100,000 mile + check in / Towing involved!!!

SD Surfer · Aug 17, 2024

Interesting video @Tripleconpanna Thank you for sharing.

Automatic transmissions are witchcraft I swear.

Y0TA PR0 · Aug 17, 2024

mountainpete said: ↑

I have experienced considerably better fuel economy towing from Calgary to Kelowna (mountain passes) vs Calgary to Medicine Hat (prairie) when the wind is racing.
Click to expand...

Very true. Got better fuel economy towing to Chiliwack, BC than going through the prairies, even with little wind against me.

Y0TA PR0 · Aug 17, 2024

Tripleconpanna said: ↑

Sliding the drive selector from "D" into sequential shifting (moving it to the left) and selecting... S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6; this is not meant to be a true manual shifting as the transmission still functions like an automatic, but it limits the highest gear available.

Since 5th and 6th gears are 'overdrive' they require more effort on the transmissions part and reduce effort on the engine. They are also the reason the truck will constantly hunt between 4th and 5th when going uphill; the ECU wants the truck in 5th whenever possible, but 5th gear under a load such as towing is actually causing more work for the transmission (with the intention of less load on the engine) and essentially creating more heat. 4th gear is a true 1:1 ratio and has the least amount of resistance between the engine and transmission; it's the most efficient gear for the truck especially under a load in terms of minimizing heat build up and workload of the transmission.

In other words when the truck is in 4th gear it's one turn input = one turn output (no gear reduction or amplification) which equals almost zero resistance.

Transmission Description and Specs
Automatic w/OD
Number of Transmission Speeds
6
First Gear Ratio 1:
3.33
Second Gear Ratio 1:
1.96
Third Gear Ratio 1:
1.35
Fourth Gear Ratio 1:
1.00
Fifth Gear Ratio 1:
0.73
Sixth Gear Ratio 1:
0.59
Reverse Ratio 1:
3.06

Give me a minute, and let me see if I can find a video that really helps explain this in detail... The video is a bit dry, but worth the watch to see what the clutches and solenoids are doing throughout the gears. Pay attention to the amount of resistance the person is experiencing as he turns the transmission through the various gears, and it's amazing to see almost zero effort required to spin it in 4th gear (due to the 1:1 ratio). He'll get to 4th at about the 7 minute mark. The video was shared by another member on the thread I linked below, but I thought I'd just put it here so you didn't have to hunt for it...

https://youtu.be/YM40HOYtLNc

Regarding target temps for your readings, I never worried about the actual number I just payed attention to my trans temp needle which was under the RPM indicator on my '08. I think they eliminated that warning needle a few years later. I know my '21 does not have one... However, this thread will have a ton of info and opinions in it regarding what guys are targeting or using as safe operating ranges for temp measurements...

Transmission cooler or not Thread
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Very nice and true! S4 is a beauty. That’s where I set it and leave it when I’m towing.
I’m in the mountains now and be going home tomorrow

too tall · Aug 17, 2024

Thank you Triple... That is clear as a bell and thank dog is exactly what I do when towing and hit a hill. It is a small block so revs are where it likes to live.
I've got a list of things to do now and feeling more confident about this great truck.
ScanGuage3 is inbound and kudos for the suggestion.
Getting ahead of myself. I've got a self installed grab handle so this will work nicely for a mount:
https://spikerengineering.com/product/sg3u

Tripleconpanna · Aug 17, 2024

SD Surfer said: ↑

Interesting video @Tripleconpanna Thank you for sharing.

Automatic transmissions are witchcraft I swear.
Click to expand...

You're welcome, but it wasn't my doing... It was posted in the 'do i need a transmission cooler' thread by another dude!! I passed up watching it a few times cuz I hate monotone presentations, but ended up going back to it, and the info was at least for my little brain

Seriously w/all the solenoids, clutches, and other moving around in there, I'm surprised there's not more failures and problems w/them...

smokint · Aug 17, 2024

too tall[OP] initial post: ↑

I've got a 2016 Tundra which is used for daily and towing an 8K travel trailer. The truck is at 110,000m now. I've taken very good care of it and performed a major service recently (all fluids, plugs, springs, brakes).

I've got a huge trip planned for next yr. towing to and thru Canadian Rockies. Total trip will be close to 8k miles much of it hard in the mtns.

The truck is made for this however I am thinking about what I can and should do prior to the trip. I'll have about 150K on the truck at start of this adventure.

Things like hoses, belts, brake pads, hubs???

thoughts?
Click to expand...

I do a fair amount of steep mountain trails, and I’m always a little worried about my brakes. I might get brand new rotors and pads up front for a big trip like that, one less thing to worry about! Was up in Kaslo this May, went up to Kokanee Glacier
At bar in Kaslo

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