How do you tow using the 6speed automatic transmission in my 2023 Tacoma?

There’s no O/D lock out button on shifter like my 2001. How are you supposed to use automatic when towing? Can you keep it out of 5 & 6 by using S mode? WTD?

 

Yup, sport 4, ect on. Depends on load and grade. It's in the manual.

 

Yes S mode, also I believe there’s an explanation in the owner’s manual.

 

What he said.

 

Depends what load your towing whether you leave it in S4, or S5. Found using S5 for towing anything around 2k lbs works well for me. I won't use ECT unless your towing something really heavy up a good grade.....my truck just doesn't like it for what i tow here.

 

I am hoping the truck gets to dealer before Christmas so I will finally have a truck. Already sold my 2001.

 

Already missing my 2001.

 

Most of the electronics stuff I will never use, like the crawling mode. My thoughts are that it’s just something to cost you down the line when it goes haywire.

 

I’m in deer and antelope territory, sometimes early in the morning when they’re active. Need a bull bumper with winch. I am told that the emblem middle of grill on front is the sonar for cruise control.

how much field of view does that thing need to not be blocked by bumper rail I put on?

 

As long as you are clear of it by an inch or so above and below, you should be fine. This is not based on any real documented specs, just my experience with a bumper that partially obstructed it. With a partial obstruction, it would work most of the time but occasionally give an error.

 

Like your name “ TenBears” !!

 

My bad, I thought it was ten bears. I didn’t have my glasses on.

 

holy smokes, you replied to your own thread 6 times without one comment or question, you must be trying to get that post count up.

 

OP - I just did a bunch of towing. S4 was the sweet spot for most of it. S3 for some of the uphill work did great, too. S5 was a little "boggy" for the truck.

I have a tune, so no ECT talk from me.

 

You must be towing up some good grades with something bigger then i normally tow if S5 is boggy. I hardly used S4 let alone S3. Most of the time i'm towing less than 1600 ibs.....2200 max.

 

LOL, no problem. Ten bears or ten beers, both can be dangerous.

 

I tow a 3,500 lb basecamp trailer. Added weight over stock include sliders, Full skids, Steel front bumper and winch, Small toolbox and generally 5 gal water, 5 gal fuel. Stock gears and 265/75R16 Duratrac tires. So far 12,000 mi on the trailer out of 30,000 on the truck. On flat ground at 60 mph I can pull in S5, slight hills it will drop to S4 and I'll hold it there until it flattens out. Longer steeper grades it will drop to S3 and I'll hold it there until I think it can pull it in S4. I have used S2 at the end of some long steep grades for a short time to maintain 60mph at 5,200 RPM It is a bit loud but the truck doesn't flinch. Watch your trans temps when the torque converter isn't locked up, 1, 2 , and 3 do not lock. Also the truck will unlock in 4,5, and 6 if it wants a little more out of that gear. I use OBD Fusion and a OBDII bluetooth dongle to monitor temps, gear, lockup status etc.. while towing. I added a second trans fluid cooler to keep the temps down on those longer grades. Temps with the cooler hover around 170-175 on flat ground in S4 or S5 TQ locked. On a long steep grade on a hot day I have seen TQ converter temps reach 220 for a minute or two near the top and then drop back down below 200 once it can shift back to S4 and lock up.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-tacoma-towing-bible.4031/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-transmission-cooler-upgrade.482280/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...l-toyotas-write-up-with-many-pictures.526283/

 

I’m thinking that this transmission could let you smoke it in s mode?

 

Not to thread jack, but how do you like that Basecamp?

 

Thinking I need a good way to watch transmission temperature.