285s.

I need convincing that I need to shell out $300 for software.

 

Get a Manual Transmission.

 

I went from a ‘17 TRD Sport DC SB 2WD to a ‘21 TRD OR DC SB. I was planning on getting another sport but they didn’t have any. And I’m glad they didn’t. Whatever they did with the programming plus the softer suspension of the OR is a huge difference on the street/road ride. Very happy with the upgrade.

 

Even the manual went through some calibration updates over the years.
IMO they made a positive difference in driveability.

 

It is better with the TSB from '18. That being said, is it that much better? If you bought and quickly sold your '16 due to the tranny bugging you, I'd be hesitant to recommend you come back.

I drive in S5 most of the time and have for 59K miles and have no complaints about shifting. None. Eliminating the top OD fixes most of the shifting complaints you have here.

 

Interesting.. how much of a hit do you take to MPG?
That's assuming of course, that you care about that..

 

I've tested it on the same route before, with the difference in wind and traffic, my MPG had no noticeable change (+/- an MPG or so). I have actually gotten better MPG in 5th on occasion. The reason being IMO is when you use D and the truck can't maintain 6th, it often drops to 4th to ramp back up. Using S5 tends to hold 5th instead of downshifting.

Anyone who wants to test it can easily do by using cruise and D, then doing cruise and S5 over the same route. Or don't use cruise, but using cruise highlights the frantic nature of the double OD.

 

I had a 2018 sport in a manual and a 2019 pro in a manual, I was terrified of the auto transmission. I got a 2021 pro in auto last year and actually prefer it to the manual.. I don’t have any major issues with it.

 

Zero. At least not enough to notice at the pump. The only benefit of 6th gear is that it's quieter.

 

Ride is smoother due to fewer RPM's, but otherwise it's really a nothingburger.

 

Consider a stock MT in 6th gear at 70mph will turn 2177rpm
Whereas a stock AT in 5th gear at 70mph will turn 1923rpm.

 

I think my 2016 Sport drove better than my 2017 Off Road, but my 2020 Sport drives better than both. It's not a huge difference, but little tweaks to the transmission programing eliminated some of the quirks I noticed in my 2017 (though they weren't really a big deal to me). If you hated the 2016 to the point of trading it that quickly, I don't think any software updates will make a difference for you. At the end of the day, it's still the same engine and transmission.

 

Just curious, which Fox shocks do you have? The TRD Pro Fox shocks or aftermarket?

 

Don't know a thing about early gen3 automatics, but once my 2020 accumulated over 1k miles the transmission shifted perfectly according to all road conditions. Its a pleasure to drive. Sooner it can learn your driving habits the more you'll like how these trucks perform.

 

You're close WRT stock M/T.. at 70 it's closer to 2400.. that's from the cluster, not Techstream or any other OBD device or GPS..
Regardless, M/T 6th could have been geared a tiny bit higher, just to get the RPM at or just under 2k at 100kmh. That would also have made 5th a bit more useful on the highway I suppose.

 

Night and day drivability difference between my old 2016 and my recently purchased 2021. Shifts smooth, no lag, no weird downshifts going up or down hill. The only modifications I've made have been 255/85R16 E load tires (same tires on both trucks) and a high-rise canopy (taken off the 2016 and put back onto the new truck). The 2021 will still need a regear with the larger tires especially as I continue to add weight but the transmission updates have been a saving grace.

 

2021, hunts for gears like crazy on stock , ovtune, AND kdmax

 

Oh boy, now that's sure to draw some feedback eh..
Lol

 

The responses are either total fanboy to guy who hates his truck lol.

 

Yea, the AT 5th gear is just about the right rpm for highway cruising. It would be really useful to have a gear in between 4 and 5, right about where you're 5th is. You'd never really need 4th on the highway then, unless you were wanting to stomp on it.