Minimum weight to stay out of 6th gear

Hi All. I have a 2019 trd off road. I am going camping this week with a small and light pop up camper (900 lbs). I have been reading that while towing you don't want to go into 6th gear for fear of overheating the torque converter. With gear and the trailer I estimate I will be under 1500 LBS. Do i need to worry about going into 6th gear on our trip? what is the minimum weight to stay our of 6th gear while towing?

 

The owners manual says not to tow in D or 6 so don’t tow in D or 6. The OM does not give a weight limit for this. In reality for 1500lbs or less on level highway where the truck isn’t hunting gears you are probably ok in 6. But why take the chance. Towing in 6 may overheat the tranny which eventually will end in tranny failure. So just follow the OM and don’t tow in 6. Easy peasy.

 

Thanks for the help

 

This. Don't tow anything in 6th. I also don't tow anything heavy in 5th. Remember you have a 4 speed with TWO overdrive gears. It's not a 5 speed with one overdrive. When in doubt tow in 4rth.

 

The owners manual states to tow in 5th or lower for electricity reasons. There is nothing in there about heat being gained while in 6th gear. I have towed lots of stuff with my truck and I monitor my trans fluid temps while towing. There is no extra heat gained if the truck can tow in 6th gear.

Heat in the trans fluid is gained while towing when you are in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gear. The torque converter does not lock in these gears and the fluid is being used to couple engine and trans sides of the torque converter. I have found 5th and 4th gear to unlock but it takes a lot of pedal finesse to get into these modes. Usually you'll be towing in 4th locked or 3rd unlocked.

I suggest monitoring your trans fluid temps:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ure-pids-for-torque-pro-and-now-apple.513531/