caravan towing

[mickydil Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mickydil]

Hi all,

We have just taken delivery of our D4D Auto GXL, and are very happy with it.
My question is this, when towing a van (2200kg) do I tow in D or 4, I suppose it depends if the trans is searching or not I guess.

What do you guys think?

Mick

[whiteman Member Find all posts View Profile Close whiteman]

You've pretty well answered your question. I tow a boat of around 1300kg and I usually lock into 4th to stop the transmission hunting at highway speeds. A caravan as large as yours would need 4th and maybe 3rd in some conditions.

[Grinch Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Grinch]

Hi

Since new I have been towing a 17ft full height caravan behind my 2003 V6 auto and always use the auto in semi manual depending on the situation. When slowing down I tend to drop to 3 to allow for engine braking, same as going down hills, etc.

The main point I try and remember is that there is over 1.5 tonne behind me and I need to drive so I can safely brake and accelerate.

No sudden braking or acceleration due to stress on both vehicles and also the issue of losing the tension between the vehicles causing fish tailing especially when braking.

Hope this helps

Anthony

[Stevo Member Find all posts View Profile Close Stevo]

Having recently purchased a Prado to pull my 18 foot poptop Jayco, I'm having problems with the cruise control, its constantly changing and I find it easier to leave the auto in 4th, except on dead flat roads then its back in drive, fuel consumption is around 21 litres per 100k's at around 100k's per hour
that's my 2 bobs worth.

[Grey Nomad Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grey Nomad]

Towing caravan with D4D

Hi Mick

I purchased my D4D late 2006 and spent most of 2007 towing my caravan 29,000km around Australia. My caravan has an ATM of 2100kg and I would estimate that, if we came in under the legal towing limit of the Prado (2500kg), we would be lucky. My driving speed was around 90km/hr
This is a great car with a strong heart and an intelligent gearbox. I always towed in D and let the gearbox take care of things. I noted that it rarely needed to change down or even lock up the torque converter.
I drive sympathetically and did use the gearbox manually on very infrequent occasions. My fuel economy was excellent but I now have a Scangauge 11 and so, next trip, I may fiddle with the gearlever to see if I can tickle a few more MPG.

John

[waltec Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close waltec]

This subject is something that has always amazed me. When learning to drive a manual car, they always teach you to drive in the gear the most suits the conditions, but an auto car there teach you to but in drive... Thats it. As inteligent as new autos are they cannot see the road ahead and select the appropriate gear.

My Prado is the first Auto I have owned, and growing up driving manuals and Trucks, I find myself selecting the gear that I think is best for the job.

I have found that my 2003 TD seems to get better fuel economy around town in 3rd rather than drive, just seems to labour the little too much. The trip computer usually confirms this.

Matt

[Grey Nomad Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grey Nomad]

Hi Matt

You are 100% correct. I have almost always driven manual cars and have even raced them. There is an old adage that horsepower sells cars and torque wins races. The new D4D has a bucket load of torque and I reckon that this is the reason that you can tow in D with this particular car. My previous tow vehicle (with a lighter caravan!) was a 3 litre petrol Pathfinder automatic. This car would NOT tow a 1500kg caravan in D. Horses for courses - the latest D4D Prado is a BEAUTY!
PS No "Death Rattle" yet

Cheers - John

[Guest Close Guest]

Which Gear

I am in the process of towing a 1500kg Jayco around Oz with a 2008 T/D Grande. I used the cruise at first but its way to aggressive and fuel useage was about 14.8l per 100. Without cruise and sitting on 95/100 I got 13.3l per 100. I leave in top gear and let the auto work it out, the only thing Toyota say about towing is that in 4th gear you get engine braking.
D4D Love it.

[bettsy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bettsy]

Hi All

Had my first tow today over about 50km highway/city of my 2 tonne ski boat/trailer. Must say extremely impressed with how well the Prado handled it compared to my prevoius car (06 Farirmont Ghia), and it was great not to have to worry about the load levelling device that I needed on the Ford. The torque of the motor made the towing quite effortless, and it easily maintained the 100km limit even up some hills. I just left the transmission in drive, and it worked between 4th & 5th on the highway depending on the incline.

I noticed some users use cruise control when towing. For what it is worth, this is something I have never done nor will when towing as I don't beleive you want to get compalcent with twoing anything........

Thanks and bring on the summer and I will be doing a lot more towing.

[martybuzz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close martybuzz]

Hi Matt

You are 100% correct. I have almost always driven manual cars and have even raced them. There is an old adage that horsepower sells cars and torque wins races. The new D4D has a bucket load of torque and I reckon that this is the reason that you can tow in D with this particular car. My previous tow vehicle (with a lighter caravan!) was a 3 litre petrol Pathfinder automatic. This car would NOT tow a 1500kg caravan in D. Horses for courses - the latest D4D Prado is a BEAUTY!
PS No "Death Rattle" yet

Cheers - John

I'm quite surprised you're leaving it in drive all the time. You WANT the auto to lock up to keep the heat out of it. Leaving it in drive will not do that unless on the flat or going down hill or you have a tail wind going up a hill.

I find towing my caravan that at certain speeds, I get lower revs locked up in forth than I do unlocked in fifth.

[Grey Nomad Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grey Nomad]

Hi Martybuzz

I think that I am sympathetic to my vehicles and always keep an eye on the tacho to see what is going on. My last trip around Oz was all done in D as the revs were consistently lower than in 4, which is a gear lower. I agree that locking up the torque converter would be good but I don't know a way of doing this without going down a gear.
I will be going around again next year but this time I have a Scangauge and I am sure that it will tell me which is the best gear by reporting the instantaneous fuel consumption.
I noticed from your avatar that you tow a single axle pop top. Mine is a dual axle full height van that would definately weigh more than yours and also have additional wind resistance.
I presume that the correct gear to tow in is related to the weight and drag of the load. Either way, the Scangauge is probably the only way to accurately reflect this.
We need to meet up on the road, have some beers and discuss this at length

Cheers - John

[dirttracker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dirttracker]

This is an interesting topic, probably without an accurate answer. However, I have found that if the auto changes down to four on a hill, it does not go into locked torque converter. To get it into locked I simply pull it down into fourth and the revs drop and it is locked. Ever noticed that?

[Grey Nomad Member Find all posts View Profile Close Grey Nomad]

Hi Dirttracker

No, I haven't noticed that but I will try to keep that in mind. To be perfectly honest, once you get away from the Great Dividing Range, Australia is pretty damn flat. It is also BIG and one does get lulled into far away thoughts. I have even been known to use the cruise control from time to time.

Cheers - John

[martybuzz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close martybuzz]

We need to meet up on the road, have some beers and discuss this at length

Cheers - John

Mmmm, now that bit I like.

[johna Member Find all posts View Profile Close johna]

Have towed my 22ft for just over 87,000 k's and ONLY used 'D' mode when converter will stay locked. Watch the tacho and drop out of 'D' when revs drop to near lower end of max torque (approx. 1900 rpm)
As for using cruise control, waste of time unless on a flat road with tail wind, so unit will hold constant speed, otherwise it will drop out of overdrive as soon as the speed drops approx. 2 k's per hour. The Toyota control wants to stay within 1-2 k's of setpoint which is way to fine unless on flat roads.

Your choice to let torque converter slip all day, but damned sure I wouldn't allow it to happen or one day you will cook the fluid. ops:

john