How do you like your 6MT?

Have been considering upgrading to a 2nd gen for a while, and I will soon have a chance to buy one in the exact configuration I want. I'm set on a manual and I've read through just about all the threads on the RA60 I could find and am still feeling on the fence about this transmission. My hesitation is mostly due to the throwout bearing problems and issues many people have voiced about the gearing. My use case is basically it will be a 2nd vehicle used for camping, wheeling, and winter driving. I have an upcoming move in which I'd use it to tow a trailer weighing somewhere around 3500-4000 lbs. Other than that not much towing, maybe a very small (14 ft) sailboat in the future.

TLDR; Am interested to hear opinions of the RA60.

 

Happy with mine so far, 99k with no issues other than a master cylinder fail.

Rev hang is kind of annoying until you get used to it and/or get a tune to tame it.

Reverse gear is too tall for backing up heavy trailers effectively, if it's 4wd I'd reccomend the 2LO module if you can find one but they are pretty hard to come by these days.
5th gear is basically useless except for towing, there's not enough difference between 4th and 5th so I typically go 4-6 for normal driving and use 5th for towing.

MT90 fluid makes shifting smoother especially when cold over OEM fluid.

 

*knocks on wood** Original clutch on my '14 at 170,000 miles. Loved every mile of driving it. Only issue I've experienced is that the pedal itself sounds like an old barn door every time I let go of it...easily corrected though with some lube.


Can confirm on reverse...jesus...totally letting go of the clutch in reverse gets you going a good 20 mph.

 

6th gear should be a bit taller and OMG the reverse gear ratio, what were they thinking. But like they say ( they meaning me) if it aint got 3 pedals, it aint shit!

 

I have a 2010 with 87k miles and a manual trans... never had any issues with it.

 

I had a 2006 DCSB 4WD 6-speed many years ago. Like others have said the hearing was definitely strange. I did SOME towing with it maybe 3500-4000 pound or so. It was local and no major gripes on that aspect. Sometimes it was hard to get going with a trailer. . .I had a 18 foot 2 axle flatbed and was in a town and did a drop off of equipment .. .was pulling out of a slightly sloped driveway and couldn't get into traffic in 2WD, had to get into 4WD then shift out again on the straight. The reverse gear like others have said was strange.

If I had to do it again I would have bought an auto from the jump. . .the A750 is more powerful, more reliable, and more efficient. . The million mile Tundra had a 5-speed auto behind a V8. Granted, it was replaced at "only" 750K miles. . .

 

Thanks everyone for your input. Yeah, I think my main hangup is the reverse ratio because I know that could be a pain for this move if I end up having to back the trailer, which I probably will. I did look into the 2LO module and it seems like they're pretty tough to come by these days. I would at least be able to use 4-lo if I'm backing in a straight line...I was also considering getting a 7.3 super duty with a ZF6 which I think will be much better for towing the moving trailer, but is also not what I really need for after the move, vs. the Tacoma, which is less ideal for the move but is what I actually want in general. Decisions decisions...

 

in complete agreement

 

I enjoyed my 06 MT when I had it and wheeled it often.
I don't normally suggest a 3rd Gen, but have you considered a 3rd Gen manual? When I drove one, I liked it. I believe the reverse gear ratio is higher.

 

I prefer the look of the 2nd gen, and a 3rd gen is also going to be more than I want to spend. There is also the problem of not being able to get the configuration I want (access cab, MT, TRD OR). Yeah I could add a locker but then it gets even more expensive. Otherwise, yeah that would be a good option

 

363k miles on my 2011 6MT 4x4 (I put 90k miles on myself)
My original clutch lasted 275k miles, replaced with Aisin, good.
Throwout bearing is not a real issue as long as you adjust your clutch pedal properly with a mm of freeplay. (I am on my 3rd TOB though)
4Lo module is a MUST if you plan to tow, especially boat ramps. (i thought he started producing them again).
I don't find much problem with gear spacing except that reverse is too-high ratio as stated.
Clutch Delay Valve Delete helps, but i still feel it needs an orifice style CDV to ease takeup.
Pentosin LV DOT4 (Low Viscosity) fluid helps a bit in reducing clutch effort.
Add grease zerk to driveshaft slip yolk to grease it often, reducing driveline harshness.
Tune to remove rev-hang yields good results.

The MT on these trucks is clunky and harsh most of the time. Lots of driveline slop.
I would not buy a MT truck again of any type. Some days I'm wishing i had an AT so badly. But as stated, it takes a bunch of mods to make this MT even decent to drive IMO.
If you want MT sporty driving, get a sports car!
DON'T buy a MT Taco is my final opinion.

 

My only grief with my MT is no damn granny gear but having said that I wouldn't trade it for an Auto for nothing in this word.

 

Hi,

I only have around 60k miles on my 6 speed. While it has some quirks, overall, I love it and will find any excuse to drive it because it's that fun for me.

I recently had the clutch master cylinder go bad and had to replace it, but that's something that can happen with any manual that uses hydraulics instead of cables.

Gearing does take a little getting used to, but it's not as bad as people make it out to be. Reverse is definitely a bit quick so you may have to shift into 4LO if you are reversing a trailer up hill (I've never towed more than several hundred pounds in mine, so I've never had to do this).

The transmission itself is a bit "notchy" at first, but once you get used to it, you can time your shifts so it slides right into gear with almost no resistance. Remember it is a truck and not a sports car, so you will be rewarded with slow shifts. I can shift this truck with my pinky finger.

I have had no problems with throw out bearings or shifter bushings, but again, not that many miles on my truck.

Only thing I did was put a 2" extension as I like to rest my arm on the center console when shifting, and extending it that much allows that do be done for how tall I am and how long my arms are. This is probably not necessary for most people.

If you can find a manual, I would definitely grab it.

I don't know what people are talking about when referring to rev hang, I actually thought the revs dropped fairly quick.

Note: I have heard many people say that using Redline transmission fluid significantly helps with the complaints about a notchy feeling. I am actually replacing lots of the fluids including the transmission fluid in my vehicle tomorrow so I willl try and remember to update this and report if it helps.

 

All of that ^

182k, original master cylinder. Clutch was still good, but replaced during frame recall with OEM because "why not" (previous owner).

Rev hang sucks. Can't wait to get rid of it with a tune.

The throttle is unresponsive, but that's also easily fixed with a tune or a cheap throttle controller (got mine for $40 on Amazon and it works perfectly to smooth it out)

Reverse gear sucks, I fixed that with a 2Lo module, it's fantastic if you can find one.

IDK what Toyota was thinking, adding that clutch accumulator in there. What garbage. Way to make a seasoned manual driver rethink the ability to drive a manual.

MT90 is fantastic.

Fix those things and it's great. Out of the box, Toyota totally missed the mark on it.

 

I forgot about the rev hang! That annoyed me to no end.

So to summarize the thread

"If you can live with this quirk, this annoying thing, do this laundry list of mods, don't mind rev hang, beware of premature failing parts, avoid dirt, towing, starting up hill, find the perfect MT fluid, shift perfectly so you don't grind , and avoid 5th gear THEN and only then it's OK" lol

 

the previous owner of my truck had a super charger installed by the dealer who also did a tune which may have tuned out the rev hang because I have never noticed such a thing on my truck during the +100k that I have had it.

 

Nobody mentioned the short-throw shifter mod, which I like.
Removed accumulator. Hangtime isn't bad on mine.
If it was, I would adjust the clutch switch (not the one used to start, the other one).

 

I never thought about going for the short throw shifter... it works just fine as it is.

 

We love our 6mt on 2008… but I got to say that I never hear of many problems with the second gen’s automatic… wish I could say the same for my other rig, a dodge 2500

 

It’s clunky. Shifts like a truck. The TOB has squeaked for the last 180k miles. The factory clutch has 240k miles on it.

Still better than the automatics I test drove when I was truck shopping 12 years ago.