I am contemplating buying a used 1999 Tacoma 2.7L 4cyl, auto, 4X4, Exc cab. I am unfamiliar with the Toyota 4cylinder engines. Specs say towing is to 5000lbs. Are they good for occassional towing of a 17ft boat, and carrying some light contracting supplies without bogging down? The Tacoma I'm interested in has 79,000 miles and is one owner,and I hate to pass it up, but yet I don't want to get stuck with a wimpy engine. I'm hoping to save a little gas too.
Thank you for any and all comments.

I recently went from a 1992 3.0 V6 to a 2000 with a 2.7. IMHO the 2.7 is a lot better than the 3.0 and faster. We will see when I hook up my 17' boat. If driving empty is any indication, it should work as well.

Now, the 3.4 makes a lot more power and torque so.... It is probably a lot better than the 2.7. I was happy with my 3.0 and my 2.7 is as good or better. I had the same situation and took the newer truck. I am happy with my 2.7. I probably would be happier with a 3.4 but you have to take the deals as they come....

I bet the 2.7 is good for more miles. Its roots go back to the 22R. Where the 3.4's roots go back to the 3.0. Mine had 200k on the ticker when I sold it and was running strong so the 3.4 may not be that bad.

If you're going to be towing and hauling stuff then get the 3.4L V6.

I have gotten up to 21 mpg on my 3.4L and I definitely like the engine. It has been running strong, I haven't had any experience with the 2.4 or 2.7L but I know the 22RE is a little lacking in power.

The other thing that I forgot to add yesterday:

I have done a lot of work on my 3.0 and some on friends 3.4's. My 2.7 is WAY easier to work on and things under the hood are a lot nicer.

The 3.4 also has that nasty timing belt that will need to be changed and that is no small job. Been there, done that. Probably the worst one I have done as far as stuff that had to be removed. OK, so my 3.0 was the worst.

I get 23 mpg highway on my '04 x-cab w/2.7L. I have heard of others getting an average of 17-20 mpg with the 3.4L.

Thanks for all the great info. Thanks avercam. I like the idea that the 2.7 is easier to work on.I will be test driving it soon, so I'll see what kind of power it has to offer. It's an auto trans. which may be ok for what I need.

That sounds about right..My 99 gets about 17-22 with the 3.4. If its steady driving at 65-72 mph, I'm around 23-24 highway.

I only get 18-19 out of my 2.7. I drive 90% highway to and from work and it is a 27 mile one way drive. I expected better. I do drive 75ish mph. Would slowing down be that much better?

I do not have a lift and I have a tonnue cover on the bed.

Your commute is almost exactly the same as mine and I keep it at 70 mph. I doubt that 5 mph is costing you 4-5 mpg so I would try some new plugs, check tire pressure, Toyota fuel injector cleaner etc. BTW, my mileage has dropped to 20 mpg during the winter due to oxygenated gas so if you get better mileage in the summer youre not doing that bad.