How are you supposed to drive uphill?

I'd like to ride with some of you manual guys up a 8% grade in 5th gear and see what happens if you want to speed up. 100% certain you are gonna downshift, just like the auto...

I drove over the Appalachians a few weeks ago with my trailer and the dead peddle was my only complaint. That's not an auto problem, it's a drive by wire problem. The problem with the auto is it doesn't immediately kick down and then when it does it really kicks down. The manual certainly has the advantage there. Limiting the auto using S mode largely fixes the issue.

 

This V6 with its variable valve timing likes to rev, so git the pedal to the carpet in S Mode!

 

What speed you thinking Dangle?

In 5th at 70mph I'm at 2900rpm. If I'm not loaded it zips right up the hill.

Don't forget how low geared the transmission AND rear end are.

 

Manual transmission is better for everything except sipping coffee on the way to work...

 

I wasn't referring to your post when I posted mine, we just happened to use the same speed lol.
I am just thinking back on my trip over the mountains pulling a trailer, but unloaded on flat ground I don't think either truck need downshifted if you roll into the throttle at that RPM. The manual does have the advantage of being a whole gear (virtually) lower than the auto though. That's why S mode works so well, but so few people use it for some reason.

 

Yeah, no. I'm 4th on hills. All day.

 

It wasn't called S mode in the 2nd gens, but in my 2011 SR5 AT driving around the Black Hills or the Appalachians I'd drop it into 4th and leave it. When my wife took over driving and we started up a hill I pushed the knob over to 4 she was perplexed.

On the flip side, everytime shes in my 2017 she acts like 6th doesn't exist... weird.

 

Whatever works for you, dude.

 

ovtune and 4.88's next big mod

 

100% accurate. I do 4th on real hills. Maybe 5th on highway hills. I've dropped to 3rd with the boat under 10+ no issues. But I've never had power issues.

 

So I went on the highway again today and using S5 with ECT and it was a huge improvement. I tried S4 briefly but it felt like overkill. Locking out 6th was all I needed to do it seems.

Crazy how simple that was. 6th gear is kinda useless I guess unless you're driving in Saskatchewan or some really long flat road.

 

Pretty much.

 

Long long road with a slight downhill grade!

 

I used to put my '15 4.0 auto in the 4 position on long grades and in the mountains, doesn't seem like much has changed to be honest...you're locking out 5th and 6th instead of just 5th. And 6th is just a fuel mileage gear for fairly level highway cruising as far as I'm concerned, auto or manual.

People seem obsessed with not revving engines, I don't get it. It's better to let the thing rev a little and be in the powerband than lug the things around. I drive my truck and Harley the same way, I don't bother with 6th gear until I'm doing at least 65-70 mph and just cruising along.

I'm pretty happy with the 3.5 6MT combo, the way I see it is if I have to be thinking about what gear I'm in all the time anyway I might as well have the fun of a clutch and stickshift. Plus nobody asks to borrow it. Double win!

 

Have a 4.0 auto and recently took a trip over labor day through some pretty steep grades. I kept it in overdrive the whole time and I did not like all the searching it was doing. Found this thread so now I will try putting it into the 4th position when climbing up steep grades at highway speeds (65-70 mph). My question is, after the climb is done, do you all put it back to overdrive for the flat/down grades or just keep it in 4th until you are free and clear of grades?

 

This!! I totally feel you.

 

I don't mind high rpm driving. Drove an Integra gsr for 5 years so very much used to it. 3200-3400 rpm feels similar to VTEC from the B18 Honda motor. Let it rip.....

 

If back on flat road, go back to D. As long as the tranny isn't hunting or you find you can't keep you speed under control without constantly braking, D is fine. For downgrades use whichever lower gear gives you enough engine braking to avoid having to keep mashing the brakes over and over. For upgrades use whatever lower gear keeps you in the powerband and avoids gear hunting. With my 2016 (3.5L 6AT), I will often ascend and descend the local canyons where speed limit is 35-45 in S3. With my old 4th Gen 4Runner (4.0L 4AT), those same canyon roads would likely have me limiting the tranny to 2nd or 3rd gear all the way up and back down. If climbing and the tranny keeps having to downshift, your allowed top gear is too tall, drop it down one and see how it does. If going downhill and you find your speed is not being controlled by the engine and you have to keep hitting the brakes, same deal. Drop down a gear and see if it improves. On really steep downgrades you will find that engine breaking alone will not be able to keep your speed under control without risk of overrevving and will have to periodically use the brakes to slow your momentum.

 

With your foot on the gas

 

i typically like to speed up before i hit a hill and let it lose a little speed. Thats how i drive up hill. I also like to slow down before i reach the stop sign so i dont have to slam on the brakes. Im pretty good at driving