skoti89

I love my 87 4runner, but I commute 60 miles, both ways, to work every day. During the 30 mile drive one way, there's about a 1,500 foot elevation change. So up hill going home SUCKS. Especially when the speed limit is 75 the whole way and the truckers are even passing me while I'm floored doin 55. specs and mods in sig

But even going down hill I dont like doing 75 because Im pushing about 3500 rpms in 5th gear. I get worse gas mileage.

My question is are the 2wd pickups better geared for higher speeds? I want to get a commuter(even though I still get over 20 mpgs in the runner) that can actually hold highway speeds. Most highways are 75mph here and even the truckers speed.

I'm jealous of my brothers 97 taco 4wd because he can be doing 75 in 4th gear still under 3000 rpms and he can hold 85 in 5th the whole way home. I think he has 373 gears or something? He also has the 2.7 litre 4 cylinder though. A little HP than the 22re. any one have a 2wd 5 speed and commutes with it? thanks

98_3RZ

my 1994 toyota pickup xtra cab is a 2wd 22re 5speed, with 3.42 gears. i just filled up 20 minutes ago and i got 24.3 MPG. i commute 25 miles round trip. highway is even better. the best that i have ever gotten is 33.3 MPG. now if your in it alot, obviously ypu won't get as good of mileage, the worst that i have gotten is 16.8 MPG, but that was my 1st tank of gas after i got my license, so i thought i was mario andretti. as for 5th gear, i turn about 3250 RPM's, but i still get good mileage. otherwise, i would definitely consider getting a 2wd toyota with a 5 speed.

also, what kind of grade (what percentage) do you see on your drive

mightymouse

iTrader: (6)

i love my little 2wd. It's been a blessing in disguise. Great gas mileage, i run the crap out of it too. I normally drive waay too fast in it. 70-75 cruising speed is the norm for me and when i hit the gas it doesn't hesitate up to 85. It just keeps going. Steep grades have yet to give me any trouble as well. Easy to work on and can be found cheap. I initially paid around 200 for mine with a bad t-chain. I put in maybe 500 bucks and have no money in it other wise. My only regrets is the complete basics package that it has. No ac, two speeds for the wipers, power nothing, no power steering, i mean this is seriously bone stock no bells and no whistles. Less crap to replace on a little commuter. I wish i could find another for the price but i don't have the room right now.

98_3RZ

same with mine. my parents gave it to me when i got my license in january 2009, it had 133,000 miles on it. mine has the deluxe gauge package, tilt steering column, A/C (still R-12) its an xtra cab, and i put in bucket seats and a center console from a 92 4runner. i wish it had cruise control though. i drive it like a racecar and it runs awesome.

1990poyota

just bought a 90 2wd 22r 4spd. almost have it road ready, when i figure out the mpg i'll let ya know. ive only test drove it so far but with no tach and no muffler i had to drive it by ear but in 3rd gear i was over 50 and it didnt sound like it was struggling at all and when i went to 4th the motor sounded disappointed i shifted so soon.

skoti89

theres just something in the back of my head telling me that running my engine at 4000 rpms consistently isnt very good. I tried to keep it at 65 mph and 3000 rmps, but like I said I'm obstructing traffic. I've actually gotten pulled over for it and got off when I told the cop my vehicle cant go any faster! lol

so the little 2wd drives do good at holding 75+ freeway speeds?

thanks guys

rhill

I've got a 4wd runner 3.0 auto and a 2wd pickup 3.0 5spd...there's no comparison. Kind of embarrassed I dunno what gearing I have, but the pickup can hold 75+ even on an incline, I have to floor the runner to hold 50 over any hills...also don't have the numbers, but I'm sure the 4wd runners weigh WAY more. And, if you keep the 2wd stock the smaller tires make a huge difference. Get a 2wd to DD and keep your 4by for trails.

swampfox

I have been very happy with my 89 2wd . The gearing is around 3.07 with a 5 spd and it has a carb with no air ,ps or other things to suck the power down. 5th is hardly ever used and it pulls the hills very well. The last time the mileage was checked it was getting a little under 24 mpg local and 27 0n trips with a 4 spd.

SC2WD

Yes, the gearing is taller in the 2wd pickups. And you are pushing less weight so its better on hills. And fwiw, the conventional wisdom is that while it may suck gas, you won't hurt the motor spinning it up in the higher rev range.

the_bearded_yota

I just bought my '82 single cab 22r 2wd with a 4 speed about two months ago and am pretty impressed with its spirit. It is completely bone stock except for the tires and wheels (205 75 r14). It is the absolutely no bells or whistles model (no a/c, power steering, tach, etc.) but compared to my '94 extra cab 3.0 4x4 with a 5 speed, it is a blessing. I'm at around 15-19 in the 94 and 23-27 in the 82. Hills don't bother it for the most part. At 65mph, its comfortable but 75 it is noticeably working. Mileage is optimal at 55-65. At 75mph, my mileage is at about 25.5mpg on midgrade 89 octane. As far as gearing, I am unsure what the ratio is.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

Mine came bone stock also,87. I added power steering and clock. I put 15 inch Ford Ranger rims 215/65/15 and have been getting 30 mpg with it. That is 98% highway driving running 60-65. Doing the best I can to get the mileage out of it. If I drive normal and at highway speeds I pull 26-28 all daylong.

I have pulled some heavy loads with it that maybe I shouldnt have with it and it has done fine. I drive 74 miles aday round trip and can tell the difference when driving my 4wheel drives. It came with a 4 speed in it and I put a tranny out of a 83 Celica and it was a direct fit.

My brother has a 92 2 wheel and he says he gets 32 with it. I havent been able too, but probably need to do a tune up on it. They are so much easier to work on and mine sits low so it is easy to get in and out of. Its not a bagger just stock. I like to use it if I have alot of stopping and going and small errands to do. I wish it was an extended cab though.

I have had it to 90 or 95 mph and it will run down the highway if I need it too. For a work truck and mileage you cant beat them for the price out there. Engine and interior cab wise is about all that is interchangeable. There are several differences between the 2 wheel and 4 wheel. (Blinkers,wheel studs, fenders...)

the_bearded_yota

I'd love to reach 30 mpg's! Maybe with a tune up... I usually only drive in the 55-65 mph range due to the scenic highway limit. Id think at those speeds it shouldn't be a problem. Do you know what gearing you have? I'm just wondering what I'm doing different because at $4.17 a gallon, every mile counts ya know.

the_bearded_yota

Was that killer mileage before or after the celica tranny?

98_3RZ

A friend of a friend of mine has an 86 2wd 22r 4 speed. he gets around 34 mpg city. but just like you, highway mileage sucks. its because of your gearing, most 2wd 22r 4 speed trucks i have seen have had 4:10 gears. combined with the 4 speed, it will give you great city mileage, but your highway mileage will be impacted. my 2wd is a 22re with a 5 speed, and it has 3:42 gears, my city mileage is pretty good, about 23 mpg, and thats if i'm not even trying. if i try, i can get almost 26 mpg in the city. highway on the other hand, i've gotten as high as 33 mpg. and i was driving like an hole most of the way. so the way i see it, your pretty well set. do the tune up, and drive it nice on the highway.

Natosports

I get 27mpg from local+highway driving.
With pure highway driving, I got 29mpg.

All stock. No camper. 15" wheels.