On Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:27:44 -0700 (PDT), wrote:



Signal to noise ratio in the thread is getting really poor with crap
from Harry who seems unqualified to have opinions on any topic.
Really now, if you cannot discern the diff tween boats and politics,
how can anyone take him seriously about either?
So, for towing the Tolman, it is looking like a Nissan Frontier. The
Tacoma is a little more expensive and I have had good luck with
Nissan. Now, I am trying to find one with a crew cab AND long bed,
not sure they exist.
I like manual shift but is there any reason for them anymore? In the
very long run, I still think a manual shift will outlast an automatic
and I can replace a clutch.

If I were to trade in my 4Runner for a new one, I'd go back to manual, even
if I had to buy a different breed. I like being able to shift when I want
to. I don't like the auto dropping into another gear any time it starts
climbing a hill, while towing. Using the cruise control, with an automatic,
while towing is a waste. The damn thing is shifting continuously, so cruise
control can't be used.

Yup, manual is the way to go.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

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

"JohnH" wrote in message
...


If I were to trade in my 4Runner for a new one, I'd go back to manual,
even
if I had to buy a different breed. I like being able to shift when I want
to. I don't like the auto dropping into another gear any time it starts
climbing a hill, while towing. Using the cruise control, with an
automatic,
while towing is a waste. The damn thing is shifting continuously, so
cruise
control can't be used.

Yup, manual is the way to go.


Does the 4Runner have a "tow/haul" mode?

Virtually all the US manufactured trucks have it, including even the little
Ranger I had.
The auto transmission in tow/haul mode will do a much better job of
selecting the proper gear for the load than a manual transmission. Plus,
you have the benefit of the torque converter which will unlock under load.
An added benefit, is that they change the gear shift points, reducing the
potential of lugging the engine and causing serious damage. Finally, they
also provide downshifts to provide engine braking while towing, saving your
brakes.

A properly equipped truck with an auto is much better .... in fact the tow
ratings are higher with an auto.

Eisboch

On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:08:09 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


"JohnH" wrote in message
.. .


If I were to trade in my 4Runner for a new one, I'd go back to manual,
even
if I had to buy a different breed. I like being able to shift when I want
to. I don't like the auto dropping into another gear any time it starts
climbing a hill, while towing. Using the cruise control, with an
automatic,
while towing is a waste. The damn thing is shifting continuously, so
cruise
control can't be used.

Yup, manual is the way to go.


Does the 4Runner have a "tow/haul" mode?

Virtually all the US manufactured trucks have it, including even the little
Ranger I had.
The auto transmission in tow/haul mode will do a much better job of
selecting the proper gear for the load than a manual transmission. Plus,
you have the benefit of the torque converter which will unlock under load.
An added benefit, is that they change the gear shift points, reducing the
potential of lugging the engine and causing serious damage. Finally, they
also provide downshifts to provide engine braking while towing, saving your
brakes.

A properly equipped truck with an auto is much better .... in fact the tow
ratings are higher with an auto.

Eisboch


There is no 'tow/haul' mode that I know of. The book suggests towing in 4th
rather than overdrive. What I'm towing is not that heavy (3500lbs) that the
V8 shouldn't be able to pull it in overdrive on the interstate. It's not
like there are any mountains between here and Chesapeake Bay or Virginia
Beach.

I'm comparing this to my GMC, a manual, which seemed to tow better. Maybe I
should just leave it in 4th and forgetaboutit.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

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

On Oct 21, 12:50*pm, JohnH wrote:
On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:08:09 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

"JohnH" wrote in message
.. .

If I were to trade in my 4Runner for a new one, I'd go back to manual,
even
if I had to buy a different breed. I like being able to shift when I want
to. I don't like the auto dropping into another gear any time it starts
climbing a hill, while towing. Using the cruise control, with an
automatic,
while towing is a waste. The damn thing is shifting continuously, so
cruise
control can't be used.

Yup, manual is the way to go.

Does the 4Runner have a "tow/haul" mode?

Virtually all the US manufactured trucks have it, including even the little
Ranger I had.
The auto transmission in tow/haul mode will do a much better job of
selecting the proper gear for the load than a manual transmission. *Plus,
you have the benefit of the torque converter which will unlock under load.
An added benefit, is that they change the gear shift points, reducing the
potential of lugging the engine and causing serious damage. *Finally, they
also provide downshifts to provide engine braking while towing, saving your
brakes.

A properly equipped truck with an auto is much better .... in fact the tow
ratings are higher with an auto.

Eisboch

There is no 'tow/haul' mode that I know of. The book suggests towing in 4th
rather than overdrive. What I'm towing is not that heavy (3500lbs) that the
V8 shouldn't be able to pull it in overdrive on the interstate. It's not
like there are any mountains between here and Chesapeake Bay or Virginia
Beach.

I'm comparing this to my GMC, a manual, which seemed to tow better. Maybe I
should just leave it in 4th and forgetaboutit.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

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

- Show quoted text -

My Jeep was like that, and I did exactly as you suggest, on the
interstate, I'd use the overdrive, suburban type of driving I
wouldn't. Worked fine.

On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:04:52 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Oct 21, 12:50*pm, JohnH wrote:
On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:08:09 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

"JohnH" wrote in message
.. .

If I were to trade in my 4Runner for a new one, I'd go back to manual,
even
if I had to buy a different breed. I like being able to shift when I want
to. I don't like the auto dropping into another gear any time it starts
climbing a hill, while towing. Using the cruise control, with an
automatic,
while towing is a waste. The damn thing is shifting continuously, so
cruise
control can't be used.

Yup, manual is the way to go.

Does the 4Runner have a "tow/haul" mode?

Virtually all the US manufactured trucks have it, including even the little
Ranger I had.
The auto transmission in tow/haul mode will do a much better job of
selecting the proper gear for the load than a manual transmission. *Plus,
you have the benefit of the torque converter which will unlock under load.
An added benefit, is that they change the gear shift points, reducing the
potential of lugging the engine and causing serious damage. *Finally, they
also provide downshifts to provide engine braking while towing, saving your
brakes.

A properly equipped truck with an auto is much better .... in fact the tow
ratings are higher with an auto.

Eisboch

There is no 'tow/haul' mode that I know of. The book suggests towing in 4th
rather than overdrive. What I'm towing is not that heavy (3500lbs) that the
V8 shouldn't be able to pull it in overdrive on the interstate. It's not
like there are any mountains between here and Chesapeake Bay or Virginia
Beach.

I'm comparing this to my GMC, a manual, which seemed to tow better. Maybe I
should just leave it in 4th and forgetaboutit.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

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

- Show quoted text -

My Jeep was like that, and I did exactly as you suggest, on the
interstate, I'd use the overdrive, suburban type of driving I
wouldn't. Worked fine.

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.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

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

"JohnH" wrote in message
news
On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:04:52 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Oct 21, 12:50 pm, JohnH wrote:
On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:08:09 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

"JohnH" wrote in message
.. .

If I were to trade in my 4Runner for a new one, I'd go back to
manual,
even
if I had to buy a different breed. I like being able to shift when I
want
to. I don't like the auto dropping into another gear any time it
starts
climbing a hill, while towing. Using the cruise control, with an
automatic,
while towing is a waste. The damn thing is shifting continuously, so
cruise
control can't be used.

Yup, manual is the way to go.

Does the 4Runner have a "tow/haul" mode?

Virtually all the US manufactured trucks have it, including even the
little
Ranger I had.
The auto transmission in tow/haul mode will do a much better job of
selecting the proper gear for the load than a manual transmission.
Plus,
you have the benefit of the torque converter which will unlock under
load.
An added benefit, is that they change the gear shift points, reducing
the
potential of lugging the engine and causing serious damage. Finally,
they
also provide downshifts to provide engine braking while towing, saving
your
brakes.

A properly equipped truck with an auto is much better .... in fact the
tow
ratings are higher with an auto.

Eisboch

There is no 'tow/haul' mode that I know of. The book suggests towing in
4th
rather than overdrive. What I'm towing is not that heavy (3500lbs) that
the
V8 shouldn't be able to pull it in overdrive on the interstate. It's not
like there are any mountains between here and Chesapeake Bay or Virginia
Beach.

I'm comparing this to my GMC, a manual, which seemed to tow better.
Maybe I
should just leave it in 4th and forgetaboutit.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

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

- Show quoted text -

My Jeep was like that, and I did exactly as you suggest, on the
interstate, I'd use the overdrive, suburban type of driving I
wouldn't. Worked fine.

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.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

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

I gave up towing with a standard tranny in 1968. Sucked towing a race car
trailer in 60 miles of stop and go traffic after leaving Laguna Seca
Raceway. Plus now towing boats, just put it in drive and the automatic
air-conditioning keeps me and wife at the desired temperature. In the
mountains I push the tow / haul mode as that lets the engine do the braking
on hills. Even my VW Rabbit commuter was tiring in morning rush hour. And
the fuel mileage difference in negligible with the newer locking torque
converters.

"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

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.

On Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:51:35 -0400, "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


Yeah, I'll just do what the book says. Actually, the 4Runner is a great
towing vehicle, if I leave it in 4th gear. Then it doesn't downshift unless
it *really* needs to.
--
A Harry Krause truism:

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

"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.


Hey, John ....

I am not trying to nit-pic this subject to death, but realizing you are
fairly new to the TT crowd and towing, there's one thing I forgot to mention
about towing with manual transmissions ... something I learned from
experience a while back.

The issue is not the ability to downshift and select a proper gear while
climbing hills. You can do that with both an automatic or a manual.

The primary negative of a manual transmission for towing is the clutch wear
getting everything moving from a stop. In your average pickup, SUV or car
that is equipped with a manual transmission, the clutch is sized to get the
weight of the vehicle moving, not it plus the weight of the towed item.

When you add the weight of the towed item .... in your case a travel trailer
or even your boat, the clutch has to transfer the engine torque required to
get the added weight going, requiring more slippage and causing premature
wear. Picture yourself at a stoplight on a steep upward incline and trying
to get things in motion. I burned out the clutch in a Ford F-150 while
backing a 23' Travel Trailer uphill into a campsite many years ago. You
could smell it and later, on the way home, it slipped so badly I could
hardly get things moving.

The automatic utilizes a torque converter that multiplies available
"starting out" torque tremendously. Unless you are in the habit of flooring
it every time you start out, there's no adverse affect on the transmission.

That's why automatics are better for towing than manuals and why the
manufacturers recommend automatics for towing. Even the big, tractor
trailers hauling really heavy loads are now often equipped with Allison
automatic truck transmissions.

As they say, "that's my story and I am sticking to it."

Eisboch