Should've had a V-8

[MorrisK64]

Hi all, I took my first trip (350 miles) pulling a trailer with my ATV on board, about 2000 lbs total. Overall I'd say the 4R did pretty good. Only thing I did not like was using the cruise control at 70mph going up and down hills on the interstate. It was constantly downshifting all the way down to 3rd gear, after being in 4th for about 2 seconds and rapping the RPM's at about 47-4900, that bad boy was screaming, I was worried something was going to blow. The whole time I was wishing I had a V-8, assuming they pull trailers a little easier. I got me a 1200 mile trip with trailer coming up this Tuesday, I hope it makes it without any troubles, hopefully not many hills. Do you all think this can't be good for the tranny/motor?

 

[gizmopt2002]

Toyota engines are bulletproof. They can run at 4k all day, as long as they don't over heat. BTW, you should never tow in O/D, that gear is weak. I also have a V6 and tow a 5,000# boat with no problems at all, and I don't wish I got a V8 because I don't need it. You should install a tranny cooler too. And make sure you have trailer brakes.

 

[bzizzi]

I had a Tundra with the 4.7 and now have a 4Runner with the 4.0 V6 and seems to tow just as strong.but there is nothing like a V8.
when towing.I found my 4Runner used with only 4k mi on it and could not pass up the deal.I don't know what mpg the V8 gets,
but the V6 gets 21-22 tank after tank.

 

[juneau92]

Bulletproof I agree, within reason, but I don't know about running one at 4k all day. I think if there's going to be a tow, the V8 is by far the better choice. Besides the stronger engine with more torque, there's the factory tranny/oil coolers, and frame mounted hitch.

 

[marjnap]

I have not pulled with the 4Runner yet, but we have pulled alot with our F350. In the Ford's owner manual you are not suppose to use the cruise control when towing or in hilly terrain. Not sure if the Toyota manual states the same. You may want to not use the cruise control and like gizmopt2002 says you should not be in Over Drive, a tranny cooler would be a plus, and trailer brakes for stopping power. However, if your towing alot a V8 in my opinion, would be better. You can never have too much power.

 

[khaug]

I've towed track cars with my two 4Runners for a total of 35K miles or so. Here are my suggestions:

Don't just put the shift lever in "D", engage cruise and expect the truck to do all the work. Learn what gear you're going to need for any given situation and manually downshift the transmission before the vehicle takes up the load (for example, at the bottom of a hill that you're going to climb). Make things easier on your 'Runner by easing up a bit when climbing hills; this will help the 'Runner stay in a higher gear and keep the rpms lower.

Cruise control has a limited IQ, and will keep the truck at whatever speed you set, calling for more and more power to do so until the truck is in whatever lower gear is necessary. If you shut off cruise and allow the truck to gradually lose speed as you climb a grade, you'll find that losing as little as 5 - 10 mph will let you climb grades in higher gears than you'd need with cruise engaged. That said, as long as the rpms aren't in the red zone, you're OK for a few minutes at a time.

Towing in 5th gear ("D") is fine, as long as the truck will manage it without unlocking its torque converter. When the torque converter is unlocked, its two elements churn, building up heat which will shorten the life of the transmission. Learn to watch the tach: If you see the rpm jump 2-300 rpm when speed is steady, it means the torque converter has unlocked to provide a little more torque to the drive wheels. Occasional brief periods of this are OK, but if the converter stays unlocked for more than a minute at a time or repeatedly unlocks, it's wise to shift to 4th gear and stay there. Toyota does recommend towing in "4".

Our '03 V8 'Runner currently tows a 5500# enclosed trailer with 55 sq ft of frontal area. It can't manage this in 5th gear ("D") unless the terrain is flat and there's no headwind. So most of my towing these days is done in "4" (4th gear), which means 10 - 11 mpg!!!

If you're towing 2,000 #, be sure you have trailer brakes. Toyota recommends trailer brakes for trailers weighing 1,000# or more, and most state laws require trailer brakes for trailers weighing that much. If your trailer has electric brakes, you'll need to install a brake controller for them to work. If the trailer has surge brakes, no controller is needed. Learn to manually shift to a lower gear when descending grades so the engine and transmission can help you brake. The rule of thumb is to use the gear which will let you maintain a steady downhill speed without using the brakes to do so.

Good luck. Your V6 'Runner should do a fine job towing your ATV, if you learn a few skills and give it a little help. Please holler if I can be of more help. ([email protected])

 

[keylay31]

i mean seriously... who goes up and down hills in cruise control anyway? I dont even do this in a sports car...

 

[hulk311]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27906

 

[JB.]

Does the torque converter not unlock in 4th gear?

 

[TeryT]

I've towed track cars with my two 4Runners for a total of 35K miles or so. Here are my suggestions:

Don't just put the shift lever in "D", engage cruise and expect the truck to do all the work. Learn what gear you're going to need for any given situation and manually downshift the transmission before the vehicle takes up the load (for example, at the bottom of a hill that you're going to climb). Make things easier on your 'Runner by easing up a bit when climbing hills; this will help the 'Runner stay in a higher gear and keep the rpms lower.

Cruise control has a limited IQ, and will keep the truck at whatever speed you set, calling for more and more power to do so until the truck is in whatever lower gear is necessary. If you shut off cruise and allow the truck to gradually lose speed as you climb a grade, you'll find that losing as little as 5 - 10 mph will let you climb grades in higher gears than you'd need with cruise engaged. That said, as long as the rpms aren't in the red zone, you're OK for a few minutes at a time.

Towing in 5th gear ("D") is fine, as long as the truck will manage it without unlocking its torque converter. When the torque converter is unlocked, its two elements churn, building up heat which will shorten the life of the transmission. Learn to watch the tach: If you see the rpm jump 2-300 rpm when speed is steady, it means the torque converter has unlocked to provide a little more torque to the drive wheels. Occasional brief periods of this are OK, but if the converter stays unlocked for more than a minute at a time or repeatedly unlocks, it's wise to shift to 4th gear and stay there. Toyota does recommend towing in "4".

Our '03 V8 'Runner currently tows a 5500# enclosed trailer with 55 sq ft of frontal area. It can't manage this in 5th gear ("D") unless the terrain is flat and there's no headwind. So most of my towing these days is done in "4" (4th gear), which means 10 - 11 mpg!!!

If you're towing 2,000 #, be sure you have trailer brakes. Toyota recommends trailer brakes for trailers weighing 1,000# or more, and most state laws require trailer brakes for trailers weighing that much. If your trailer has electric brakes, you'll need to install a brake controller for them to work. If the trailer has surge brakes, no controller is needed. Learn to manually shift to a lower gear when descending grades so the engine and transmission can help you brake. The rule of thumb is to use the gear which will let you maintain a steady downhill speed without using the brakes to do so.

Good luck. Your V6 'Runner should do a fine job towing your ATV, if you learn a few skills and give it a little help. Please holler if I can be of more help. ([email protected])

Ditto everything!

 

[TheBlueWave]

Does the torque converter not unlock in 4th gear?

It will if it has to, but generally speaking, the engine should have enough "leverage" or power to keep the torque converter locked when using 4th gear, especially over 50 mph. Unlocking the torque converter at high speeds builds up the most heat because of the low gear ratio of the two highest gears. Remember, the torque converter is unlocked until you hit a steady speed of around 40-45 mph (that's what I notice, I could be wrong) in either of the top two gears (4th, 5th, and on older v6, 3rd and 4th). A tranny cooler helps even when not towing, because heat kills everything mechanical.

 

[JB.]

It will if it has to, but generally speaking, the engine should have enough "leverage" or power to keep the torque converter locked when using 4th gear, especially over 50 mph. Unlocking the torque converter at high speeds builds up the most heat because of the low gear ratio of the two highest gears. Remember, the torque converter is unlocked until you hit a steady speed of around 40-45 mph (that's what I notice, I could be wrong) in either of the top two gears (4th, 5th, and on older v6, 3rd and 4th). A tranny cooler helps even when not towing, because heat kills everything mechanical.

Thanks for the reply. Makes sense.

What do you make of this warning from page 161 of my '05 manual? Perhaps there's no lockup in gears lower than 4th or a different lock-up sensitivity? Sure would be easier if Toyota would provide a more detailed explanation.

 

[JungleJim]

the V8 is by far the better choice. Besides the stronger engine with more torque, there's the factory tranny/oil coolers, and frame mounted hitch.

The V6 also has the oil cooler.

You can install a transmission cooler and a frame mounted hitch. But since boat trailers have less hitch weight, you'll probably be fine with the OEM receiver.

 

[TeryT]

Thanks for the reply. Makes sense.

What do you make of this warning from page 161 of my '05 manual? Perhaps there's no lockup in gears lower than 4th or a different lock-up sensitivity? Sure would be easier if Toyota would provide a more detailed explanation.

I'd sure like to know too, although I haven't seen that warning in my 03 manual!

 

[MorrisK64]

I appreciate all of the reply's to my post. I have completed my 1200 mile trip towing my trailer with ATV and other stuff, and the truck was really loaded down, 32" tube TV (very heavy), computer and other household stuff, could not fit anything else in it and could not see out the side or back windows, what a miserable trip. Anyway, the whole way I used the cruise and kept it in 4th gear and it did great, rarely downshifted into 3rd on hills, probably only 4 times the whole way.
Very pleased with the performance but I was still wishing I had a V-8, which will be my next purchase. Heard a loud disturbing clunking noise coming from somewhere in the front end while taking off from a stop a few times and some bumps I would hear it also, might have to have that looked at. Also, my warranty should be good no matter what dealer I take it to right? Take care guys and happy 4 runnin.

 

[jharris2]

my warranty should be good no matter what dealer I take it to right?

Correct. Just realize there is often a big difference in service quality from one dealer to another.