Correct Towing Procedure

[Runnin4MO]

Hey all,

Used to tow with an Armada, and there was a TOW button I just had to flip on... with the 4Runner, theres no such thing so...

I've been searching around the forums and noticed some comments on towing in 4S all the time and not in D. So I wanted to throw this out there...

I'm towing a 6x12 Cargo Trailer, about 8.5' high. With trailer and contents i'm usually around 3700lbs. 90% is highway and there are a lot of large hills i'm going up and down on that trip.

I've always towed in 2wd and in D without issue... on level ground i'm usually around 70mph... going down a hill about 80mph to pickup some easy speed before going back up a hill which i let her slowly drop to about 55mpg to chug up the hills.

I just read that towing in D (overdrive) puts way to much stress on the drivetrain. And to ALWAYS drive is 4S. But at those speeds, wont that just pull the RPMs way to high?

I just got the Torque app going and see the tranny temp hit 230f on up-hill pulls but it doesnt go higher then that. Thats why I went searching to see what the average temp is for a tow.

FYI I just installed a P3 Brake Controller, have not used it yet so we'll see she feels now on braking.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[spartacus]

Hey all,

Used to tow with an Armada, and there was a TOW button I just had to flip on... with the 4Runner, theres no such thing so...

I've been searching around the forums and noticed some comments on towing in 4S all the time and not in D. So I wanted to throw this out there...

I'm towing a 6x12 Cargo Trailer, about 8.5' high. With trailer and contents i'm usually around 3700lbs. 90% is highway and there are a lot of large hills i'm going up and down on that trip.

I've always towed in 2wd and in D without issue... on level ground i'm usually around 70mph... going down a hill about 80mph to pickup some easy speed before going back up a hill which i let her slowly drop to about 55mpg to chug up the hills.

I just read that towing in D (overdrive) puts way to much stress on the drivetrain. And to ALWAYS drive is 4S. But at those speeds, wont that just pull the RPMs way to high?

I just got the Torque app going and see the tranny temp hit 230f on up-hill pulls but it doesnt go higher then that. Thats why I went searching to see what the average temp is for a tow.

FYI I just installed a P3 Brake Controller, have not used it yet so we'll see she feels now on braking.

Thanks for the feedback!

230 is on the high side a tranny cooler will defiantly help.brake controllers are great going down long steep'slopes. Here is a good thread about towing.

Transmission Temp

 

[jhguth]

The manual discusses towing

 

[Runnin4MO]

The manual discusses towing

The manual discusses more about GETTING towed, rather then towing a trailer... all that does is discuss the safety protocol and to pull over and shut the engine off it the truck overheats.

 

[Runnin4MO]

230 is on the high side a tranny cooler will defiantly help.brake controllers are great going down long steep'slopes. Here is a good thread about towing.

Transmission Temp

Yes i'm planning on getting a tranny cooler shortly and bypassing the radiator all togeather.
Also, in that link, thats exactly where I got the info that 230 seems to be about average for a hot day going uphill.... 300F and shes ready to blow.

What I'm reffering to are the random posts people are making saying to run it in S4 instead of D as not to damage the Overdrive. But at 65+ speeds, is S4 even usable?

 

[spartacus]

Yes i'm planning on getting a tranny cooler shortly and bypassing the radiator all togeather.
Also, in that link, thats exactly where I got the info that 230 seems to be about average for a hot day going uphill.... 300F and shes ready to blow.

What I'm reffering to are the random posts people are making saying to run it in S4 instead of D as not to damage the Overdrive. But at 65+ speeds, is S4 even usable?

At 65+ your torque converter is locked and not hunting for gears or going in an out of over drive which produces heat, agree if you are going 65 you'll be fine in D.

 

[Blue 4ever Runner]

Yes i'm planning on getting a tranny cooler shortly and bypassing the radiator all togeather.
Also, in that link, thats exactly where I got the info that 230 seems to be about average for a hot day going uphill.... 300F and shes ready to blow.

What I'm reffering to are the random posts people are making saying to run it in S4 instead of D as not to damage the Overdrive. But at 65+ speeds, is S4 even usable?

I recently towed a car carrier with a car on it from NY to NC. It was about 630 miles and it was very close to 5,000 lbs. I towed in S4 the entire way never going above 65 MPH. It towed fine, struggled going up some hills but otherwise no problems. I do not have a transmission temp gauge so I don't know how hot it got. Cruising on a level surface it ran around 2,600 RPM and went to 3,500 RPM on hills. It's very doable but if you are going to regularly tow, I recommend a transmission cooler.