Cobb AP - CAMTuning remote tuning support & results (for Tacoma i-Force Max Hybrid)

[awpk03s]

Guys, just wanted to share my impressions of the Cobb AP and remote tuning support by @CAMTuning.

I have had experience with Cobb in Subaru’s for years, so I was a little drawn to this solution.

My truck is 25 TRD OR hybrid. I have done the following things to it this far: SXTH intake, SXTH intercooler, AWE exhaust, Miller Cat skid plate, RC bed molle panels, RC hard roll top, Rave heritage grill with light bar, diode ditch lights, auxbeam, Aspire V2 fangs, and some audio stuff.

I went through 12 map revisions with Cam. He was super fast and responsive. Th process is so easy, create a data log, upload it, get a new map, and load new map and repeat.

I gave him subjective feedback about shift points and rpm’s and he adjusted to dial in just what I wanted.

Truck runs fantastic. WOT it pulls like crazy, it’s really unbelievable… but it’s so smooth and responsive even in low end, all the time; it’s a different truck, love it. Cannot say enough good things.
Here’s a crappy pic of my truck in the Ohio snow, haha.

UPDATE:

Here’s some other anecdotal add ons from my Cobb/CAM experience. I did not like how at cruising speeds, the truck had a tendency to climb rpms in existing gear rather than downshift (unless accelerating aggressively). Cam fixed that with the TCU.

Similarly, when in Sport mode, I despised how at cruising speeds, no longer building acceleration, the truck would hold on to the lower gear at 2500-3000 rpm for what seemed like forever before finally up shifting. Cam fixed that too.

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[PullinDoubles]

Just hope you don't have to go to the Dealer.

 

[crepr12]

OP is into mods...dealers/warranties dont usually concern them...jmho

 

[awpk03s]

There’s been ton of discussion in many other threads…. Toyota cannot void your warranty for a mod, but they can deny your claim if can prove that the mod caused the defect/failure.

I do all of my own maintenance and basic repairs (as necessary).

If I’m headed to a dealer for any reason, I’m returning the ECU to stock.

I told Cam my goals for the truck, focusing on longevity/reliability and drivability. My tune revisions are reflective of that. There’s more power there than what I’m making, but I didn’t want to push the envelope. Additionally, the tune really helps me harness all the benefit of the intake/intercooler/exhaust, resulting in a safer operating envelope for the vehicle and better driving performance.

Now that’s done, here’s some other anecdotal add ons from my Cobb/CAM experience. I did not like how at cruising speeds, the truck had a tendency to climb rpms in existing gear rather than downshift (unless accelerating aggressively). Cam fixed that with the TCU.

Similarly, when in Sport mode, I despised how at cruising speeds, no longer building acceleration, the truck would hold on to the lower gear at 2500-3000 rpm for what seemed like forever before finally up shifting. Cam fixed that too.

 

[CAMTuning]

Just hope you don't have to go to the Dealer.

Just sharing my experience here, not speaking in absolutes.


One of my customers happens to be a Toyota service manager. He recently had a recall done on his own truck and removed the tune before connecting Toyota’s software. When it was scanned, there was no record of the truck ever being tuned or flashed—the ECU showed up as a stock calibration.


It’s also worth noting that dealers regularly scrutinize warranty claims for things that are far more common than tuning, like lifts, larger tires, suspension work, or even basic bolt-ons such as intakes. Drivetrain and brake claims especially tend to get extra attention.


I’ve been involved in the performance import four-cylinder space for close to 20 years. In that time, I’ve seen warranty claims denied on heavily modified vehicles (larger turbos, fuel system changes, etc.), but I personally haven’t seen a claim denied due to a tune alone.

 

[Un-Limited]

Is every truck tuned individually from scratch, or is there a baseline library assembled from all the prior trucks already tuned? I'm not at the 'ready to buy tomorrow' stage, but this is on my radar for sure. I had a lot of fun modding a '95 Miata years ago, with head work, exhaust, intake, gearing, flywheel, and ECU tuning. But I eventually realized that I had converted it into a purpose-specific car for track days and autocross, and that it had lost a lot of charm as a daily driver. Don't get me wrong - I can't say I regretted it. But there are certainly trade-offs to consider as you modify things, and my goals for my truck are to retain the simplicity of a daily driver. Ideally, I can switch between eco, sport, and maybe other modes to suit my desires for that drive. Is that wishful thinking?

 

[CAMTuning]

Is every truck tuned individually from scratch, or is there a baseline library assembled from all the prior trucks already tuned? I'm not at the 'ready to buy tomorrow' stage, but this is on my radar for sure. I had a lot of fun modding a '95 Miata years ago, with head work, exhaust, intake, gearing, flywheel, and ECU tuning. But I eventually realized that I had converted it into a purpose-specific car for track days and autocross, and that it had lost a lot of charm as a daily driver. Don't get me wrong - I can't say I regretted it. But there are certainly trade-offs to consider as you modify things, and my goals for my truck are to retain the simplicity of a daily driver. Ideally, I can switch between eco, sport, and maybe other modes to suit my desires for that drive. Is that wishful thinking?

great question. I have a library of maps for common modification paths. And I offer two different tiers of tuning service:

1. A reflash only which would get you one of these maps that is best suited for your modifications. This reflash map also includes one data log review. I do this really for my own peace of mind. You should not expect a revision but if I see something that I do not like in the log, I will fix it.
2. Option two is a custom tune with revisions which carries a slightly higher price tag. But I will have you send me data logs and revise based on that data coupled with your personal input on the driving behavior and how you would like it to act under certain conditions. This can be throttle response or transmission behavior etc.
3. The modes still work as designed by Toyota however I have control of each of all three of them. So say for example you wanted normal to feel more like sport, we can do that. If you wanted sport to feel a lot more aggressive than it currently does, we can do that as well.

I too have taken modifications way too far on other platforms. For example my Subaru that I turned from a stock car to a 1000whp monster is not so practical for daily use anymore.

The great thing about this platform is that the majority of owners are not looking to build a race truck; they just want a little more power, better throttle response and better transmission behavior, all of which can be delivered easily and make it much more enjoyable to drive daily. I daily drive my Tacoma and it really bridges the gap between utility and a little bit of fun.

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