Slipping Clutch in my 17 Taco at 22k, Suggestions?

So I bought a 17 TRD Sport 6-speed a few months ago with 18k on it and I love it. I bought it with plans to buy a camper and I picked that up last weekend. Had a blast until I unhooked the camper and drove to work on Tuesday and noticed the clutch slipping. The camper weighs 4000lbs and I know the truck can handle 6800 so no issues there, but that’s beside the point.

I’m fighting with Toyota now to get this replaced under warranty but I know it’s a long shot. Plan B is obv replacing it out of pocket, but I’m not sure which way to go. I’m reading bad things about OEM clutches for 3rd gen so I’m looking aftermarket, but I want something that will stand up to towing, otherwise I’ll have to get a bigger truck. I’m looking at maybe the URD stage 3 but I figured I’d ask as I’m new to the taco world. Any input would be awesome. Thanks!

 

If the trailer is 4k dry and your truck wasn’t loaded I’d be looking at another truck, when you’re actually loaded down you’ll not enjoy the drive with a midsize truck.

 

That is another option for sure. Right now I’m hoping Toyota will warranty it and if I’m fine after that then maybe the previous owner was a shitty stick driver.

 

Hello I am been thinking to go with the Urd clutch as well. I really like my taco but at steep incline takeoffs it lacks the low end torque to get going. I know eventually like to put some nitro gears 4:88 or 5:29 to fix that problem. Just debating back and forth on going back into a tundra. Had two previous Tundra and miss the power and room in cab. But it is now just the wife and I and really like having the taco for daily driving. Only tow a handful a time year. Just wanting to know if the urd clutch would make a huge difference?

 

my OE clutch always felt pretty soft and it has slipped here & there for a couple years, just a bit. i now have the URD Stage 2. i haven't towed with it but the grab and hold from this thing is a whole new level. 2 is not difficult to modulate. i hear stage 3 is a bit "off & on" which could be an issue when you're unloaded. i don't think you'd be missing anything with a stage 2 kit if you decided on this solution.

 

Hello did you go with the heavier fly wheel as well? And if so how much difference in clutch feel was it?

 

Why wouldn’t the dealer warranty it? Seems like premature wear without abuse.

I’d try another dealer.

 

Luckily my pops has been the parts manager there for 20 years so if there’s any way that they can warranty it, they will. Problem is the clutch is a “consumable item” like a brake pad so it’s tough to get a clutch warrantied.

 

my replacement was similar to my OE battery, which died one month before my warranty was up. but i opted to replace it with something i could trust. the OE battery, even a free replacement, wasn't it. but money is money.

i recently replaced all the clutch stuff, the pedal and all the hydraulics, so i just decided to go with a performance upgrade while it was apart rather than revisit it later, and i never liked the OE clutch anyway.

i resurfaced the original flywheel and replaced the TOB also. would do again.

 

What clutch did you go with?

 

URD Stg2

 

Obligatory 'Trade it in for an auto' post.

 

60k/5 years on the power train right? No reason they shouldn’t fix assuming they can get in the truck and feel the issue. My entire 6-Speed was replaced at 58k miles 4.5 years. They asked some questions but ultimately Pony’ed up.

 

6AT.

 

I'm surprised at clutch issues at so low mileage. I got right at 300,000 miles on my 1st GEN Tacoma clutch. I agree, clutch may have been totally abused by first owner. That's the problem with used vehicles, no telling how they have been used/abused.

 

You will never get Toyota to warranty a clutch. There was a thread a while back about someone’s going out at like 10k. I don’t think he ended up getting it warrantied.

 

you’re right, wear item. Baring improper assembly or defective materials, It’s probably in the fine print as uncoverable.

 

They won't warranty an 18,000 mile clutch on it's 2nd owner. People have worn out clutches faster than that and makes you wonder why the guy traded it in with only 18k on it. Perhaps he realized he was frying the clutch and traded it before having to deal with it. If you are towing over 4,000 pounds you'll be slipping it alot as well.

 

When I worked at a dealership we had one burned out at 3,000 miles, it was their first stick and he insisted his Wife learn. She mis-understood "letting the clutch out slowly". They traded for an Automatic but had to pay a discounted price for the clutch. They were honest about what happened, believe it or not that sometimes helps.

 

Some people can't drive a stick and will burn the clutch up in short order. I bought a motorcycle with 250 miles on and found the clutch was burned up on the ride home. Maybe the previous owner was like that.