Re: Towing with my Tundra?

WITH the towing package, you've got an absolute max of 7,000. Without the towing package, 5k is the limit. Either way, do not use overdrive when towing... take the gas mileage hit. Most reports of transmission failures are from people who have towed in OD.

--- Rich

Rich,

Is this just with the Tundra V8 (which I am planning on buying) or does it apply to all pickups?

Sandy

That would apply to any vehicle, and auto or manual. Overdrive (final ratio less than 1:1) gearing is not intended for towing.

good luck! GTr

Tundra V8, but I would be very nervous of towing in OD with any truck... at the first sign of the trans "hunting" between OD and 3rd (or 4th) I'd pull it out of OD. That shifting causes the TC to lock and unlock and generates a lot of heat.

--- Rich

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Rich, I'll be towing a boat and trailer weighing just under 5,000 lbs. I had heard that on the Ford and Chevy pickups it's O.K. to tow in OD, but to get out of OD when, as you say, the trans starts "hunting." With the Tundra V8 and factory towing package, is it O.K. to do the same? or, are you saying not to use OD at all when towing? Sandy

Gulp, how many times does it have to be repeated? NO towing in OD!! LOL ;-) ;o) 8-)

I towed 3000 lbs popup camper with a V8 4Runner and get atleast 13mpg. Average round trip (up and down hill) is about 15.

Your 6-7 gas mileage is awful. Something is wrong with your trailer brake or bearing buddy. Better have a professional check.

Question about the overdrive towing? Is it "OK" to switch back to OD once the vehicle is at freeway speeds? Say on a long stretch of relatively flat highway?

I've had the new boat out twice and so far it pulls beautifully. I was really impressed at how well the truck seems to handle this load so far. I live in Wisconsin and it is fairly hilly west of Milwaukee which is where I do a lot of trailering and I've pulled this boat up some very steep hills and I've been really impressed with it so far. I was worried about towing this boat on our annual trips to Missouri where we drive right through the Ozark Mountains, but now I'm not worried at all. I know that it will take it's toll on my truck after a few years of this but I'm just going to enjoy the ride until then (and maybe keep a savings fund for a new transmission :)). I also yanked the boat out of Lake Michigan on a very steep launch last week and she had no problems at all. My wife and I had "tons" of gear with us and the boat had over 250lbs of fuel and water in it. So I'm sure we were up near the 6500lb mark.

Also, the brakes on this truck seem really incredible (my mileage is 40K). Although my trailer has gravity surge brakes on it, I've towed my Father-in-law's boat with his Chevy Tahoe and that thing was God awful with stopping. It was downright dangerous. His trailer has brakes as well. I've towed that boat with my Tundra and it was a world of difference in stopping and overall handling. The Tahoe is brand new, too.

Anyway, I started this thread a long time ago and just wanted to update everyone on how it's going. I also wanted to thank everyone for all of the helpful information.

-Chuck

It isn't "ok" but you're probably going to do it, and probably get away with it for some period of time. You'll have two problems: if you need to accelerate, you're going to have to downshift. With an AT, the surge on the downshift could transfer to the trailer. If you forget to downshift, you're going to end up putting needless stress on the transmission trying to accelerate in OD, and then experience a surge as it downshifts. Those surges are where the danger is; the attempting to accelerate in OD is where the wear is.

I tow up to 4000# with my 89 V6 (3.slow) 4x4 5spd, in WI, and occasionally, on those long flat stretches on 151/41/90+94/etc, I do use

5th gear. But when I usually plan my acceleration, and I can downshift, let the vehicle slow, and match the revs with the clutch, preventing the surge that comes with an AT.

Even though I do this, I know it isn't the best thing for the truck or for towing. Why do I do this? Because 100 miles in 5th gear saves gas over 100 miles in 4th gear. Should I do this? Probably not. It is a sign that I feel too comfortable towing that same route for so many years.

lycka till! GTr

All:

Can't imagine how anyone can tow anything with a 4.7 litre V8 Tundra AT in OD. Using my brand new 2003 model, I towed my 3500# travel trailer (loaded to about 5000#) for 13000 miles and saw most of it at 50-55 mph. Headwinds dragged mpg down to 7. Trip average was 11 mpg. My old VW Vanagon seems powerful and fuel-efficient compared to the Tundra - but then I wouldn't be towing a travel trailer!

On level roads with no head wind I can tow up to 60 mph in OD, but with any incline it downshifts. The owners manual is specific about using OD and letting the AT do the work. It suggests turning off OD only to effect engine braking in hilly terrain.

I towed the trailer through Death Valley, west to east, and going up the 10% grade the AT selected 1st gear. I never felt like we wouldn't make it but the folks following us were not too happy.

The Tundra is a great in-town pickup if you just like driving pickups, but it's crap for any real work.

dalmok