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Tioga, WV Car Consumer Discussions

No "tow package" blues

by tacowoody on Wed Jun 27 17:55:25 PDT 2007

I have a 2006 V6 Tacoma Double Cab 2wd with TRD. I want to kick myself for not getting it with a tow package. Even without the constant need for towing I'd rather have the extra goodies for better performance.I have to tow a 19' travel trailer with a dry weight of 2900. Is there anyway I can get the tranny cooler, oil cooler, and 130amp alt and install them myself or have someone else do it?Toyota parts dept. says they don't sell those parts as accessories and if you don't have a tow package you're out of luck...told me to get another Taco with the package. That was a dealer in So Cal 909.Other inept parts workers don't even know what I'm talking about. One told me that a Taco without the tow package can tow up to 5,000lbs. What can I do? I went to the dealer yesterday and looked at the tow package Tacos and saw that the installation of the tranny cooler is pretty straightforward. Now the oil cooler was different.I don't know if it's an internal cooler within the radiator or something like that. Also if I tow...does it need to be in 4th gear so as not to burn out the tranny?For those in So Cal, I have to tow north up the Cajon Pass and then through the desert on the 395 and up Tioga Pass.I want to make sure my lil Taco can tow through this.

2000 Honda Civic Destroyed!

by grifster1 on Sun Jun 24 23:49:36 PDT 2007

My beautiful Civic was parked at my house today when I heard a crunching sound outside of my window. A 1971 Dodge Tioga RV had successfully mangled both drivers side doors, pulled my front fender completely off, bent the front axle, and tore enough into the hoses and engine to leave a pool of fluids under the car. No big deal right? The woman driving the car is: 1) Homeless 2) Uninsured 3) Did not have a drivers license 4) Has no phone number 5) Is driving and unregistered vehicle 6) Crazy and tried to bribe me to not call the cops by giving me a painting of kelp that she had made. So…I got a police report and filed the claim with Geico, but will have to pay towing and a large deductible. Any ideas or experiences with getting the money for my deductible from someone like I described above? Thanks!!!

My TCH Trip Report

by canonm on Sun Jun 24 09:50:10 PDT 2007

Well I finally got to take my new TCH on an extended trip. I was really impressed (shocked may be a better word) with the MPG. The trip originated in San Jose, Ca and the destination was South Lake Tahoe, CA. The distance was around 250 miles. I had go up and over the Sierra Nevada (sea level to about 9,000 feet and then down to South Lake Tahoe at around 4,000 feet). The CA central valley its flat and I drove the limit of 65 MPH (Interstate 80) for the first 150 miles. Then, on a two lane road (US 50), I went up and over at 50-60 MPH. I used speed control whenever possible; I used A/C all the way. The ride was super smooth, engine noise was minimal, power was excellent with reserve for passing up hill on a two lane road. And the small luggage compartment was adequate for just my wife and I. Average MPG came in at 41.5! On the return leg I started at Carson City Nevada ending in San Jose. That was a trip of 300 miles, and except for the first 50 miles (all up), was identical to the outbound leg. This time I tried to kept the speed up to 60 MPH on the two lane part of the trip, and 70 MPH on the flat lands. Average MPG came in at 44.5 MPG! Its clear the Toyota MPG of 38 is very conservative and must apply to 70+ MPH speeds. I mostly did hiking on the Eastern Serria. During three days of driving I went up and over Sonora Pass twice(10,500 feet), Tioga Pass (10,000), and another pass at 9,500. Speed was limited to 30-40 MPH by the terrain. All took about an hour or so (Sonora Pass is super steep up and down). The average came out to 36.5 MPG. I really tested the engine/battery and never had a problem with performance. I put the drive in “B” mode coming down steep grades and it was wonderful—--hardly ever used the brakes and when I needed power I didn’t have to up shift back to “D” (like you would in a conventional transmission); The only negative was on the steepest parts of Sonora Pass the 4 cylinder was noisy at 40 MPH. The TCM is an incredibly engineered car and priced right (I paid $25.2K). It’s not a toy to drive around in town as I have seen in some reviews. It’s a truly full size family car for all driving conditions.

Re: Pacifica Touring - 2 week "test drive" [steelydan0613]

by axr6 on Thu Sep 15 09:23:11 PDT 2005

I agree with you on the need for a 5 speed tranny. Presently there are large gaps in the gearing. It would greatly address the "underpowered" feelings by being able to better keep the engine in its power range. I had just returned from a nearly 3000 mile trip where we kayaked down 240 miles of the Colorado river throught the Grand Canyon. Had 4 adults in the car, and 3 white water kayaks and 5 paddles on the roof rack. The cargo area in the Pac was fully jammed with gear and provisions for 2 weeks. Climbed several 8,000+ feet peaks in desert heats of over 115 F degrees and one, nearly 10,000 feet (Tioga Pass). Keeping the car at the proper RPMs for climbing had privided sufficient power, even for ocassional passing. Kept my speeds at, or below 70 MPH in consideration of the large surface area roof rack loads (150 lbs). On the way back, for a full day, we had extremely strong and gusty head and side-winds, gusting to 60 MPH. The roofrack was flexing, making worrysome noises but, held!!! Despite all the climbing and head-winds the Pacifica returned a bit over 20 MPG trip average, which was really nice, given the loading, winds and elevation changes. Also, it is the most comfortable vehicle I've ever had. I could drive 11 hours straight and have no aches and pains when I stepped out. It was superbly stable in the wind gusts, as well. I did visit my dealer prior to the trip and he replaced the lower front control arms for the clunking sound. It did not fix the noise. I am pretty confident that the clunking is really originating from the transaxle assembly. I'll have them check it again when ever I visit again. Hopefully not anytime soon.

Re: mrnatural [erickpl]

by mrnatural on Wed Sep 14 07:04:49 PDT 2005

Paul, Thanks for the tip. I should tell you though that I graduated from Lee Vining high school in 1968. Eastern Sierra is truely my old stomping grounds. Another neat place to eat is at the foot of the Tioga Pass road. A Mobil gas station there has an international chef cookng for their deli...Lobster taquitos anyone? Cajun food is tops too! Loading the Jeep commences now! Alan on Hwy 395

rear of car squating

by aspesisteve on Mon Aug 18 08:37:12 PDT 2003

just got back from a 1k mile road trip with the car fully loaded down. 7 passengers, 4 bikes and soft pak on top. The car ran like a champ through the Tioga pass at 10,000 feet. My problem is, when this car is fully loaded, it tends to squat too low - the trailer hitch will hit dips in parking lots. Is the solution as simple as installing new shocks? can I do this myself? thx