Real world towing experience

I know what the manual says. I also know people often don't follow the manual. Looking for any real world experience towing a 3500 lb boat and trailer. Fuel mileage? Anyonone not using D5 and using just drive? If so, how has it worked? Any issues?
Once again, real world experience, not "just follow the manual", please.

 

Hundreds of tows in Tacomas. All weights. Sweet spot is 3K. 5K it does not like much. 6.5K it really does not like.
I use ECT mode. Works fine.
Gas mileage is proportional to trailer weight and size. Start at 20 mpg empty. 4K with a bigger trailer is about 12 mpg. You should know that every drive and driver is different so expect different results.
This is real world. And, I follow the manual. It knows more than I do.

 

This for your 07? if so you should migrate to the second gen section.
If it is for a 3rd gen here is this.https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ays-of-towing-5-600-lbs.774588/#post-27683589

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/search/15980025/?q=Towing&t=post&o=date&g=1&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=186

 

No need for s-mode unless descending mountains. ECT emulates better how I shift with my 6mt when towing.

 

Yep.

 

As long as it's not hunting between gears. If it starts hunting, then use s mode to prevent the hunting.

 

S4, ECT, watch the SCII temps, and enjoy the ride.
Also keep right and give yourself lots of room to stop.
5000lb 19ft Hideout camping around BC..

 

Why get upset if your automatic transmission shifts for you? That’s why you bought one, yes?

 

hunting when towing makes trans fluid temp spike, its not good for the fluid.

 

Do you have evidence that this is a problem?

 

Do you mean is high fluid temp a problem?

 

You can watch it happen if you monitor TFT1 and TFT2 temps with a scangauge.

 

Do you have evidence that this decreases transmission life more than allowing the transmission shift for you?

 

i towed a 6X12 Uhaul trailer across the US two months ago. Weighed in at about 6k. Mileage went to 10-12 usually. Sometimes as good as 15 if the winds were favorable and I was on flat road. I also had my truck at its max with about 1200 pounds of stuff and animals and a human in it. I used ECT and on the long hauls through the Sierras and the Rockies I used S mode more than a lot for the uphills. I was more worried about time than I was fuel consumed so I stayed as close to the speed limit as possible.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=hig...&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&safe=active&ssui=on

 

You’ve clearly not driven with a load on a long uphill grade while the damned thing switches gears every 7 seconds.

 

And the earth is flat.

 

Then you should know how annoying it is for it to shift every 7 seconds of all people.

 

You would understand if you had an auto.