Question about towing my boat (V8 4runner)

[perfectmax]

I just purchased a new toy!! Very exciting but I am wondering about towing it. My 2006 V8 runner tows fine and pulles the boat with little difficulty. But my 4runner seems like it is continuously searching for the right gear. Once rolling it shifts into the lowest gear to save gas and then I push the gas and it downshifts. This goes on constantly.

Our 4runners don't have an overdrive button where i can turn it off, right??? Would you recommend me driving in 4th gear instead of D?

I just don't want to burn up my tranny!

Thanks...

 

[Jeep to Yota]

I am by no means an expert in towing, but I did tow a Malibu Wakeboard boat last year for my friend from NC to MI. I left it in "4" the entire time as this eliminates OD.

I was having similar things happening as you describe, changing gears, etc. but once I left it in '4', I had no issues.

Good luck and sweet new toy!!!

 

[peter78]

My parents went around the country with a hi-lo camper in the 80's. Their GMC Suburban kept burning up transmissions, even though they had a transmission cooler. They were told to take it out of overdrive, as it heats up the most in overdrive.

With my camper, about 2,200 loaded, I am tempted to use the overdrive 40% of the time.

Your rig, which is really sweet by the way, looks to be around 6,000 pounds. I would say I would leave it out of overdrive even in flat areas. If you over rev the engine, slow down. Now the big question is, is 4th drive a overdrive also??? I have no idea, but my best quess is to leave it in 4th gear and leave 5th for non-towing.

Consumer Reports just did a test on big trucks, including the Tundra and they towed a 7,200 pound load and they all seem to get about 8 MPG, so I think you will probably get close to that with that rig, maybe if your lucky 9MPG....

 

[Jeep to Yota]

Oh yeah...I was got about 10-11mpg when towing the boat I mentioned. Granted that was through the mountains for WV so I was pretty happy.

 

[juneau92]

I just purchased a new toy!! Very exciting but I am wondering about towing it. My 2006 V8 runner tows fine and pulles the boat with little difficulty. But my 4runner seems like it is continuously searching for the right gear. Once rolling it shifts into the lowest gear to save gas and then I push the gas and it downshifts. This goes on constantly.

Our 4runners don't have an overdrive button where i can turn it off, right??? Would you recommend me driving in 4th gear instead of D?

I just don't want to burn up my tranny!

Thanks...

You've got the right engine to tow with, V8.

Drop to 4th gear, keep it there. You're towing an RV; don't worry about gas mileage, it ain't gonna be good.

Steep uphill grades towing in hot weather, drop to third to keep the revs up and the engine (and xmission) cooler.

Congrats on your new "toy"! Looks nice. You should have alot of fun with it, and your new 4Runner.

 

[witchdoctor]

I tow a 22ft hydra-sports w/alum trailer and 120gal fuel (approx 4700#)with my 05 v8 in 4th gear at 65-70 mph and have no issues at all... the load leveling and x-reas are awesome.