Looks like it's not a 7GR, EPC partially updated: 2GR-FKS

Tell ya though....I run to the desert/mountains every chance I get. Working inside, makes me appreciate the outdoors now.

Why I own a Taco...it gets me far far away. I considered a fullsize...but, there are some spots I like to go, that the Taco barely fits.

 

Do the v6s have timing belts or chains?? My current 2004 Nissan Sentra has a nice chain up in there...

 

Chain. The last time there was a timing belt in the Tacoma was in 04

 

Yeah but that 22RE was not pulling as much weight, and the drive train was geared for offroading, hence why you had bad experience on the Highway. Thats why I keep saying make Tacoma smaller or install bigger engine. Makign truck bigger with smaller engine is just cheap.

Whats funny you did not like Ridgeline because it was not truck enough (but too quirky other wise to be used as light duty pickup. No 6' bed for one thing) but in next sentence you said you want truck as "Life-Style" vehicle for hauling toys.
Just pointing out
BTW this is why I think Tacoma will end up like Ridgeline....

 

I hope so, I do want the Honda vacuum

 

I dunno, the 3.4 seemed fine (much improvement both one and off road compared to the 22R)...and so does the 4.0...while it remains to be seen if the new 3.5 ( without driving it) will be ok too...pretty sure it will.

That whole compromise thing...I could make the Ridgeline work...like I could make a VW or Suby wagon work too. The no 6' bed means I can't sleep in it without having the tail gate open is why it didn't make the cut for my life-style vehicle. Problem with wagons (I have a SUV as well)...I tend to be hard on interiors...a little truck with a topper keeps on the nasty stuff out of the passenger compartment...seems to work for me. YMMV

With the Tacoma, out of those 4 vehicle choices I have considered...I can toss on a popup camper, and a bit burlier for offroad use than the others mentioned.

 

So you want a smaller truck with a bigger engine. You think that will work out well to tow 8,000 lbs (a number you've thrown out there a few times)?

Engines are putting out more power per displacement so all vehicles are losing displacement because of that. Look at the full sized trucks. You never find the huge displacement V8's in them anymore that were popular a few years ago. There is a reason why massive displacement V8's have all but disappeared. The smaller displacement V8's are now more than enough for those trucks to do almost anything within the body/frame/brake/powertrains capabilities. The choice to go with the 3.5 L wasn't made to cheap out and leave the truck underpowered. It was made to give the truck similar performance to the engine that was in the last generation Tacoma at a cost Toyota could live with.

The old Ridgeline is terrible. I know a few farms that bought them as vehicles for the family to go to town in. They get stuck on wet gravel roads....

 

Pretty sure it is meant for Suburbanites...like an modern El Camino. It is a Trar!



Prolly in the low-low minority here...would like to see the Tacoma with independent suspension at all 4 corners.

 

I see plenty of the RC 2WD's used on the farms around here. Guessing mainly to check up on the irrigation systems.

 

1500 model full sized trucks are still considered "light duty".

 

Everything up to 1 ton is "light duty". Everything class 1-3 (half ton to full ton) is deemed a light duty truck. Class 3-6 is medium duty and Class 7-9 is heavy duty.

So technically if you want a heavy duty truck by those definitions for offroading and towing you'll need a vehicle with over 26,000 lbs GVWR....

 

Yep...heck, this is considered "medium duty" buy different tools, for different jobs.



I would hate to take one camping, but some guys do...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A75Hd1pWpkA

 

That just breaks my heart

 

Like dis?

 

Hey, you found BlueT's next Tacoma!!

Jks

 

Ha ha!

Yaaan...know... Toyota does make something similar...I mean if you really really wanted a "real" truck by Toyota...you can have it, it will cost ya tho'!

 

That looks perfect for a home depot run!

 

I need two bags of mulch...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL4DvcgJbpE

 

Can I come back and get the second one later? I don't want to stress out my new heavy duty "Tacoma"

Back to topic, given how much control the dual injection system and advanced VVT system will give the computer over the engine do you think Toyota may have a regular and premium timing map for this engine? I'm guessing with the right fuel you could get pretty aggressive with the timing and gain a good deal of POWAH.