Question about automatic trans for offroading

Hi, im new to the forums and i just needed some help answering a question.

ive got a 99 4x2 automatic tacoma 3.4L v6 prerunner and i was wondering how the transmission is if i wanted to upgrade my truck and put a long travel suspension and stuff like that. is that automatic trans alright for jumping and being out at glamis and ocotillo wells or if i should try to find a manual tacoma and start working on that?

thanks

 

the auto tranny on the first gen is stout enough...

i typically wheel in overdrive off...

 

we are heading to Ocotillo Wells this coming saturday if you want to caravan with us...

we will have about 10 long travel trucks with us almost all auto tranny...

 

thanks for the invite. perhaps another time. im stuck at camp pendleton for the next 2 weeks.

 

oh cool...

2/6 weekend is a race at barstow... we will be there too...

 

yea after the 2 weeks at penldeton im getting stationed at 29 palms. so yea i might come down to that. sounds sweet.

i wont be able to bring my truck tho. i jumped it stock at kinda messed it up a little haha... so i need to do some repairs on that before i can drive it again

 

what exactly does the over drive do? when and why to turn it off? always wondered...

 

overdrive changes your auto tranny's shift points... it will go higher RPMs before shifting gears, and it stops at 3rd gear... with the overdrive on, your truck shifts sooner and goes into 4th gear in the top end...

so, when driving open highway, with the overdrive on, you in theory save gas as your RPMs stay down at about 2,000... if you go on the highway and turn the overdrive off, you will hold at about 3,000 RPM in 3rd...

 

As long as you keep an Automatic cold, then you will be just fine. I would suggest buying a bigger Tranny cooler or the B&M one with a fan on it! Especially if your going to be out in the Desert where your truck will be revving higher and running hotter...Heat = death to Auto Trannys

Like said above, only use OverDrive(OD) when your on the highway going above 65mph. It is just like using 5th gear in a manual. And our trucks have 6-speeds so...you can guess that when your in 4th gear, you still have 2 left in OD..

 

u 05+ guys may have 6, but us first gens are stuck with 4...

 

Not exactly sure about the Taco's, but most automatics lock up the torque converter in overdrive also. You don't want that while off-roading. A trans cooler, similar to the one included in the towing package, will help with the extra heat.

 

man i love that truck

 

mikesdoublecab, cool rig, nice pics