On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:27:06 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Boater" wrote in message
...
Eisboch wrote:
"JohnH" wrote in message
news
I'm getting pretty good at picking up speed on the downgrade and letting
it
bleed off on the upgrade. Works pretty well, lets me stay in overdrive,
and
saves gas.

I just miss the manual tranny.


With all due respect, what you are missing is a vehicle designed to tow
something.

You don't want to be in overdrive while towing. An automatic, designed
for towing applications, will figure it out for you.

Eisboch
I have the same car. I tow in 4th, not in OD, and when necessary, I
downshift to third or lower. Much easier on the transmission.




You and JohnH share the same taste in a vehicle?

Anyway, the 4Runner may be fine for short distance and light load
occasional towing, but not for a travel trailer camper.
JohnH just bought a camper. Even though his camper/trailer is
light-weight, the 4Runner isn't an ideal tow vehicle for it.
The problem is the wind resistance, not the weight, and I guarantee that is
what he is complaining about.

The 4Runner is a very nice, very light duty vehicle. It's not designed to
pull high area resistance trailers down the interstate.

Tried to tell him, but he won't listen, so he has to learn for himself. A
manual transmission will do zip for him.

Eisboch


Oh horse puckey. The 4Runner does a great job of towing a trailer which is
about half its towing capacity. It wants to downshift going uphill if I'm
in overdrive. That may be due to wind resistance.

Of course, there are vehicles which would probably do a nicer job. But I
wasn't in the mood to trade in the 4Runner on something that I didn't
really need.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

"It's not a *baby* kicking, beautiful bride, it's just a fetus!"
[A Narcissistic Hypocrite]