Towing with a 3rd gen

If you can work on your own truck, you can regear it for 1800ish by going with the ECGS complete assemblies.

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/c-1207123-assembled-3rds-clamshells-2016-tacoma.html

 

I don't know about the front, but the rear was really easy to swap in my driveway with basic tools. My rear needed warranty work done, but the shop didn't have a free lift. I was able to pull the 3rd, drop off with them, and they rebuilt in a few days. Slapped it back in and all is good.

 

I'm still stuck on 35" tires and no gears... forget then wanting to tow. Go on, I'll catch up.

 

I haven't towed yet but i went fully loaded bed & backseat, passenger seat to vermont, 5 hour drive from NJ and I did not feel heavy at all. I did feel truck tail wiggling bit up and down but nothing else, MPG was 25-26 no issue.


Taco V6 is slow but its definitely not weak. Just slow because of transmission, its choking the engine and not letting it go.

 

I’m in the finger lakes region

there’s no telling if 5.29’s would make me happy, it’s a chance, but not a cheap one.

yeah from my calculation it would have been around $2000 in the end if I did it myself, $3000 if I take it to a shop and have them do the swap. I could do it, but time is slim at the moment

it doesn’t seem to be too bad of a job especially the rear, just time consuming.

I’m stuck on the fact that people think you need gears for 35’s. Some 35’s weigh nearly the same as the ever so popular 285 or 295/70/17. Sure it’s taller so there’s a slight leverage disadvantage but it’s not what people make it out to be. I’ve driven the truck stock, w/33’s, 33’s and tune, and 35’s with tune. From stock to 35’s is not a huge difference.

 

I was camping in Banff last summer and for a truck that can’t tow anything, there sure is a hell of a lot of people towing with it. And not small trailers like mine, most were like 4K+.

 

Your whole gripe makes it sound like there is a big difference, even after the tune.
What do you get for mileage? Can you pass a car on the highway without taking a run at it? I assume very little off-road where that loss would really suck?
People don't re-gear because they like spending the money...

 

Been contemplating the 2LO mod myself. I've roasted the shit out of my clutch offroad so bad that everybody in a 20ft radius could smell it. Not even through lack of knowing how to drive, it's the only way to go uphill in reverse. I imagine it's just as bad towing. Thanks Toyota

 

Don't get them then. But you asked your questions; you got your answers. Good luck.

 

Dude, a Tundra with a 5.7 V8 that eats the Taco's lunch should be regarded for 35s. Go over to Tundras.com and talk to @dirtydeeds and learn about it.

All this opposition to the answer to your issues is coming off as just plain stubborn. It seems you either have woefully unrealistic expectations of what a Tacoma's towing performance should be, or you want a new truck an want validation from the group.

Notice, I said it seems that way. We don't know your motives, but the way you are communicating the situation puts forward that appearence.

 

I'll share my towing story with my truck.

2017 Off Road 4WD, 6 speed manual transmission. ONLY modification is I went to 32" tires from the OEM 30", but on OEM rims. According to Fuelly app, I was getting around 17.5 - 18 MPG.

My wife and I bought this Coleman "Rubicon" 20', single axle trailer in early 2022, brand new. Supposed to weigh #3800 dry and empty.

In August 2022, we moved from northern California to southeast Kentucky I had my camper shell fully packed with various things, and we had some food stuffs and some clothes, blankets in the trailer, so it was probably real close to #4000 - #4100. We came across highway 40 all the way. 40 goes through Flagstaff, AZ and Albuquerque, NM, both of which are fairly high altitude (7,000+'). The absolute fastest I was ever able to go was maybe 65 on some downhill sections. I spent probably 80% of the way across country in 4th gear and around 3000 RPM just to pull the trailer. I was rarely ever in 5th gear, and never made it up to 6th. On some of the steepest grades, I was down into 3rd, and once in a while, 2nd gear. 2400ish miles, Fuelly says I averaged 9 MPG during the move.

 

Plus it looks ultra cool!

 

I know nothing about nothing but wouldn’t a higher numerical gearing help the transmission? As in less strain because it’s easier to spin the wheels with lower gear just like in 4Lo?

 

Simply impossible due to physics.

 

Yes, the shorter (higher number) gearing, the easier it is on the transmission.

 

Easy way to figure this out, is there somebody relatively near the OP with 35" tires and re-geared who can let the OP take a drive in their truck?

 

Yeah it does!

38s and 20 mpg…(unladen) deezul helps…

 

I love that truck, carli suspenders and new SDs. Too rich for my bloods.

 

Adventure Motors build. They used to do pretty much only Toyota’s, have done a few Ford’s now.

https://adventuremotorsusa.com/

Yeah not cheap, was in my buddy’s F350 over the weekend sure do like that truck, love how Ford does the flip up rear seats, he had it stuffed with gear. He only paid $40K for his, he also used to work for Ford.