Why Tach's?

Thank you, I’m just trying to do my part to bring the next generation up the way I was. My GF’s son is 14 and unlike many Kids now, he cannot wait to get to start driving and get his own car. His Mom and I are both gear heads though so that might have something to do with it

 

Kids now a days aren't chomping at the bit to get their licenses? I'm not that old, mid 30s, but man that was your ticket out of the house at 16!

 

It's true - it's crazy. They want to game online with their friends.

 

I would guess that plenty of people follow your method, plenty of people shift at X RPM regardless, and plenty of people shift at X RPM based on situation, mood, and experience. Like, there's nothing stopping a person from shifting at 2500 normally, but making a conscious decision to shift at 3000 while going up a hill.

 

Me too! Maybe it’s a So.Cal thing because it’s so expensive to own and keep a car here (registration, insurance and gas are all really high where I live) but I see more and more kids waiting to get their licenses. Many seem happy to just take Uber everywhere. I wasn’t that way but times change I guess.

 

Can confirm. Had a nephew living in a podunk small town, but that town happened to be centered between 3 major urban areas 2-3 hours away. On his 16th he asked for a new smartphone.

 

Very true. My GF’s kid falls into that category. I do my best to get him outside to see ‘real life’ when I can. Earlier in the day yesterday he was outside with me helping (more watching) me modify the Roll Cage in my other VW. We talked about how to drill and cut tubing and that cordless drills will always run out of power when you have one last hole to drill LOL!

 

Why tach? Because like the speedometer, it is one of the most informative instruments while driving. Why would you want to look at a volt meter or oil pressure gauge that, for the most part, never changes? Those readings aren't informative until something is wrong, and that is easily communicated by a simple dash light.

I do think Toyota could incorporate readings like volts, pressures, trans Temps, etc. into the info screen menus. That would be extremely useful, and could be displayed when desired, and hidden when not.

 

Why? Im failing to come up with a real justification for doing this other than feeling cool. Tow/haul mode should take care of this for you by making the shift points higher if you need it for that situation. Other than that...wtf is the point?

Ill agree with OP to a point, I don't look at the tach unless its on the highway because my clapped out first gen sucks at driving on the highway, i set cruise based on a sustainable rpm just before it starts hunting gears. If you took away the tach I bet 90% of the people here would complain but it wouldn't change anything about how they drive or impact them in any real way after a couple weeks,

Looking at the tach while wheeling? if you are looking at the tach you're doing it wrong. Pay attention to the trail, traction, your spotter, literally anything else. In that situation who cares what rpm the truck is at, its all about feel and being in tune with what each of your tires are doing.

Towing (and just being aware of idle issues), i agree, is the best use for it. Really being aware where the power is needed towing heavier loads up hills and managing engine braking is where i want it most in the diesel.

 

That's what I don't understand. Obviously the vehicle is collecting this data, but there's no way to access it easily. Hide it behind some weird menu so that your every day driver doesn't have to see it, but make it available for those of us who want the info.

 

I learned to drive stick on an old RAM 1500 with no tach. It just had a little yellow light that would come on when it was "optimal" to shift. It was brutal to learn on, but I guess it made me "feel" when I needed to shift.

 

There's no tow/haul mode in 3rd gens, and "ECT Power" doesn't go far enough. The transmission logic is tuned for fuel economy (Toyota engineers have to toe a very fine line to maintain CAFE numbers). This is just for driving around town. For long-distance highway drives, I just engage adaptive cruise and just let the truck shift in whatever weird way it wants.

You get engine braking in the diesel, with no traditional throttle body to close the intake manifold? Is there an exhaust brake?

 

Speedo is usless if you swap gears and don't adjust the speedo. Tach for the win

 

I learned on a Chevy Cavalier - total bare bones car... no A/C, MT, crank windows, and no power steering. That's interesting when making a turn form a stop and trying to shift to 2nd.

 

Because it looks better than this:

 

I can hear that old school buzzer when you turn on the ACC before you start it. Memories...

 

My last 4wd had a Tach and a shift light. I quickly found that if I shifted when the light wanted me to I was lugging the engine. Eventually I stopped paying attention to it but at night when I was tired it would annoy me.

 

lol. thats a bummer. I mean, who really needs an extra 500 rpms driving around town? still seems like a useless exercise unless you're racing light to light lol. Oh well, you do you.

Ya, they come from the factory on 6.7s. In tow/haul that sucker will hold the truck at 35mph going down a 9% grade with a trailer

 

Cadillac from 2011 - one of numerous reasons to despise GM products....

 

I agree, my work truck/daily driver is a ‘17 F550 with the 6.7. I rarely tow with that truck but regularly use tow/haul (along with the Exhaust Brake) to slow me down on long grades or on long freeway off-ramps. It really seems to help, especially considering I got 60K Miles on my brakes when most of my co-workers are lucky to get half of that. Although the last time my work truck was on a scale it was right at 16K so it is a little heavier than most Taco’s LOL!