My experience towing a travel trailer 4,000 miles wtih a mildly built T4R

[gary87xj6]

2003 V8 Towing AWD

Question, when towing (4.500-5,000 lb) do you keep the transmission in D (5th) and let it do the constant kick down to 4th and then the occasional upshift to 5th or do you keep it in 4th? When in 4th doing 60-65 its running at about 2500 RPM. We are also talking no major grades or passes (yet).
thanks

 

[Doozi]

Question, when towing (4.500-5,000 lb) do you keep the transmission in D (5th) and let it do the constant kick down to 4th and then the occasional upshift to 5th or do you keep it in 4th? When in 4th doing 60-65 its running at about 2500 RPM. We are also talking no major grades or passes (yet).

thanks

I've always kept it in 4th when towing as the transmission definitely seems happier... less back and forth between gears. I think that the torque converter locks in 4th, too because in 5th I've watched the RPMs vary and when I drop it to 4th, the RPMs stay much more constant. On slight downhill grades, I bump it to 5th just to get some time in overdrive.


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[vanion2]

I've always kept it in 4th when towing as the transmission definitely seems happier... less back and forth between gears. I think that the torque converter locks in 4th, too because in 5th I've watched the RPMs vary and when I drop it to 4th, the RPMs stay much more constant. On slight downhill grades, I bump it to 5th just to get some time in overdrive.

I always ride in 4th. Monitoring the transmission temps, every time I would shift into D the temps start to climb. Bypassing the torque converter definitely helps keep the temps down by putting it in 4th. Unless you like changing out transmission fluid annually that is.

So I took my new Tracer 215Air TT out this weekend and did about 360 miles round trip. We loaded up with our usual gear so I would say we were riding about 5K# (if that) and with the WDH we were level and comfortable so the 4Runner can definitely do the job and had no issues with sway. We were dealing with some pretty heavy cross winds and head winds and quickly found that you will burn through a full tank of gas at about 170 miles. Our max cruising speed was 65 mph but only on flats or down grades. Any incline action had us as slow as 45 mph but that was to keep the rpms below 3K to keep the transmissions temps down.

Sadly, it became readily apparent that even though the 4Runner was safely rated to tow the weight it was limited by the square footage of the front of the camper and the fuel range is very limiting. I was afraid I was going to have to unhitch the TT to be able to make it to the next gas station and the E light kicked on just as I was pulling in to fuel up. I wish Toyota had included the square footage information like a lot of other manufacturers do. Just because it can tow 7300# doesn't mean it can tow a full sized TT even if it weighs 2300# less because of the sail effect. And that is with an aerodynamically shaped front end. That and the shorter wheel base (compared to a full sized truck) made us subject to semi truck wakes. Nothing a firm hand couldn't handle safely though.

Once I enter the data I will update with what my average mpg were for the trip. For some reason I never did take any pictures of the 4R hooked up but I will post up a shot of the 4Runner and the Tracer side by side later this week. All in all though I never felt unsafe, the 4R handled very well and I was very glad I had the air bags and WDH hitch dialed in because even the short 1 mile trip from the dealership to my house was jarring the day I picked it up.

In short, I will be looking for a 1/2 ton tow package truck in the near future which makes me sad because I love everything else about the 4Runner.