4WD towing in 5th gear or not?

volkoff · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 5:46 pm Post subject:

Also another thing when your in 4wd and in the dirt, you would disengage the traction control? am referring to Triton glr.

frozenpod · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 12:09 am Post subject:

Depends on the circumstanes, I would but try it both ways and see what works for you.

TRC or handbrake often helps depending on your diffs to provide more drive in low grip situations.

1504stroke · Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:55 pm Post subject:

As the original question was "towing in 5th", it's not the motor that's at risk. It's the gearbox. Ring your local transmission specialist & he'll explain it to you.

Big-Banana · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:57 am Post subject:

There should NEVER be load on 5th. I use it going downhill but not on a steep hill where I want some form of engine brake.
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Anth

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Big-Banana · Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:58 am Post subject: Re:

There should NEVER be load on 5th. I use it going downhill but not on a steep hill where I want some form of engine brake.
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Anth

Check out my fishing videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/dimech007

FOF · Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 6:03 pm Post subject:

Anyone want to buy a transmission???

Towing in o/d will make the auto shuffle between gears and eventually kill it.

thylacene · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:01 am Post subject:

Depends on the vehicle guys. Our 2010 D4D Prado auto tows nicely using 5th, but in "Sports" mode (bloody silly concept on a 4wd, but anyway). Instructions from the manual state towing in 5th is fine in "S" mode. And the prado is AWD. The tranny doesn't "shuffle" between gears, and the oil looked good when it last came out. The engine produces max torque at 1600rpm, and cruise is a casual 2400rpm. I use the shift to hold it in 3rd or 4th when in the hills (to be nice to tranny). We are dragging 2400Kg all up, and around 5.5 tonne GVM. Its is amazing the amount of weight a boat puts on as you add knick knacks, anchor winch and chain being the primary culprit

If you have a gadget that has a manual transfer case, and auto or manual hubs, then towing in 4wd is not recommended for most vehicles, but quite acceptable pulling up from the ramp to be nice to the clutch. Using 4wd can result in "bind" in the drivetrain, AWD sorts this out by design.

Allowing the engine to lug too much does put a strain on the tranny, and causes trans fluid to heat up dramatically due to torque convertor slip and some laws of physics relating to exothermic properties.

5th gear in most manual boxes is "lighter duty" than fourth (normally a 1:1) as the gears in fourth are equal in size, sharing the load better on the bearings. The best bet is to get hold of the manual for your vehicle and see what is recommended by the manufacturer.

And finally, don't skimp on servicing if you are towing, being ahead of the service schedule is no crime, it is hard on all the oils in the drivetrain, and they are what protects the mechanical bits.

Cheers

Thy