Towing in low range?

[KyleKai]

I have a 2500 lb trailer that I towed with my (now sold) V6 Ford Explorer. I park the trailer in our driveway, which has a slight downhill slant towards the street. The driveway is somewhat narrow, so I have to back the trailer up slowly. With the Ford, after about 5 minutes of backing up I could smell something burning, probably the automatic transmission clutch, most likely from going so slowly, and up a slight hill.

My question is, before I try this with my new 2005 V8 4Runner, is it OK to back the trailer up in low range? Backing up the trailer in low range seems as if it would be a lot easier on the 4Runner. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

 

[psychoklr]

Use 4low if your concerned but I really don't see why it would matter just backing up your driveway. Did your Exploder have a manual / clutch? Otherwise it probably just had a leaky tranny either that or you were smelling the brakes.

 

[KyleKai]

I guess my real concern is driving on pavement while in 4 lo for a short distance. All my other previous 4x4 vehicles could not be driven on pavement while in 4x4 mode, hi or lo range. Since the V8 4x4 4Runner is always in 4 hi range, is it OK to drive in 4 lo range while on pavement?

 

[bulldog-yota]

The 4th Gen 4Runners have a center diff, so you can drive it in 4H or 4L as much as you like (within the rated speed) on pavement. That is why there ia center diff lock button, if you need to lock the center diff. Older 4x4 did not have a diff in the transfer case, which meant the front and rear axles had to run at the same speed.

SO if you want to use 4L for this, go right ahead.

 

[KyleKai]

That's what I suspected, thanks!