Towing

[Rambo 72 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Rambo 72]

When towing a 1.5t trailer with 2012 150 gal v6 can you drive in auto and cruise control or should you use the manual side of the auto lever.
People have told me you should never tow in 5th gear. Can anyone help me with the correct way to tow any info will be appreciated .

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

When towing a 1.5t trailer with 2012 150 gal v6 can you drive in auto and cruise control or should you use the manual side of the auto lever.
People have told me you should never tow in 5th gear. Can anyone help me with the correct way to tow any info will be appreciated .

Im not sure about specific weights, but I do know that I like to pull the tandem trailer (this trailer's exactly the right size to put a small grey fergy on the back) I have access to using the manual side of the auto lever.
This basically allows me to use the engine to help slow down...no other reason really.
As for cruise - I use it towing all the time.

I have a 2013 diesel.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Rambo,

There are other threads on this subject. The answer is NO.

Not advisable, as you may overheat the auto. and subsequently cook the transmission fluid.

Your Toyota handbook also advises Not To Tow In Auto, tow in S4.

[geoffmc1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close geoffmc1]

When towing a 1.5t trailer with 2012 150 gal v6 can you drive in auto and cruise control or should you use the manual side of the auto lever.
People have told me you should never tow in 5th gear. Can anyone help me with the correct way to tow any info will be appreciated .

Rambo,

My camper weighs 1.55t and i use manual, 4th most of the time. Best economy and the gearbox stays noce and cool.

cheers
Geoff

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

Is it me, or is a car that is unable to tow in its top gear because things may get hot, not fit for purpose?
What if you buy your shiny auto prado to tow your 2 tonne van, with the intention of only using the D part of the system? (say your a grey nomad like my folks...)

Then...Your car dies from overheating, you try to claim a warranty repair, you fail as some fine print said you shouldn't, you take Toyota to court for falsely advertising that you could tow your van with your auto prado and it was never mentioned that you should only do so in 4th...

I can see a litigation nightmare occurring here...

I do use the "manual" transmission when towing. I do tow in 5th (contrary to previous comments this is where I get the best economy, regardless of if/what I am towing).

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

Is it me, or is a car that is unable to tow in its top gear because things may get hot, not fit for purpose?
What if you buy your shiny auto prado to tow your 2 tonne van, with the intention of only using the D part of the system? (say your a grey nomad like my folks...)

Then...Your car dies from overheating, you try to claim a warranty repair, you fail as some fine print said you shouldn't, you take Toyota to court for falsely advertising that you could tow your van with your auto prado and it was never mentioned that you should only do so in 4th...

I can see a litigation nightmare occurring here...

I do use the "manual" transmission when towing. I do tow in 5th (contrary to previous comments this is where I get the best economy, regardless of if/what I am towing).

When you tow in 5th the torque converter spends a lot of time not locked, you can see this if you watch the tachometer. This rapidly heats the oil way above it's design limits which is very bad for the gearbox. Your choice if you want to drive like this, but it will do damage.

Why buy a 70k car and don't have a look at the manual? Saw a guy recently up north who cooked his brand new fancy Jeep gearbox by following that logic, his selector even had a tow symbol.

Good luck getting Toyota or any manufacturer to accept responsibility if you use their product outside of how it was designed to be used.

Incidentally their are already a number of detailed threads on this topic

[Limo Guy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Limo Guy]

It's not just a Toyota thing, all makers say the same thing!
Towing in above 4th puts strain on a tiny gear not meant for towing "manual or auto", it's your call but a new gearbox is expensive and you will cop the cost of repairs as it is not in fine print but in towing section in the manual.
Have a talk to any auto or manual gearbox repairer and they will show you the damage done, its not just a heat problem in an auto it is a mechanical stress problem as well, same as a manual box.
It was ok to tow in D when auto boxes were 4 speed but not now.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

When you tow in 5th the torque converter spends a lot of time not locked, you can see this if you watch the tachometer. This rapidly heats the oil way above it's design limits which is very bad for the gearbox. Your choice if you want to drive like this, but it will do damage.

At 100/110 on the highway, the tacho doesnt move when in 5th (except for hills). It sits just under or just over 2k respectively.

The book only says that: "In order to maintain efficient engine braking and electrical charging performance, do not use...overdrive (automatic)"

There is no mention of transmission overheating etc.

Why buy a 70k car and don't have a look at the manual? Saw a guy recently up north who cooked his brand new fancy Jeep gearbox by following that logic, his selector even had a tow symbol.

Good luck getting Toyota or any manufacturer to accept responsibility if you use their product outside of how it was designed to be used.

I guess Im trying to stir the pot a bit and get people thinking. Why design a system that doesn't work to its fullest potential - ie using the fully auto mode for towing?

I note that the 4S statement is in the "Trailer Towing Tips" section along with these "nuggets of wisdom":

"Always place blocks under both the vehicle and the trailer wheels when parking"
And, WRT reversing
"...grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the left to move the trailer to the left..."
Which works for some, but not all...

[GEEEXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close GEEEXL]

At 100/110 on the highway, the tacho doesnt move when in 5th (except for hills). It sits just under or just over 2k respectively.

The book only says that: "In order to maintain efficient engine braking and electrical charging performance, do not use...overdrive (automatic)"

There is no mention of transmission overheating etc.



I guess Im trying to stir the pot a bit and get people thinking. Why design a system that doesn't work to its fullest potential - ie using the fully auto mode for towing?

I note that the 4S statement is in the "Trailer Towing Tips" section along with these "nuggets of wisdom":

"Always place blocks under both the vehicle and the trailer wheels when parking"
And, WRT reversing
"...grip the bottom of the steering wheel and move your hand to the left to move the trailer to the left..."
Which works for some, but not all...

SPILSY

Auto or manual makes no diff, NO gear box is designed to tow in overdrive (traditionally anything above 4th gear).. Do a bit of learning on how gearboxes work and all will be clear !

its not any conspiracy or misleading advertising its simple physics - as with a low range reduction box

G

[oceanracer Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close oceanracer]

It does say in the car manual what to do and not do

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

SPILSY

Auto or manual makes no diff, NO gear box is designed to tow in overdrive (traditionally anything above 4th gear).. Do a bit of learning on how gearboxes work and all will be clear !

its not any conspiracy or misleading advertising its simple physics - as with a low range reduction box

G

While I have a basic understanding of gearboxes, I am not an expert - and nor do I claim or plan to be. Modern autos are pretty clever things, and google has informed me that they usually computer themselves into a comfortable position when towing even if you are in overdrive, however it is recommended you avoid the overdrive gear/s when towing, with the exceptions of driving on relatively flat country at above 80, or when heading down hill with a tail wind.

4th at 110 on the Hume leaves the motor revving far higher than desirable, hence I pop it into 5th.

It is still concerning that people like my parents will have bought their shiny new (in their case auto triton) vehicle with the plan to put into D and drive with their van. The salespeople dont mention that it'd be best to keep it out of overdrive...and really, who reads their book front to back? I've really only read the important bits - how to have blue teeth and how to make low range happen...

[brogers Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close brogers]

....I read the book...front to back ...its amazing what you find in the book, and so many people ask questions on the forum that already have the answer in the book


...and I tow (exactly 2.5 tonne trailer) in S4 (as recommended)...when driving an auto Prado, (and I also occasionally slip it into S5 when on the flat or on a downhill gradient when the engine and gear box is not under load) and its been perfect, no problem.

I have no idea what the Triton book says about towing, but I'm sure it says something in the book about towing...in the important bits...like towing.

Enjoy your Prado.

[Limo Guy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Limo Guy]

I was under the impression that 100 was the speed limit for towing large trailers and caravans in all states.
Maybe higher in N.T.
Using cruise control I tow at 100 on speedo 97 on GPS at 2500 - 2600rpm in S4 fuel economy no more than 1 litre per 100 different.
By the time the computer senses the load in D and changes down it is too late.

[Spilsy Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Spilsy]

I was under the impression that 100 was the speed limit for towing large trailers and caravans in all states.

In victoria, there doesnt seem to be anything specific re speed, though i did find this in a google search:

From CIA Vic:

Towing speeds are the same as for non-towing vehicles.

From Caravan World:

In addition, the Australian Road Rules advise that if the posted limit is more than 100km/h, and the vehicle and trailer have a combined Gross Vehicle Mass of more than 5000kg, the maximum speed limit remains 100km/h

Moral of the story:

Read Book!
Use S4 for towing (most of the time)
Make sure parents read book!

[Limo Guy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Limo Guy]

My mistake that's what happens when you assume.
W.A. 100 N.S.W. 100 Tas 90 the others road speed limit, I'll stick to just on 100 gives me room to accelerate out of trouble if needed.
Followed an oversize load, from a safe distance across the Nullarbor at 90 we kept catching up with all who overtook, I know who was less stressed at the end of the day.