Anyone come from a 4.6 Tundra?

I have a 2016 Tacoma Sport. This past summer we bought a Wolf Pup travel trailer GVWR of 4000lbs. Have the WDH & brake controller. The Tacoma will tow it, but it's a lot of work for the truck in the hills and I'm constantly paying attention to it while towing due to the lack of power, frequent shifting, high RPMs. That & when loading up for a trip I'm constantly trying to reduce the load, distribute the load to reduce tongue weight, concerned about exceeding the trucks limited cargo carrying weight. I tow with ECT on in S4.
So I've been considering trading the Tacoma for a used Tundra. I don't want the 5.7. It's way over kill for what I need. I had a 2006 4.7 Tundra that I traded for the Tacoma in 2016. For only a 4.7, that truck was very capable for towing. The new Tundra is 4.6 with more hp & torque but only rated at 6800lbs towing cap. (only 400lbs more than the Tacoma).
So my question for any one with knowledge of the 4.6 Tundra, is it substantially more capable than the Tacoma to pull my 4000# trailer? Or do I need to go bigger?

 

The 4.6 and the 5.7 are essentially the same. The 5.7 has a longer stroke which provides the extra volume. 4.7 was a different beast. Probably one of Toyota's best Toyota motors in the class of the 3.4 and 22RE. I would go with the 5.7. Get the extra power for when you need it and as long as you stay off the gas, your mileage will be close to the same.

 

Having coming from a 4.7 tundra, and trying to pull the same load with my 3.5 tacoma....well i don't think it'd be the same by any means. I'm just happy i now have a lighter boat, and sold my 2 place enclose triton snowmobile trailer for a smaller lighter utility trailer. I no longer need to travel hundreds of miles up north pulling 3 sleds in the tundra, or fish long island sound every weekend. That said, imo i've felt comfortable towing my 2k lb boat now for short trips. Anything over 3k lbs for me would be the limit with this taco. Not saying the truck can't handle more, just that it feels the limit to me.

 

I should have mentioned that I would be trying to do this switch on a budget. The 4.6 Tundra was not a big seller, & was discontinued. This lack of demand for it shows in the resale values. They are hard to find, but I think I can get a used 2016 Tundra for about the same, or maybe even a little less than my 2016 Tacoma with only 40K miles on it. The 5.7 Tundras have great resale value around me.

 

I would just get the 5.7

The 4.6 is good and all but the Tundra's that had the 4.7 were lighter than the current Gen Tundra's so the power to weight ratio was greater.

I test drove the 4.6 and it honestly didn't feel any stronger than my OVtuned Tacoma, it's probably better but a huge difference? Likely not. Ask for a test drive with towing perhaps?

I would get the 5.7 if you want a significant difference and effortless towing for that amount of weight.

Buy once, cry once.

 

I had a 2005 4.6 and loved it. The engine was smooth and powerful. The trucks actual size was comparable to the tacoma. There were a few things I didn't like about mine. 2wd model which meant higher towing capacity, but lack of traction for Iowa winters. Bed started to rust out under the hardware, cab noise was high. If you could find a double cab version it is actually a slightly bigger truck.

I did just get the Ovtune and latest TSB update from Shellschock and I have to tell you I have never been happier with my Tacoma. It performs like it should have to begin with. The 4.6 V8 still have more power and was smooth, but I never need to tow anything over a few thousand pounds if that.

If you are towing on the regular a full size truck would be the way to go.

 

I test drove a 4.6 extensively a few years ago before buying my current Taco. I even got to keep it over night. The 4.6 is more than enough engine for the average person. 310 hp and 325 lbs ft of torque will serve you well.

I ended up with the Taco for a couple of reasons. #1 In reality I didn't need a rig as big as the Tundra and #2 the DCSB Taco fit in the garage.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy a 4.6

 

I tow a 4000-4500lb loaded Toyhauler with a 2020 Tundra with the 5.7. Had a 2005 Tundra with the 4.7 in it until last month. There are some things I miss about the 2005 and was very hesitant to sell it but no regrets at this point. The 2020 tows so much better than the 2005, even though it's a pretty light trailer.

The 4.6 is also a good motor but as stated tougher to sell, but if that isn't a consideration then no worries. But I'd still recommend the 5.7. I also get 17mpg in the 2020 on the highway but drive like an old man. I kept my 95.5 Taco and will never sell it. My dad had a 2017 Tacoma which quickly made my mind up about getting a Tundra over the Taco. What a terrible engine that thing has in it. Interior room also felt just as crampt as my 95.5 somehow?

 

I see some of you have the OVtune. Is that an option to improve my Tacoma's towing capability? I'd be concerned that the Tacoma drive train would become a weak point if the OVtuned engine outputs more torque & power while towing.

 

Ovtune is not going to raise your towing capacity, but the truck will drive more efficiently and make towing more pleasant. Increasing towing would not be a factor due to the rest of the vehicles makeup. Suspension, frame, oil cooler, all around capacities.

 

For the last 8 years I owned and towed 4500 lbs. with the truck that gets badmouthed a lot (2012 4.6 Tundra extra cab 4x2). I have no regrets. We did most of the national parks with some real big pulls in the S/W (Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico). We out pulled a lot of 5.7 Tundras whose owners drank the koolade, thought they had a 3/4 ton, and were pulling too heavy. I towed in S mode 5th or 4th depending on the grade--locking out 6th to keep the transmission from searching. The 4.6 also got a couple MPG better in everyday driving than the 2006 Tacoma I traded in for it. Towing MPG was about the same at 9-11. The 4.0 Tacoma would not have done well for us in the S/W grades.

After 40ish years of 16-22 foot travel trailer towing, it's time to give it up, or I would have kept the Tundra. Just traded in for a '21 Tacoma. Gonna miss the Tundra, as I did the '06 Tacoma.

 

i had a 14, 4.6 and a 17, 5.7 and there is no comparison. 5.7 pulled my 18' boat like it wasn't there the 4.6 shifted almost like my Taco. I just wanted to downsize my truck as I don't need a full size anymore.