Manual vs. Auto Transmission on Tacoma with Fleet

[Steve C.]

Question for this group: I currently have a 2005 Tacoma with a 4WC Fleet camper. It's been good. But truck is getting long in the tooth. I found a manual trans Tacoma and am curious what folks think of having a camper on a truck with manual transmission. Looking for feedback about lack of power (or more?) and things like that.

 

[GVWRLOL]

If the Tacoma you are looking at is an 05-15 I say definitely pass on the 4 speed automatic. The gap between gears is weird and it is very inefficient. Always hunting for the power band, and always being too low or too high in the Rav range. The 4 cylinder 4 speed 2nd Gen Tacoma is beyond useless for truck duty, but they are fun to rip around in the mud, I'll give em that.
Just my .02

 

[Occidental]

We had a manual 6 speed 2006 Tacoma with our Eagle for about 150,000 miles. I couldn't have asked for a better combination. Plenty of power. I would highly recommend. I would have bought another manual if one existed. Pm me if you want specifics.

 

[Sagebrush Reconnoiterer]

You might look up gear ratios manual vs automatic, especially if it's a TRD Off Road model. I had a 2002 with the 5-speed. Overall gearing was 4:11; automatics were around 3:60 or so. I had a friend with a 2002 TRD Off Road with the auto. At 70 mph I was turning just over 3,200 RPM (stock sized BFG All Terrain T/A tires), he was running about 2,500 RPM. Needless to say, I seldom topped 20 miles per gallon, his mileage was better by a few mpg's. I didn't have a camper, but did have a topper and always carried extraction equipment, some tools and supplies in totes in the back.

A family member still has the truck, now with over 220,000 miles. It's still running the factory clutch. Under my watch, I'd say my pavement/off road mileage was in the 60/40 range, I was always out exploring my then backyard of the eastern Sierra Nevada, Death Valley and Nevada.