2016 Toyota Tacoma

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Trav

Anyone have an opinion on the TRD OFF Road compared to the TRD Sport? I am thinking the suspension on the Off Road might help with the bottoming out concern, but the tires might not be the best for mostly highway driving.

The TRD Off Road package lists "Off-road tuned suspension with Bilstein® shocks". This doesn't necessarily meant that it is stiffer; although it probably is harder to bottom out, it may start higher so that under load it still sags a lot. Good off-road suspension isn't stiff - it has lots of travel (compliance) and control. A "sport" suspension, on the other hand, is typically stiffer than the standard suspension.

I doubt that there is any difference in the frame between versions, and I doubt there's any difference in suspension other than selection of the things which can be tuned:

• springs
• shock valving
• swaybar thickness
• bushing stiffness (but this likely isn't changed in a Tacoma)

I would go stand on the bumper of trucks in showrooms. Seriously.

Tires
All of these tires are the same overall height and rolling radius, so they don't change the height or ground clearance of the truck. Shorter sidewalls and wider tread are both better for towing stability, and tread patterns that don't pretend to be for off-road use are less "squirmy", so from best to worst they're probably:

1. P265/60R18 (Limited)
2. P265/65R17 (TRD Sport)
3. P245/75R16 (SR & SR5) or P265/70R16 (TRD Off Road) - depending on whether tread pattern or with is more important

I have switched between sizes with this sort of difference (half an inch in each sidewall, and a moderate tread width difference), in three different vehicles, and I find the vehicle behaviour noticeably different. I don't know if the result will be noticeable in towing.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by gocamp

When shopping for my rear sumo-springs the forums mentioned the 4x2 TRD sport has the same undercarriage as the 4x4 model. I did not have time to follow up and research it myself.

That's been done by both Nissan and Toyota: sell a 2WD version with the suspension features normally used only with 4WD, which generally just means that it sits higher (to provide clearance for the 4WD hardware which hangs down under the truck) and perhaps is equipped for larger tires (which might mean larger brakes or a different bolt pattern on the hubs).

In this case, I don't think the 4x4 version (in any trim) is even raised higher than the 4x2 version of the same trim level, since the approach and departure angles are the same in 4x4 and 4x2. The breakover angle is better with 2WD, because the transfer case hangs down in the 4x4 and limits breakover.

There is no difference in these angles between the TRD Sport and regular (SR, SR5) trims, and the overall height is the same for all trims, so it seems unlikely that the suspension is a different height.

The TRD Off Road trim claims better angles than the others, according to the brochure:

Approach/departure/breakover angle (degrees, for 4x4):
TRD Off Road - 32/29/24
all other trims - 29/23.5/21

With the same overall height and the same tire diameter, something is suspicious. I have heard of models in which one version sits higher, but omits the roof rack to hit the same overall height. I don't know what's going on in this case (it's not a roof rack).

[Vermilye]

My promised first trailer haul report:

The truck has 1200 miles on it. Trailer is a 17B weighing 3000 lbs & 324 lbs tongue weight. A 40 mile trip to get the trailer's axle serviced. On the trip to, ECT Power was on, 13MPG on mixed freeway & two alone roads. Return ECT Power off, 13.1MPG. As recommended by Toyota, towed in 5th gear (although the transmission spend a great deal of time in 4th). Far more shifting on the way back (no ECT). My ScanGauge II stock settings work on the Tacoma, but the transmission temperature that worked for the RAV4 does not for the Tacoma (even though they were Tacoma settings) I hope someone comes up with settings for the 2016.

Very stable, no truck/bus sway & comfortable to tow. I do miss my full time rear view camera (on the trailer). Did not add the Grand Aero mirrors, probably will on the next trip. I towed without the WDH and found I didn't need it. While the trailer & RAV4 felt disconnected when towing without it, the combination of the trailer & Tacoma felt like the WDH was there even without one.

Backing took some getting used to - the distance between the hitch & the rear wheels on the RAV4 was much shorter than on the truck, making it less maneuverable. Some might say it should make it easier to back, but I found it more difficult to make corrections while backing. I'm also getting used to the larger turning radius of the Tacoma. I was able to do a "U" turn on fairly narrow 2 lane roads, parking lots, etc with the RAV4. Doesn't happen with the truck.

Overall, while I loved the old RAV4, the truck makes a far better tow vehicle.

[lancenadine]

Our friends have a 2016 Tacoma 4x4 TRD towing a 17B and the difference between their mileage and ours (F-150 Ecoboost & 19') from the Lower Mainland to Osoyoos & back was 10 litres of fuel.
They used 140 litres and we used 150.

I think the overall distance was around 800k +/-.

[Dave Walter]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

...My ScanGauge II stock settings work on the Tacoma, but the transmission temperature that worked for the RAV4 does not for the Tacoma (even though they were Tacoma settings) I hope someone comes up with settings for the 2016....

Don't know if you tried the codes on this page?

https://www.scangauge.com/support/x-...yota-specific/

For my FJ, I found scan gauge codes on the FJCruisers forum. If you cannot get yours working, I am sure that the Tacoma forum would have the codes you are looking for. The codes that worked for me are:

Sensor #1
TXD 07E02182
RXF 046105820000
RXD 3808
MTH 00090005FFD8
NAME TF1

Sensor #2
TXD 07E02182
RXF 046105820000
RXD 2808
MTH 00090005FFD8
NAME TF2

Settings are for temperature in Fahrenheit.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by ice-breaker

Don't know if you tried the codes on this page?

https://www.scangauge.com/support/x-...yota-specific/

For my FJ, I found scan gauge codes on the FJCruisers forum. If you cannot get yours working, I am sure that the Tacoma forum would have the codes you are looking for. The codes that worked for me are:

Sensor #1
TXD 07E02182
RXF 046105820000
RXD 3808
MTH 00090005FFD8
NAME TF1

Sensor #2
TXD 07E02182
RXF 046105820000
RXD 2808
MTH 00090005FFD8
NAME TF2

Settings are for temperature in Fahrenheit.

Those are the ones that worked for the RAV4, but not the 2016 Tacoma.

[Devil Dog]

Although the 2016 Tacoma is easy on fuel on the straight and level it is not afraid to use it on the big hills. I found it better to shift to 4th or 3rd in hilly areas and leave it there until on the level for a long distance returning to 4th or (5th@ 2200 rpm). Then there is a sudden drop in rpm in 5th and it will shift to up hill asst. even though there is no hill and may even drop to 4th on its own. So 4th maybe the sweet spot for general towing although the rpms range fro 2800 to 3000 the engine seems to work less at a average speed of 80 /90 K/h and fuel consumption about 17.4L / 100k. in 4th. Rpm may vary by +/- 200.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Those are the ones that worked for the RAV4, but not the 2016 Tacoma.

I did find a new set of 2016 V6 codes at the Tacoma Owners Forum, however my Scangauge is too old for the new codes to work. I sent it back to Linear Logic for a firmware update ($25.00), after which the new codes should work. If anyone is interested, they are here.

[J&G]

Could someone snap a picture of the brake controller plug on the 2016 Tacoma? We have the factory tow package, but no one seems to be able to find the plug. We found something that might be it after reading this forum but not sure. Also, we need to get the plug connector from the P3 to the Toyota. We get different recommendations from every source we ask. Figured since you guys are already using one, it will be right. Thanks.

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by J&G

Could someone snap a picture of the brake controller plug on the 2016 Tacoma?

See here for a picture and answer:

https://www.etrailer.com/question-152303.html

[Vermilye]

The plug for the controller is under the driver's side kick panel, not under the dash. It was tucked in near the top & took a bit to find. As to the adapter, I used this one.

[J&G]

Thanks. Where did you mount yours?

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by J&G

Thanks. Where did you mount yours?

I didn't find a lot of options for mounting - most of the below dash locations get in the way of my knees or the airbags.

The most out-of-the-way I could find was in the cubby over the switch for the inverter. It is a tight fit, tight enough that I didn't use any mounting hardware. (the entire panel, cubby & switches snaps out, making it easier to drill the hole for the cable & connector).

[J&G]

Thanks! That really helps!!

[Warren Nordin]

I tow a 2015 19ft with my 2008 Tacoma TRD with tow package V6 and have no issues seems like it was ment to be

[J&G]

Jon, we love the idea of using the slot that you used for the P3, but ours is about 1/8 inch too wide to fit. Did you have that problem, and if so, how did you manage it?

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by J&G

Jon, we love the idea of using the slot that you used for the P3, but ours is about 1/8 inch too wide to fit. Did you have that problem, and if so, how did you manage it?

Not if you push hard enough! I suppose that it is possible to break or crack the sides of the slot, particularly if it is cool, but all I did is slowly push it in until just before the manual lever hit. I got the idea from others that did the same & posted at the Tacoma Forum.

[Devil Dog]

The adapter cable comes from the Tundra 2014 - 2016 . There is no cable for the 2016 Tacoma . That I know off 4 months ago .

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Devil Dog

The adapter cable comes from the Tundra 2014 - 2016 . There is no cable for the 2016 Tacoma . That I know off 4 months ago .

eTrailer lists the 3017-P cable for both the 2016-17 Tundra & the 2016 Tacoma. It is the one I used & I can confirm that it provides all the functions expected.

[Vermilye]

A couple of things for anyone interested in the 2016 Tacoma.

1. The ECT Power button does not act like a tow/haul as far as charging voltage - no effect on the alternator output.

2. The charge line on the 7 pin connector (pin 4) does turn on & off with the ignition switch. You do not have to unplug during stops if you are running the refrigerator on 12V.

3. If you have the Atwood power tongue jack, a standard length stinger (if there is such a thing - both mine, different brands are the same length) only allows the tailgate to be lowered if the truck & trailer are perfectly aligned. With the WDH supplied by Escape in 2011, you have a couple of additional inches of extension & the tailgate clears even with the trailer at an angle.