Towing our pop-up camper with Overdrive ON or OFF?

[4RunnerSoCal]

Overdrive on or off??
We just got a new 2008 4Runner Sport Ed 4X4, automatic, V8-engine.
It now has about 4,000 miles.
We will be towing a 2,200 pound pop-up camper. I understand then when you get in the car and start it up and put it in DRIVE, the overdrive is

 

[eskimochaos]

Overdrive on or off??
We just got a new 2008 4Runner Sport Ed 4X4, automatic, V8-engine.
It now has about 4,000 miles.
We will be towing a 2,200 pound pop-up camper. I understand then when you get in the car and start it up and put it in DRIVE, the overdrive is

 

[jetboy1975]

You should have no problem in 5th with that weight. Shift into fourth if you cant hold speed, on hills and if the tranny is hunting. I just came back from a 4 hour trip towing a 20ft hybrid (4000lbs) and had it in 5th for most of the trip (flat highway) with no probs.

 

[BlairB]

Whenever towing Toyota recommends doing so with overdrive off.

It might be higher RPM's and give you worse mileage, but on the whole it is much easier on your vehicle.

 

[SubSonic]

I recommend not towing in overdrive by default. If you are going to be traveling on very flat highways, with few rises and valleys, then you might could get away with towing 2200# in OD.

It has to do with how transmissions are designed, and how "weak" OD gears are by general comparison to 1-4 gears as well as their location inside the tranny.

I'd say to give towing in OD a shot if you feel adventurous, just watch your RPMS at cruising speed. If they start fluctuating any (but not actually changing gears) it could be that the computer is locking and unlocking the torque convertor too much - which could cause a heat issue in yout tranny. That is, if these T4Rs are like my Tundra and lock and unlock the torque convertor in a similar way while driving.

If you want to err totally on the side of safety and parts longevity, tow in 4 (non OD). The higher revs aren't going to hurt anything but your fuel mileage - and you're already towing so fuel mileage is going to go down anyway.

 

[peter78]

I have towed my pop-up camper for about 4 years now. It weighs 2,200 pounds loaded. About 1,600 empty. I have towed with both the 2001 and 2004, both V6's.

The concern for towing with the overdirve on is heat build up in the transmission. Even in flat areas, having the overdrive on can heat up the transmission. While driving on the highway, it still seems to make sense to have the overdrive on, so with the fact that I need to keep the temperature down in the transmission, I start with the overdrive off and then on hte highway I put it on, on little hills I take the overdrive off and after 15 or 20 minutes, I turn off the overdrive. I would guess the overdrive is on about 40 to 50% of the time. Also when I slow down, 60 and under the overdrive is off. I have done this on both 4Runners as it seems to handle the weight just fine and it seems to be fine with the overdrive on.

So, I will drive with the overdrive on and I try and turn it off a good bit of time, just to keep the transmission happy. In 2005 I drove it out West, put about 5,800 miles and it did fine. When we were out west, the speed would creep up to 70+ due to the roads and lack of traffic. Last month I drove it to North Carolina and I left the overdrive off a lot do to the hills on I-85, maybe had the overdrive on 35% of the time. That was in the 2004.

By the way, when you take the overdrive off, your gear ratio is 1:1, whether it is your V8, or my two V6's. In other words your 4th gear, is 1:1.

I hope this helps.

 

[cmb]

September will be the second trip to Canada for our 08 SE. This time I'll stay in cruise control all I can (4th gear) Last year I didn't have the seat- to - peddal verses headroom (lack there of) figured out. Gotta destoyed ankle from my stupid kid days and the peddal placement kills me after a while behind the wheel.Because of all the great info here it should be a better trip this time! Almost forgot ,we'll be towing our Tracker TV 18,weighs probably 35-4000 lbs total.

 

[pickerdd]

Overdrive on or off??

Tow your camper with your 4Runner in 4th gear, not in overdrive. That's what I do when I pull our camper, which weighs 5k pounds.

You didn't mention whether you have it, but you should use a brake controller when towing your camper (prodigy, hensley, etc...) and consider some kind of sway bar system.

Good luck!

 

[Dougtoms01]

Do I Have OD?

Hello,
Aliitle confused. Just bought a 2008 SR5, V-6, 4WD. We will be towing our small Pop-up camper out West. The camper weighs only 1300lbs, loaded at about 1550lbs. I beleive our shifter has L,2,3, 4-D, N, R. So, when I am in D-Drive, am I in 4th gear and we don't have the OD option? Should I be towing in 3 and shift to 4-D only when in relatively flat terrains? Thanks much. Doug

 

[jimithing]

Hello,
Aliitle confused. Just bought a 2008 SR5, V-6, 4WD. We will be towing our small Pop-up camper out West. The camper weighs only 1300lbs, loaded at about 1550lbs. I beleive our shifter has L,2,3, 4-D, N, R. So, when I am in D-Drive, am I in 4th gear and we don't have the OD option? Should I be towing in 3 and shift to 4-D only when in relatively flat terrains? Thanks much. Doug

When you're in "D" you've got overdrive enabled. To disable the overdrive move your shifter to the left and it'll change to "4" up by your speedometer. That's 4th.

 

[450exc115]

The 4-D is actually 4th gear or Drive (5th gear which is overdrive on these T4R) To the left is 4th and to the right is Drive/5th/OD.

I tow a 1500-1700 enclosed V-Nose trailer behind my T4R and generaly on flats and down hills I'm in drive and when climbing hills and up long grades I put it in 4th.

Clear as mud?

 

[Dougtoms01]

4th vs OD

Got it. Thanks. I didn't realize moving to the left puts you in 4th gear. Typical man, didn't read the manual .

 

[Levinz11]

I'm still tripping about the mileage on your new truck! :zoom:

 

[TRDCal]

My vote would be for OD off, it's a general rule when towing and like "SubSonic" said it's not going to hurt anything but your mileage and since your towing anyways, its not gonna be a big loss. Good luck with your trip!

 

[SLC 4RUNNER]

I tow about 2300# empty and probably 2800# fully loaded. Depending on terrain, flat, mountains, etc...I will change from 4 to overdrive quite often. You may want to play around with it. Watch your rpms, and get to know how your truck responds to different conditions.
Also, if you are planning on towing quite often, you may want to have the transmission fluid changed more than the recommended service plan.

 

[jetboy1975]

A 1500lbs pop-up will hardly be felt behind your T4R. I would normally suggest towing in 4th but a small light pup you'll probably be fine in "D". As long as it's not hunting gears it's fine. If it hunts, put it in 4th.

 

[JimKW]

Right after I bought mine I towed the boat from Columbus, OH to SW Va, about 900 miles round trip. I would tow in D and when I started up a hill as soon as it down shifted on it's own I would pull it over to 4 to keep if from shifing on it's own. Soon as I reach the crest of the hill back to D for down hill and flat. It towed like a champ and my weight was probably pushing 4,000 lbs.

Going down I didn't really watch my speed at all and got about 12.5 mpg. Coming back I kept it under 60 mph for the most part and got about 13.9 mpg. The WV turnpike does have some pretty good hills.

 

[camdz]

I'm still tripping about the mileage on your new truck! :zoom:

He posted this in 2009, and its an 08 4runner. Still low, but not unheard of.