Overdrive for towing

This maybe a very silly question but I have to ask....

I just got my Taco (approx. 600mi on odo) and will be towing a significant trailer (loaded 6x12 with 3 race bikes and gear) this weekend. I've read on these boards that towing in overdrive will cook the tranny.

Drum roll:::: Here's the silly question..ready? How to I toggle overdrive on/off?

tia

 

Keep it in 4 instead of D.

 

ty sir

 

Push your gear selector to the left of drive. 4th is side by side with D


4 - D
3
2 - L

 

Depend on how much tranny is "searching" for gears keep it in D till tranny start shifting up and down constantly then shift into 4

 

I appreciate the replies. I am new to trucks and towing

 

Towing is a work of art take it slow and let it be a learning experience for you back the trailer as many times as you can during your trip it really helps with getting used to the way the trailer reacts

 

Most definitely, I've been practicing backing up my 5x8 open trailer. Slowly getting the hang of it @sladesdaddy1022

 

Nice. Used to race my motorcycles back in Colorado, what a blast. Have fun, what are you running?

 

@Gearheadesw Thanks man. I am riding 09 Yamaha R1

 

Someone might correct me, but if you aren't hunting for gears then you can stay in OD and increase your mpg vs staying in 4th.

 

The consensus is never tow in od... A member lurks around here named gear cruncher. He seems to have forgotten more than I will ever know about our transmissions. There is a towing thread out in the main directory. Here is how I view the OD towing debate... Once I hook up to my trailer, my mileage goes to s@&!. The only thing worse than 10mpg is a blown tranny. If you plan to tow a lot then I would go for a scangauge or an ultra gauge and monitor the tranny temps. Trd sport should have all the towing goodies from the factory. Looks like your trailer is an open not enclosed so that takes a lot of strain off. Anything close to 2500 lbs really benefits from electric brakes. Take your time and don't plan on breaking any land speed records and you'll be fine. Also change your tranny fluid, rear diff more often... 45-50k.

 

Wouldn't it be just safer to always tow in 4th gear?

 

Funny that you mention SG and UG, I was just reading up on it last night (this forum is amazing) but I only got as far as folks fishing for Toyota tranny temp codes. Are you saying the tranny codes are now available for 2015 Tacoma? @Capt Jrod I actually have this open trailer which I use for small hauls but my main trailer is a enclosed 6x12 V-nose

 

After pulling my 7x12 cargo trailer for a year, I can say that 4th is better than 5th when loaded. There's just no advantage to using 5th gear. There seems to be no real MPG increase when using 5th and I might say that 4th returns better mileage than 5th. When loaded.

 

What is the approx. weight of your loaded 7x12 @Jefes Taco ?

 

Empty it' about 2000lbs. Depending on what I've loaded but it can get up to 4000 lbs. when I have 4 dirt bikes, gear, and camping gear. I'm guessing on the loaded weight. The unloaded weight is listed on the trailer. FYI, I'm at 5280+ feet and usually go much higher and I have the SC.

My thoughts would be anything over 2000 lbs., I'd stay in 4th. Under that and depending on the landscape, very few or no hills, I'd consider using 5th. But honestly, the best you're gonna get using 5th instead of 4th is MAYBE another 1-2 MPG. Not worth risking the tranny and it just drives better in 4th when towing. So, unless I was traveling through Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, etc., I'd just leave it in 4th.

 

Thanks for taking the time to break it down for me. My trailer's empty weight is 3500lbs loaded up it would be somewhere near 5,500lbs. Hope the Taco won't let me down.

PS...you are my hero for dropping a SC in your truck.... very cool

 

Yes, codes are available for both. I use scan gauge and had to add some codes to make it read trams fluid temp. I my sequoia it is very significant due to a 6spd od. Temps over 210 are very easy and common. Taco gets hot too, but not as bad. Overdrive and towing = new trans.

 

It really depends on the load, and road conditions. The default answer is stay out of OD. But with a load that light, on level terrain on the open road I'd use OD and shift out as conditions dictated. In other words drive it like a manual instead of putting it in a gear and forgetting about it. This is even more important on downgrades than upgrades.

I've been pulling a 3000 lb (dry weight) pop-up camper with mine for 8 years, just rolled over on 150,000 miles and often use OD on the open road. If it is safe to be doing 65 or so on level ground it doesn't hurt a thing. Just gotta remember to drop to 4th on inclines or when in heavy traffic etc. With a heavier load, or something that catches a lot of wind then I might never use OD. You just have to get a feel for when things are straining.