Transmission: use it in "4" ?

[Atlanta_man]

Do you do this to keep the shifts down or for other reasons ?
I can imagine towing or lots of stop and go. But towing (how heavy?) and stop and go (how often stop/go max speeds ?)

Looks like there's a 25% or so RPM penalty for keeping it out of 5 OD.

 

[bergs]

I'll run it in 3 or 4 in traffic or if I know there is a short trip to a side street.

Otherwise, for towing, I usually scan ahead as far as I am able to studying the upcoming layout of the highway (for example). If the transmission keeps hunting I'll wait for it to downshift on its own then lock it in that gear until I clear the hills/ mtns/ etc.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I only use 5th on the highway or at speeds above 45. It is mountainous where I live and if you leave it in 5th it constantly shifts up and down and in 5th you constantly have to ride the brakes going downhill. I have a habit now of just putting it in 4 when I put it in gear.

 

[stanleybb50]

I only use 5th on the highway or at speeds above 45. It is mountainous where I live and if you leave it in 5th it constantly shifts up and down and in 5th you constantly have to ride the brakes going downhill. I have a habit now of just putting it in 4 when I put it in gear.

x2 100% to this. (He saved me having to type it out frankly).