Topic: Automatic/4low ???

[toyodaaddict]

Ok, I have seen it said that with an auto there is less need for low range gearing/dual cases. Help me understand this.  I have spent very little time behind the wheel of an 04 taco 3.4/auto,  a 2000 4runner 3.4/manual,  and a 2000 taco 3rz/manual. The 4low on the 04 taco 3.4/auto seems to high, it moves along pretty quick at an idle. The manual taco/4runner creep along much slower in 4low at idle. Not having any real time behind the wheel of these vehicles, the 4low slow speed in the manual trucks is what I'm used to and I prefer it, feels much more controlled. What am I missing?

[KDNICKELS]

They are probably referring to the fact that the automatic transmission uses a torque convertor, which kind of acts like a reduction gear. With a manual transmission, the torque is fixed compared to an automatic with a torque convertor.

However, dual cases are highly recommended either way, if you are looking to achieve better control, traction, lower gearing, etc.

[blackdiamond]

I think the value of a dual ultimate setup with a set of 4.70:1 gears in the rear case would be almost eliminated with an automatic transmission. I can still. see the value of having standard duals.

I have a dual ultimate manual setup in my 4Runner but have some experience with automatic transmissions off road.

[toyodaaddict [OP]]

Dual cases aside (everything is better with dual cases ), It seems to me that the automatic first gen taco's/3rd gen 4runner's  are begging for lower gearing right from the start. Even for light offroad use. I'm pretty committed to being a manual transmission guy but see a lot of experienced guys running autos in buggies and serious trail rigs and then see these comments about autos needing less gearing, it makes me wonder 

[toyodaaddict [OP]]

I was just doing some real light stuff with the auto Tacoma. Working my way through some trees getting in and out of camp sites, dealing with some small rocks/ruts, coming down steep rutted hills.  I had to to ride the brake the whole time to keep the speed down. Definitely not what I'm used to, the 5 speed trucks just lug down an crawl

[KDNICKELS]

Well when you compare the 1st gear ratios of the A340F (2.804) and the R150F (3.830) you will notice that the manual R150F has a significantly lower gear ratio. So in that sense, the manual would be geared lower. However, the gearing in the automatic A340F will tend to fluctuate because of the torque convertor.  One or another is not necessarily better than the other, it is just simply preference in my opinion.

[camhays556]

I have the Auto trans in my taco and its def not low enough, going to add one of the North West Fabworx Eco crawlers and see how it does

[Gnarly4X]

The auto vs manual discussion has been around for a long time.

I’ll add my 2 cents.

I wheeled the heck out of my 1986 22RE Longbed automatic from 1986 to 1994.  I went on every popular trail in CA, NM, AZ, Sonora Mexico, and the Glamis sand dunes.

I never felt I needed lower gears while in 4-wheel drive.  The torque conversion was awesome.  The control on a trail, and most of mine was rockcrawling, was incredible.  It is a bullet-proof tranny.  And, if I could have purchased the same transmission in my current 1986 - I would have.

Now… there is one place where it failed to work well.  In 4-wheel drive, 4-low, climbing a steep hill, started in first gear, it shifted too soon into second and then the engine would bog and I’d lose forward momentum.  The option was to hold it in first gear, but then I’d run out of RPMs.  Or I could try to make the climb staying in 1st gear at 5,000 RPMs, then I ran out of torque.

At the time, back around ‘87 or ’88, I checked to see if there were options for the issue and I was told by a Toyota dealer there were none that they knew about.

Now.. fast forward when I got my 1985 short bed 22R 5-speed around 1995.  THEN I needed lower gears and bought one of Marlin’s first Crawler t-cases!

As far as 4-wheeling, on any terrain, the automatic transmission would be my first choice and my preference.

Gnarls.

[Rocksurfer]

I had an 86 4Runner turbo auto 4.88s 33 tires lockers f/r wheeled it on all the trails and it crawled well, that being said I had one very steep hill climb that it ran out of power on where a lower gear would have been good. I also went toe to toe with a friend  that had doubles and was able to crawl along side him without stopping.

[Ritchie]

In my '03 Tacoma, I'm running a 3RZ motor, auto trans with a 4.7 geared Inch Worm T-case (Lefty).
Gears at each end are 5.29's pulling 285-75-16's Falkens.
This is plenty low for what I do and I really don't see a need to go any lower.

Good luck OP.