Thanks for this. I mainly use this for hauling dirt bikes, and it revs out and stays up there. I also tried pulling my Massey GC1720 with it. No problem, other than having to listen to it...which all gas trucks are going to be like. Tows super safe even the SCUT with stuff in the bed. V6 is probably a little more power, but chassis is the same and that matters more to me. I have a big 3500 Cummins for bigger tows (10K+)....But it seems everyone who hauls a kayak needs a V6 these days :-D
@yayeo6520 EVERYTHING! I have a 2009 2.7 liter manual rwd. I've rock scrambled, driven thru over foot deep water, waited a few thousand extra miles before changing the oil. Put over 100,000 miles on mine in the past 4 years. She's been in death valley in the 130° heat, in the north in - degree weather. Taught almost ten people how to drive her. That clutch has been seared, gears grinded like there's no tomorrow, She's WELL used. After all that...the ac compressor went out once, and She's just started to leak a bit of coolant...I think its safe to say, it's the most reliable engine and vehicle of all time.
I’ve towed about 3000lbs with the 2.7 auto on the highway. You will not win any races but it will more than get the job done. Just press that ECT button. Great video man.
im thinking to buy a travel camper to cross usa- mexico from canada what size you think i should buy i have a 2009 4x4 2.7 4.2 toyota tacoma shift manual
@@GoProHJE The ECT button on your Toyota stands for Electronically Controlled Transmission. By pushing the ECT button on the console of your Toyota vehicle you are able to toggle the Electronically Controlled Transmission on and off. This type of transmission system allows your Toyota vehicle to shift at higher rev points
@@mattclose1439 this engine is basically a 3rz with upgraded head and valve train. I don't know if the 3rz borrowed any design features from the 22re but I suspect not much.
The thing is That people always hear "4 cylinder" and they immediately put it down because they think of "Corolla engine". They don't realize that's this is actually a pretty big 4 pot and it's a sturdy one at that. Sure it won't tow 10,000 pounds. But it's all the engine that most people need
Your towing needs all depend on what you are pulling. If you’re pulling small trailers or the occasional U-Haul trailer then the Tacoma would be a perfect fit, now if you’re towing large things like construction equipment or things of that nature than you definitely need a larger truck for that
If your towing close to 2,000 pounds on the regular get the V6. My 4CLY hunts 4th and 5th all the time on Mountain highways going 70 (I also have a bed cap like his) but if your not towing anything or on occasion get the 4cly if you want to save some cash
i have an 06 tacoma same motor an trans, its the two door short bed 2wd an ive pulled 5500 lb boats with it lol, it screams yea but its a toyota itll do it just fine, just make sure to keep an eye on the temp gauge itll rasie an lower on huge hills after singin at 5k for 10 minutes lol but just make sure if it starts the wiggle in the lanes to slow up lol or itll get nasty an youll wreck lol the aint no duelly but they work damn hard lol.
I have the same truck. I pull 3500lbs occasionally. I never use the cruise control - even when not towing as it is obnoxious trying to maintain speed in 3rd gear @5000 rpm. When I tow I use 4th gear (sport mode, no ECT, no cruise) and let the truck bog down and let it be. 55-60 MPH is the sweet spot for the 4 cyl when towing.
I agree with your points regarding the transmission and adaptive cruise control. Both could definitely use some refinement. To be fair, I've heard similar complaints from many V6 owners as well. That ECT button though is a real lifesaver when trying to pass, or bum up steep hills. Where I think the 2.7L really shines is driving around town and off-roading. Its been great for me in both situations. If you want to tow, get the V6. 160 vs. 280 HP makes a big difference. As great as it is, the Tacoma is unfortunately outclassed by other midsize trucks such as the Chevy Colorado and Ford Ranger in the towing department. Just look at the numbers.
I'd rather have the slow truck that can go a million miles rather than more power and breakdowns on products that were thrown into production in large quantities... I am an automotive tech for a living and my shop always has ford products inside, it's gotten to the point where we won't even accept 4 cylinder ecoboosts, we call them ecobooms...
I think my 16 foot boat, motor and trailer I towed with my Datsun pickup, weighed at least that much. Never seemed to bother it. A trans cooler would make sense if you are trailering serious distances or in extremely hot weather. For short hauls of a couple thousand pounds, it shouldn't be a problem, except, of course for warranty.. Hell, I know a guy who towed a 12000 pound excavator with an F-150..
I just completed a move from SoCal to northern WI with my SR5 2.7 2wd towing roughly 2500lbs. I commented earlier, but wanted to follow up after Im done. I did regear to Nitro 4.88 FYI, had i not i would have struggled staying in 4th gear highway. At 65mph in 4th it turned 3600 right where the peak torque was, without sounding like the engine is revving too high. Even at moderate elevation, cruise control would pull this up steep hills. If it was under 90 degrees, no elevation or wind 5th gear would tow this weight but slightest incline or wind it would shift back to 4th so kept it there 90% of the trip to avoid the tranny getting hot. ECT worked wonders towing, and mpg was 12-14 depending on wind. I took the lower route thru TX to avoid steep mnts, that was a good idea. I still encountered 3 areas of very steep incline where i had to slow down to 55mph in 3rd gear for 1-2 miles. Tire PSI made a difference too, could tell it pulled easier with trailer tires at max and truck around 38-40 PSI. I love this truck after the gear change, its a plush riding little tractor with 20/24 mpg. 2WD in northern WI isnt real bad, even with snow. Cooper AT3's or any winter rated rubber with 200lbs in truck bed gets u thru 99% of daily driving in snow/ice, i had to put chains on 2x cuz i drove out on the lake in deep snow
Wow, great. Good for you! I’m sure those 4.88s help tons. I pulled about 2k pounds couple weeks ago 600 miles one way through mountains. It did mostly fine, trans was working through 4-5 a lot but it made it. Approx 14 mpg. Great little trucks, tuning needs some attention tho but sounds like u got it squared away with the gears
@@Outdoors-ty8hp I hear from the tweakers and tuners that DT or LCE headers with a cat back make + 28hp and torque, but most importantly lower the peak torque to 2800 rpm instead of 3700. I sure the hell dont want a loud or droning truck though, and doubt just the headers make a difference. My biggest gripe is how the trans shifts without ECT on. I have it on all the time, unless city driving. 6th gear is still a bit too high with 4.88 but if I went 5.29 4th gear would be at 4k rpms. I think 4.88 is perfect, and only use 6th on highway.
This is perfect I'm actually about to move from socal up to Oregon. And I'm gonna be towing around 2500 also. I dont know much about towing. How much would it be money wise to regear the truck? I have the exact same tacoma.
Pull it! I've pulled over 8,000 lbs with my 2016 tacoma trd v6, from kremmling colorado down into denver. So I did go up and over Eisenhower (the gauntlet) no issues!
I got rid of those steel wheels for aluminum 16x8 and kept the same street tires you would not believe the difference in ride quality acceleration fuel economy. Mind you I kept the same stock size tires. I wish I did it a long time ago. Just letting you know
If we could only imagine for a minute 3rd world countries and what they put these trucks through and they take it! Other's would fall apart! Just look at the videos of Toyotas, Nissans & Mitsubishi's hauling stuff way over the cab height and going on crazy forest roads. These trucks are built tough! Keep in mind the sheet metal on all vehicles are thin, but the running gears and structure are solid!
My man, where are your racks on your topper?? I’ve got the same exact build as you, and despite not towing yet I’m really looking forward to what she’s capable of. Good looking truck
I have a 6.7 liter F250 & tow over 15K but hardly ever go over 55 mph!!! The taco 🌮 will do fine if u keep w/in your limits & drive safe. You are required to be extra safe when TOWING regardless of your vehicle!
I re-geared my 2.7 to Nitro 4.88s, made a big difference. 5th and 6th gear are in a higher rpm highway, making it easier for the engine to pull. Hauls ass off the line now too. Feels like this is the gearing the truck should have came with. Truck still struggles on really windy highways though.
I've towed a decent amount of equipment in my time and I have never attempted to use cruise when hauling anything. In my personal experience cruise is not meant to be used when hauling anything. Also I have the MANual verson of the truck and it will tow just fine with me being in control of the gears.
Just took a 1200 mile trip towing approx the same weight through mountains. You’re excatly right . Manual is much better for something like this . Thanks for the comment
He was locked in 4th gear. His truck was automatically downshifting to 3rd. The power of the truck couldn't handle 4th gear going 65. Like he said in the video it CAN do it.. not recommended. Plus he has a cap so that weight at least several hundred pounds.. so really he's right on top of not over his capacity. My 4Cyl does the se thing with a cap and no load on mountain highways.. going 70 it hunts 4th and 5th allot. Awesome truck but if your towing expect allot of gear changes 🤣 asking allot from that little 4Cly
I pull a Kubota 1860 on a 16 ft trailer with brush hog with a 2005 2.7 tacoma Sr 5 lug with a 3 inch lift and 31 inch tires... She's the old 4 spd auto and does just fine... I've gotta keep my foot to the floor but tacomas don't care lol...
Well you can atleast do some towing with it, though I wouldn’t recommend cross country with it. Even slight inclines can be a pain. 6 would do better to an extent but to be real, any real hauling should be done with a full size anyway.
Looking to get a2008 2.7 2wd for 12000 it has 95k on it and I think that’s a pretty solid deal hopefully it’ll last me a while also trying to tow a 16 ft boat or so
@@garyaanderson214 Yeh it's not a powerhouse by any standard I just bought a 2023 TRD with the V6 and 6speed auto transmission since it's the last year for the V6 still have my 2005 with the 2.7 but the V6 is a night and day difference
Nice video man. I own a 3rd gen double cab 2.7 and I can tell you that whether youre towing or driving unloaded the adaptive cruise control in this truck sucks ass. Even when unloaded if the truck slows down what’s so ever it will downshift to the lowest gear and floor it just to get you back to the set speed, even if it’s a 5mph difference like 60-65mph. The way it acts is completely unnecessary and unrefined. That why I NEVER use cruise control on this truck, it’s such a wasted feature.
It’s like that for me when towing . It goes haywire. Haven’t noticed it to badly on cruise when empty . Matter of fact I just took a 200 mile trip 75% was going 80mph no issues. Wanted a v6 but it cost a lot more in my area , and it’s much more complicated imo to do basic maintenance, no room to get in there and replace shit when it starts breaking.
@@Outdoors-ty8hp I agree with you 100 percent, I live in California but more inland so don't really see a lot of flat highway which probably why my truck acts that way (also a bit on the heavier side being a double cab). Also I agree with your reasoning for not going with the v6. I like the cost and simplicity of the 4 cylinder.
Man, you hit the nail on the head! I have a 2017 2.7l Access Cab Auto 4x4 and the cruise control is terrible loaded or unloaded.. I refuse to use it.. I love it none the less.. I put it in ECT and S4 and tow my 3000lb tractor and it pulls fine!
@@taywooten77 did you install a transmission cooler or the engine oil cooler? I am think about towing with my 2.7L, but wondering if the coolers are necessary.
@@benyeung9613 I have not.. I don't tow the tractor very much or very far.. I tow my lawn mower trailer pretty often though and it pulls it no problem.. I am assuming it weighs 2000-2500lb..
@@Outdoors-ty8hp actually it is sport mode, my 2016 Corolla has that too and when you shift into S the paddle shifters control the upshifts and downshifts. Not like it matters with 132hp XD
I feel like the 6 speed is too much for a 2.7. I have a 15 it still has the 4 speed and it doesn’t kick down going up hill it just hunkers down and does it.
6 speeds are great only if the computer will let you shift and hold it yourself in sequential mode. In some cars the sequential is worthless though. It hunts for another gear anyway
I always laugh at people that worry too much about how slow it'll be when towing. I drive tractor trailers, it just doesn't get any slower but I drive 100k+ miles a year safely in one.
When you are towing just put it in sport mode and leave it in 4th gear for hills and 5th for flat ground, otherwise it gear hunts, especially with cruise on.
Great comment, I was wondering why he wasn't locking it into a lower gear and not using cruise control. In most of my vehicles you take it out of overdrive when towing, I think that's what your saying?
Hey , just saw this. Really sorry about the late response. If you haven’t found it yet or are still interested, it’s this. CURT 56349 Vehicle-Side Custom 4-Pin Trailer Wiring Harness for Select Toyota Tacoma www.amazon.com/dp/B074HBSQ5B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TWNeFbFZKX1MD
I installed a better plug and play Tekonsha 7 pin harness #22117, buy the oem 4/7 pin connector that pops into bumper use in place of the single 7 pin plug in kit.
You know what's funny is that the rest of the world uses these 4 cylinder Toyota *diesel* trucks and Mitsubishi towing anything from other cars to rocket launchers on the back with little problems. In America, people always want the biggest and badest
Its because theyre limited to using what they have where as we have tins of options and most people dont know how to work on vehicles where most of them can because they cant afford the costs of mechanics. I get what your saying though but its like with me. Im about to buy an 09 on thursday and im still debating because im gonna get a boat shortly after and dont want to get fucked when im hauling it around so it makes me want to save for a v6.
@@mech0p Right. I get you. I also plan to buy one. I am debating on whether to get a new or used. If I do go the used route, it would have to be in the 09-15 range. New is just a rip off and I love Toyota but its too much. I work from home anyway and dont need a new truck right now.
If u have the 4 cylinder jet ski going to be totally fine. As the car goes , it really depends on how big and heavy the trailer is. If it’s a small one I’d say you’re fine if you have to. If you have v6 you’re fine either way
Hey I have a guy selling his 99 2.7 Tacoma that he fixed with a blown head gasket. He’s a mechanic with his own shop. He has it for real cheap, is it safe to buy it? He put in a brand new radiator so I’m thinking it blew from the original radiator being broken.
You need to drive the truck. And I mean drive it. Get it hot. Watch them temp sensor as your driving making sure it doesn’t start creeping high. Drive it at least 10 spirited miles. Then check the engine oil and see if there’s any water on the dipstick. If there’s water on the dipstick there’s a high probability head gasket could still be leaking.
Been really rough on my 07, right about to hit 239,000 and looks as though my head gasket finally needs replacing. I can attest to these being great designs, this thing should have blown up long ago.
The 4cyl is definitely struggling with that kind of weight. I've heard a lot of complaints about the automatic and didn't understand, but after watching the video, I definitely understand the complaints now. That gear hunting is atrocious. I've heard it's not really any better with the V6. People complaining about the cruise set on the interstate, it gear hunts like this on flat terrain. That shouldn't be happening. The transmission is obviously not well-sorted, especially compared to other trucks in this class. It's funny that because it wears a Toyota badge people chalk it up to "it's designed this way on purpose" rather than being honest and saying "it's not well-sorted and is terrible to drive." I have to cross the Tacoma off my list solely because of the transmission. That gear hunting would drive me absolutely bonkers. It may be a reliable truck, but I sure wouldn't want to live with that for 300k miles. The Colorado has 41hp more from a smaller 4cyl and the 6-speed transmission is much better sorted. Heck, even the smaller unibody Ford Maverick ecoboost with 8 gears is much better sorted towing 4,000 lbs.
The gear hunting in my truck over the course of 2 years and 40k miles Hal’s gotten significantly better. Cruise control while towing is pointless, otherwise it’s fine. I drive a 19 Colorado 2wd 4 cyl company truck at work and while it’s “ok”, I’d much rather have the Tacoma. The interior in the Colorado is noticeably cheaper, amd while you may think the trans is better, it’s not. It still has an issue like when you slow down then need to give it some throttle, it can’t make up its mind for what gear it wants to go in and it’s a noticeable abrupt change in gears. The radio has a mind of its own constantly turning on and off. Overall the Colorado isn’t terrible, but it’s the Tacoma for me. I just towed a jeep Cherokee on a dolly 125 miles and it was totally fine. But it’s your money and your decision, buy what will make you happy 👍🏼
@@Outdoors-ty8hp I might just stick with my 2007 Canyon. It's still relatively low miles and it's been pretty dependable. The 4-spd auto doesn't gear hunt at all regardless of hauling, towing, or empty. I should probably county my blessings, fix what needs fixing, and hope for another 100k out of it.
@@Outdoors-ty8hp I do have a 4cyl. I’m not planing to go over 3500 lbs. But for all that driving and beating the truck, would I be okay for the long haul! Thank you!
Cisco Miranda u haul does rent them, but they’re going to give you hell about your truck and may not even rent you one. They’ll claim it’s to heavy. Now, with a 2300 pound car with weight of trailer, even a small one, you’re pushing the limit already. Best I can suggest to you is get a car dolley. They weigh next to nothing. You’ll be able to tow the car that way much safer than a actual car trailer. You need to keep in mind the weight of everything Else you’re going to be carrying around i.e furniture, people , clothes , dogs, cats, birds , monkeys. Etc. Your truck can tow the Miata on a dolly just fine.
@@Outdoors-ty8hp Thanks man I'll look into renting that car dolley. We are sending our stuff on PODS. Might carry some clothes and essentials for a rest night or two and that's it.
@@PilaPlanet If you rent the dolly and put full synthetic motor oil in the engine you will be fine... you will wanna keep the rpms high which will not hurt the engine at all... I towed 2700 lbs from California to east texas "1600 miles" I have the 05 tacoma and kept it in 3rd gear the whole time at 3,000 rpm and got into 2nd gear up steep mountain passes at 5,000 rpm and made it here in 1 piece... These Tacoma's like to rev let it do it with fresh SYNTHETIC motor oil, I recommend "rotella truck 5w30 full synthetic" even over Mobil 1.. My engine had 120,000 miles on it at the time, I was very impressed...
The problem is the gear ratios ... 1, 2, and 3 are perfectly fine, but once you get to 4th and 5th, the gear ratios are so widely spaced that each time it shifts, it falls out of the power band. Then the 6th gear is almost the same as 5th. At 55 mph, you get the following rpm at each gear: 2nd: 5500 3rd: 3900 4th: 2600 5th: 1800 6th: 1500 Look at those gaps between 3rd, 4th, and 5th, and tell me there's nothing wrong with how widely they're spaced. No amount of intelligent automatic shift logic will fix these garbage gear ratios. The only thing you can do with widely spaced ratios is over-rev the engine in the current gear so you might have enough power once it shifts to the next one. If the next gear doesn't have enough power, you have no choice but to hold the current gear, even if it's too low of a gear. That's why the automatic struggles, because it thinks the current gear is too low, so it shifts, but since the next gear is so much taller due to wide spacing, there's not enough power anymore. The gear spacing on this transmission after 3rd gear is just stupid. Imagine if you had a manual transmission with those ratios, you would be frustrated every time you shifted up to 4th or 5th, because those gears take away all your power. Then 6th gear isn't really helping, because it's a very close ratio where you don't need one. They should make 3rd gear taller, and 5th gear shorter, so the spacing would be closer, or just start pairing the 8 speed automatic to it these engines, which would help tremendously because the 8 speed is notorious for having close ratios.
Also, in normal mode, the transmission stubbornly won't downshift -- floor the accelerator and there's like a two-second delay -- and in power mode, it stubbornly won't upshift so it's revving along like some kid in a Honda Civic. I get it; manufacturers are under intense pressure to improve fuel efficiency while providing spirited performance but Toyota needs to reference its past. The normal/power-mode 4-speed auto in my '94 V6 Pickup shifts ideally in both modes. And the 5-speed auto in my '09 V6 4Runner shifts just as intuitively.
@@dadgarage7966 Or at least bring the manual transmission back to the 2.7, giving the driver the option to choose gearing for the conditions. It really helps to wring the most power out without fighting economy-focused trans programming.
The 4cyl is just not for towing. Payload no problem but definitely not for towing. Also why in the world would you even buy a 4 cyl? The v6 is only slightly more expensive and actually gets better gas mileage.
@@Ni-fg6je yeah if you got those ugly skinny tires, an acces cab with 2wd, no weight and only going in flat areas. Otherwise the poor engine is always struggling and revving high. The thing even struggles to keep up with traffic. So I guess if I lower my truck, get super skinny tires and drive it super slow like the 4 cyl I would get amazing gas mileage.
