I have a 2012 Tacoma 4x4 5 speed regular cab, 2.7 with 160k on the clock
This truck is putting out similar power numbers the older v6's from toyota and others. " power" is more than fine.
I live at 5,000 feet in the mountains of Idaho. This truck has been north and south east and west on almost every route possible on this side of the rockies since owning it. Speed limit on the highways out here is 80, secondary roads is 65. There has only been a hand full of times on a few passes that I really wish I had more power. With that being said, The truck will hold 55 to 60 just fine if you use the gears.
Acceleration between the 4.0 and 2.6 in a manual from 0-60 I find is not all that much different.
I use my truck, like a truck. It hauls and tows fire wood dirt bikes and boats in the summer and snowmachines in the winter.
Took the truck from Salt lake city to north idaho pulling at least 3,500 lbs, and regularly tow that much up and down the dirt FS roads out here getting fuel wood.
Short wheel base and lack of trailer brakes are the only real issues. It handled an 18 foot run about boat with a 90 horse no problem.
When not towing stuff around between the ARE topper tools and supplies I would guess that there is close to 500 pounds in the back for most of the year. Come winter, I toss in a few hundred extra pounds of sand bags over the rear axel.
zero problems. Is it fast? no, not really. But it is not bad. I have loaded up camping gear for two people and slept in the back with two dogs plenty of times. Zero weight issues.
Truck does have an upgraded suspension and is currently running on 235/85/16 winter tires. The tires, more then anything else has drained the zip of the truck. till recently I had a four hour each way commute over several mountain passes that I had to do several times a week. Going from the stock 245 tires slowed the biggest of the long slow climbs down a bit and made me go from 4th to 3ed gear on those 7 percent 8 mile long hills. Again, truck will hold 55 no problem in third and easily zips up to 65 when you rev it over 4k
Prior to the taller skinny tires and suspension upgrade I averaged 21-23 mpg depending on time of the year
After the suspension it dropped t0 19-21
suspension + tires im at 18-19 on that long commute but winter tires, winter gas, cold temps, lots of hills = more gas burned. If I keep it at 65 it gets 20 all day long even with the tires, the sand, and all of the other weight.
Short of pulling an RV that is over 20 feet or winning drag races the tacoma 2.7 will do anything you ask of it with in reason. aside from the regular reccomended stuff the only thing I have had to do in the last 160 k was a surpinetine belt around 100k and the front brake pads at 135k.
It is a cheap simple motor to run and take care of. the second gen 5 speed 4x4 2.7 tacos are damn good trucks. I wish I had gotten an access cab back in 2012 but the regular cab is really awesome. Just tight on space.
