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Tow in D or S4? Tow/Haul mode engaged

Discussion in 'Towing & Hauling' started by Doxiedad, Jan 29, 2020.

  1. Jan 29, 2020 at 11:39 AM
    #1
    Doxiedad

    Doxiedad [OP] New Member

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    So my previous tow rig was my 2016 4Runner. With her I had to tow in S4 and it didn't have a tow/haul mode.

    So now with my 20 Tundra using the Tow/Haul mode can i just put it in D and let it sort it out?

    90% plus of my towing is gonna be 3K or under and I live in SC so pretty flat.

    I remember when I was learning to drive 30 years ago that I was told to never tow anything while in Overdrive cause you'll strip out the teeth on the gears. Granted now that I'm older and wiser I don't think you'll actually strip gears on the transmission. I guess the main concern is running with the torque converter unlocked and overheating.

    So with these trucks is it just as simple as Tow/Haul mode and put in D?
     
  2. Jan 29, 2020 at 11:52 AM
    #2
    AZBoatHauler

    AZBoatHauler SSEM#140/ASCM#3/2ndGenNaysayer/BAF140

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    What are you towing? With that load that weight on flat ground, D should be fine. It you were running heavier I would recommend S5 or S4 on flat areas (depending on weight) and S4 or lower in the hills. Feel free to use tow haul but again with your load being that light you might not what to use it. The tow/haul will hold gears longer and downshift earlier. Just depends on driving style preference.
     
    Last edited: Jan 30, 2020
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  3. Jan 29, 2020 at 11:56 AM
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    Doxiedad

    Doxiedad [OP] New Member

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    Usually my ATV (850 lbs) on my 6x12 open trailer ~850 lbs or maybe my zero turn mower that's 1200lbs. I also have a 6x10 enclosed trailer that I tow some stuff. Either way stays under 3K lbs.

    I thought Tow/Haul mode helped it keep torque converter locked in 5th and 6th?
     
  4. Jan 29, 2020 at 12:08 PM
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    AZBoatHauler

    AZBoatHauler SSEM#140/ASCM#3/2ndGenNaysayer/BAF140

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    I do not believe it impacts anything other than throttle mapping (accelerator response) and shift points.

    From Toyota -
    The Tow Package's selectable TOW/HAUL mode adjusts throttle sensitivity and transmission shift control, favoring and holding lower gears when accelerating or decelerating to help enhance control and safety.
     
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  5. Jan 29, 2020 at 12:10 PM
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    Doxiedad

    Doxiedad [OP] New Member

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    Ah ok. I definitely noticed more aggressive throttle map and holding gears longer.

    So really for me I guess the question is it safe to tow in D and shift to S5 or S4 if i notice the torque converter locking and unlocking a lot, or just go straight to S4?
     
  6. Jan 29, 2020 at 12:35 PM
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    bsktball55

    bsktball55 New Member

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    That light of a load, just tow in D. If you were maxing it out, I would think about putting in in S4. I pull our bass boat through the Ozarks in D and just let the transmission work like it's supposed to. That's how I have always towed, first with my Tacoma and now Tundra, we've never had one bit of problems. People over think it a lot. Unless it is constantly shifting, there's no reason not to just go with D.
     
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  7. Jan 29, 2020 at 1:44 PM
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    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    One cool thing I’ve noticed using tow haul, and D or S mode. When in D it will downshift for you on a grade if you tap the brakes, and hold it until you touch the throttle again. It won’t do that in S mode.

    I personally use S mode for daily driving or towing. Unless it’s really flat then I won’t care. my last trip to Vegas with my larger and heavier tires, I really felt it hunting for gears a little bit more than usual. So I typically like to select the proper gear as I’m starting to climb the grade.
     
  8. Jan 29, 2020 at 1:53 PM
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    zombie

    zombie Master at Something

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    All to there own, but I would never tow in over drive/ D. Use the S mode in 3, if all feels good shift up to 4, and if on real flat ground and up to speed shift up to 5.
     
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  9. Jan 29, 2020 at 2:02 PM
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    CMB

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    Not nearly enough room here!
    S Mode is there for those who 'dare' use it, to prevent needless shifting with an unlocked torque converter. Transmission Techs will tell you, "heat fries the fluid" and constant shifts while unlocked is the ideal way to "accomplish" it.:spending:
     
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  10. Jan 29, 2020 at 2:08 PM
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    zombie

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    Why the hell would you be constantly shifting for, you actually believe these idiots, maybe it's there driving skills. Put a damn extra trans cooler on there if your hauling heavy. I got 355k out of a trans, beat it to hell, and still strong.
     
  11. Jan 29, 2020 at 2:19 PM
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    15whtrd

    15whtrd Mr. Blonde

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    Who you calling idiots?
     
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  12. Jan 29, 2020 at 2:21 PM
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    AZBoatHauler

    AZBoatHauler SSEM#140/ASCM#3/2ndGenNaysayer/BAF140

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    I'm not sure, but a cab full of average to large adult males will put more strain on the truck than a towing an ATV on an 800 lb trailer...
     
  13. Jan 29, 2020 at 3:43 PM
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    Therin7

    Therin7 New Member

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    IDK, only thing I use my truck for is pulling toys 5-7k lbs, at 70 mph+. I just press the Tow/Haul button and ride. This isn't some fragile GM with a 700r4. If the Yota engineers thought it needed to be locked to 4th or 5th when towing, they would have set it up that way (My 2016 GMC 8speed locked out the top 2 gears in tow/haul). The GM needed a tranny at 45k miles....84k on the Tundra, pulling strong.
     
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  14. Jan 29, 2020 at 3:59 PM
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    WNY PAT

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    I tow nearly every work day in my 2019... anywhere between 4,500 and 6,000 pounds. Granted it’s a lease, but even when I tow with the 2017 that I own outright, I push the tow/haul button and let the transmission work out the rest. In winter time, my trans pan temp runs about 205 on the 2019 and spikes to 230ish at the converter. The 2017 was running 15 degrees less with the external cooler for my winter baseline (190ish in the pan, 215ish near the t/c IIRC). Granted, ambient temps for the winter baseline were 12F-25F so it was pretty chilly. YMMV.
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2020
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  15. Jan 29, 2020 at 4:03 PM
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    snivilous

    snivilous snivspeedshop.com

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    Tow haul I found would make the motor wind itself up more when it didn't need to. I towed in S with it set in 6th to try and keep it in as high a gear as possible before I got my gearlock feature. Now I gearlock it in 6th, drop to 5th when needed, and monitor the trans. If the temperatures start to climb I drop it to 4th; that's with cruise control set at 85mph. I don't tow a ton, but when I do usually it's 8000lbs+ and through the mountains of Utah and Colorado. Never had an issue and at 225k.
     
  16. Jan 29, 2020 at 4:08 PM
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    Doxiedad

    Doxiedad [OP] New Member

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    How do you get gear lock?

    Also thanks for all the input. This is my 1st full-size truck and am used to towing with the smaller 4Runner
     
  17. Jan 29, 2020 at 4:10 PM
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    snivilous

    snivilous snivspeedshop.com

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    OVTune, if I set it in a gear it'll hold there regardless what I do or how much it has to open the throttle. Gives as close to full manual control as you can get with the automatic. I monitor temperatures the TorquePro app on my phone and tell it to shift if the transmission or revs are getting out of what I'm comfortable with. The truck regardless of D/S/TowHaul seems very twitchy about dropping gears and holding them for no reason, in my opinion at least. https://www.tundras.com/threads/ovtune-3urfe-tundra-ecu-tune-development-thread.44977/
     
  18. Jan 29, 2020 at 4:21 PM
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    bsktball55

    bsktball55 New Member

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    You tow in 3rd gear? Are you towing up mountains or massive loads? 3rd gear would be revving like crazy when I'm towing.
     
  19. Jan 29, 2020 at 4:30 PM
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    Doxiedad

    Doxiedad [OP] New Member

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    Awesome thanks. Looking through that thread there is no tune for the 2020 yet
     
  20. Jan 30, 2020 at 6:15 AM
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    marinakorp

    marinakorp New Member

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    I live in PA, and travel to NY, WV, and other pl;aces - fairly hilly / mountainous for the entire drive.
    I have found the following to be the "best" - not in terms of saving gas mind you, but for keeping the engine temp, Trans temp and power on demand for climbing hills, descending (etc).

    when towing - I really only care about the RPM...and the related speed to a point...and keeping the thinks cool under the hood / trans and having plenty of guts to do the job

    My trailer is 7000 lbs (+-) loaded ...and at least 2 large humans in the truck, and some gear (coolers, etc) in the bed...well within the rating of the truck

    Most always (some variance for REALLY steep hills from a dead stop, or needing additional hold back when descending...) I put it in S4 and Tow haul ON
    Highway - 65 or so mph - 3000 RPM, will climb the hills, plenty of power to take the hills as needed.
    speed limit - back mountainous roads...45 or so...will leave in S3 and keep RPM about 3000 - 45 or so mph..dont want to be shifting in and out of gears - just need power

    3000 is a good go damn near anywhere RPM that doesn't stress the motor (temps) or the Transmission (temps)

    on a relatively flat (between Philly and DE beaches - not too many mountains...) stretch of Route 1. I tried using S5 for a period to see what it does to the temp.
    pretty cool days in the fall...55 degrees or so...the whole way down - under 200 degrees for the trans and motor (digital gauge)...consistent...bounced between 180 and 199..the whole way there and most of the way back
    I put in in s5...and within a few minutes, the temps went up to over 200....all my towing was under 200 for not only this trip, but a few others...not too high over 200, but it was clear that there was some additional heat generated by it wanting to come in and out of 5...even for the small inclines...


    for my $$...I will keep the RPM up and ensure the transmission temps remain constant / cool...

    for some SERIOUS hills, 10% grade for many miles, from a dead stop - i've had to leave it in 2nd...as it wanted to shift in and out of the upper gears too often...raising the temps of the transmission...so I found the gear needed...got the RPM up ...and let her eat. The automatic is great...just need to limit it from wanting to find too high a gear..and have to shift out of it when grunt is needed.

    similar for descending same hill...left it in a lower gear to do the engine braking...engaged the trailer brakes manually to control descent (so I dont smoke the truck brakes) and then applied the truck brakes to aid in the stopping...works great coming back down theat 10% grade....for a few miles.
     
  21. Jan 30, 2020 at 6:33 AM
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    specter208

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    Tacoma surprisingly recommends using s5.
     
  22. Jan 30, 2020 at 6:37 AM
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    15whtrd

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    Very well said! That’s how I try to drive it.
     
  23. Jan 30, 2020 at 6:42 AM
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    pro2amendment

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    I tow a very similar set up from Indiana to northern ontario. I have tow package w 5.7. I keep it in D w tow haul ON and do not notice any excessive shifts. Rather it feels like I have nothing back there at all especially compared to what I was used to (v6 w OD OFF) same as you..
     
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  24. Jan 30, 2020 at 6:58 AM
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    AZBoatHauler

    AZBoatHauler SSEM#140/ASCM#3/2ndGenNaysayer/BAF140

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    ^ this guy knows what he’s doing. Good post.
     
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  25. Jan 30, 2020 at 8:27 AM
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    drobb

    drobb The Feral Snail

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    Don’t want to highjack this thread.... but good info here and I have a question along these lines... I have a 2013 Tundra CrewMax 4x4... I run 285/75/18 tires with stock gears.... a little sluggish.... so I’ve been turning on TowHaul mode all the time recently.... city and fwy... seems to really help get the larger tires moving..... anyone see issues with running TowHaul mode ON all the time?

    Now back to your regularly scheduled thread....
     
  26. Jan 31, 2020 at 4:31 PM
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    zombie

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    Idiots being the transmission techs. I go from experience and what I put the truck through. Gen. 1, Dont tow in overdrive unless you are at a good speed and flat land. The way I see my new 07, start in S3, and then go to S4 and if Rpms are good, go to S5. Watch the RPMs. Keep it in the power range.
     
  27. Feb 1, 2020 at 6:23 PM
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    marinakorp

    marinakorp New Member

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    For reference here is a trip without trailer. 60 mph. In drive
    Intake temp
    Coolant
    Trans

    I’m doing the same run exactly later this week with trailer. S4 tow haul.
    I’ll post a pic later of that run.

    5E3AABD0-266A-4C91-AB18-8914F46A003A.jpg
     
  28. Feb 4, 2020 at 3:36 AM
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    marinakorp

    marinakorp New Member

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    EDIT - was towing the trailer - about 7000 lbs at this point...

    Here are the temps for the exact run at about the same spot on the highway

    temps were about this high for the whole run. degree higher. Couple lower...but pretty close.

    A3EC11D9-13E1-4EDA-AE9A-7F6B39930BB2.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
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