PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

You should probably check out this link. It answers all of your questions. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

 

I think Magnaflow makes en exhaust for the regular cab, but I've read around here that it drones horribly and doesn't sound good.

 

I had a 2004 with the 2.7 and would tow my 2000lb+ snowmobile trailer 600 miles into the mountains every other weekend. No tranny cooler for me and it went 230k miles before the frame was just too far gone. If you have any big hills between you and your destination you will be putting your hazards on, but I wouldn't think twice.

 

I am gonna be posting a header up for sale, let me know if you would be interested.

 

x2

 

3100 pounds is definitely not too much for the 2.7L or 4-speed auto. Long distance towing that load wouldn't be the best idea just for stability reasons on the freeway. But you are saying short distance so it should not be an issue. I regularly towed 3500-4500 even 5k with my 05 2.7L. The power is there for 3000-3500. Mine is 5-speed so I can't speak on the trans cooler, sorry.

If the trailer has brakes it would be wise to get a good shop to install a brake controller and 7 round plug in a nice tucked spot and go for it. Although not required. Oh yea, you'll need a hitch too. They run about $140 on Ebay.

If you have any questions let me know. I have a bunch of towing experience with every kind of rig and with that 2.7L too. GL.

 

$4990 + tax:
http://urdusa.com/store/Forced-Indu...coma-2.7L-2TR-FE-4-Cylinder/product_info.html

 

My dad bought me my truck brand new as a gift when I finally got my learner's permit. Before we even drove it off the lot, I was in the truck playing with the stereo. I plugged my iPod into the AUX port and cranked up "Pour Some Sugar on Me." The sound was so weak that I thought I'd blown the speakers already! I subsequently got my license in 2011, and after two years (2011 and 2012) of driving around with a stereo system that has absolutely no balls, I decided it was time for a change.

I put some money aside, and in March 2013 I bought a Pioneer head unit and Pioneer component speaker system on Crutchfield. I also bought custom tweeter brackets from a company called Taco Tunes (*********.com). I paid my friend to install it, and almost three years later I could not be more satisfied with my system. I am going to be getting a new head unit soon, however, because I want a Double-DIN with a large screen so I can install a backup camera. I'm gonna give the current head unit to a family member so she can replace the malfunctioning radio in her old minivan.

This is my current stereo. It was the day before Thanksgiving when I took the pictures, so yes I was listening to "Alice's Restaurant" LOL.



Anyway, here's the poll. What do you, second gen Taco owners, think of the standard sound systems in your trucks? This poll does not include trucks with the factory JBL system, but I included an answer for those of you who do have the factory JBL system and/or replaced it. A friend of mine had two Toyota vehicles in his family (a 2003 Highlander and a 2007 Camry Hybrid) with the factory JBL system, and those are/were both awesome. One of my relatives has a 2009 RAV4 with this system as well. I assume the factory JBL systems in the Tacos are pretty good too.

 

I too was disappointed with the stereo setup, however I have no real intentions of changing it. I had a Solar a many years back that had the JBL and I was satisfied with that system, but not in my Taco. Mainly I wish the volume would go up louder.

 

I really like the stock head unit for layout and appearance, but the sound quality is inferior to my 97 acura beatermobile. Probably should've bucked up for the JBL system...

 

Nothing beats after market as soon as the other half gives me the ok to start doing what i want with my 2015 its on nothing crazy with sounds. Just seperates but everything else is a go. Im cool with the stock hu. N im just to lazy to change it. But speakers i know i want more clarity

 

luckily tacoma are relatively easy to do any audio mods on

 

So far my non-jbl system has been the best stock sound system I've owned. But that's comparing it to early 2000's GM Bose. I'm working on replacing it.

 

I like the head unit, the speakers are going to be replaced.

 

I have an '05, so I don't know if the later model years are any better, but when I swapped my speakers out, I was surprised they sounded as good as they did seeing how they were constructed. Cheap would be an understatement. I replaced them with a mid-lower tier Sony replacement, and they sounded much better. I have since replaced the head unit, and it sounds even better. IMO the biggest change in sound quality came from replacing the speakers.

 

I have a 2011, so the headunit was a joke. One-line display, if you had the windows open it didn't have enough power to overcome the wind noise, fairly flat sounding. I replaced that with a Kenwood DDX271. The speakers are stock, however. With a new headunit they're not all that bad. I also have a small 8" all in one sub, though, and that helps take some of the low end load off them.

 

My 07 had the JBL system and initially, I thought I could live with it. After about a month I decided I would just upgrade the head unit because I wasn't satisfied with clarity at higher volumes. It sounded much better with the new head unit, but then I noticed that the bass was lacking. I went into a stereo shop to look at some subs....$2300 later I had a full aftermarket system that sounds ten times better than stock! So happy I made that upgrade a year and a half ago. By far my favorite thing about my truck!

 

Have ya'll seen this? It's a new product from ********* called the "Recurve".

http://*********.com/car-audio-vide...to-your-stock-toyota-tacoma-stereo-head-unit/

It allows you to retain the factory headunit while also adding the ability to run an amplifier and higher quality speakers. They say that even if you upgrade speakers with the stock headunit, the sound will not be all that much better because the factory headunit has had the power "detuned" to limit distortion on the crappy stock paper speakers. The Recurve unit wires to the headunit and modifies the frequencies to allow for more power and higher quality sound. I'm not sure if you can run this unit without an amp, or if an amp is required to take full advantage of the recurve.

Check it out, I'm strongly considering it myself.

 

this is false in my experience. the factory Entune decks in both my 2013 reg cab and my 2014 SR5 output a flat signal as tested with a PC based oscilloscope

the only option i have turned off is the speed based volume.

Replace '14 door "tweeters" with 3" fullrange?

 

I replaced mine with Polk's


after doing sound deadening. Definite difference in sound quality. Have no plans to replace the head unit.