Whats pulling your RPod

With our Ford Escape, I found that using the S (Sport) mode instead of the D (Drive) mode helped greatly. The S mode locks out the highest gear, but overall, it seems to result in better, not worse mileage when coupled with limiting the top speed to 60 mph and installing the PurpleLineUSA's AeroPlus. If I have not posted pictures here, then I have in my mods pages linked below.

We also got back Saturday from an even longer trip. While the Escape performed well for the most part, it struggled on a few uphill sections. The worst was trying to get up to the northern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was a Virginia Scenic Byway that was uphill with no flat spots and lots of curves. I had no problems whatsoever on the Interstates. However, it did cause me to think that it would be nice to get something with a Diesel engine.

Love the Eastern Sierra especially Mammoth. Often camped at Cold Water Campground near Twin Lakes. Sherwin Grade on Highway 395 just past Bishop must be 6%. Tioga Pass is a good one to. 

We purchased our 180 in the spring to pull behind our 2011 grand Cherokee. We average between 13-14 mpg. most of that local. We ended up towing long trips with our 2005 ram 2500 diesel as you don't even know its back there. We are getting 14.6 mpg at 70 mph in both mountains and flat lands. Both have factory tow packages.

 Since the transmission cooler is usually built into the radiator, you can  use the coolant temperature gauge as a good reference for the transmission temps. But the transmission temps can spike rapidly on a downshift when towing, uphill, under higher engine RPMs.  When those temps are kept in that high range for extended periods, it breaks down the transmission fluid.

2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and 2016 182G. After market Reese  tow kit rated to 3500 lbs with P2 brake control. I think factory installed tow package is up to 5000 because they add transmission cooler, etc.  But my set up seems to work pretty well with just a sway bar and bake control. Mileage drops from 28 to 12.5 on mostly flat SC interstates at 65 mph.  With front and rear AC working and 97+ temps, the engine didn't get any hotter than normal on the temp gauge. But the engine temp gauge probably doesn't measure transmission temp. Is there anyway to monitor that considering I don't have the transmission cooler? And I read somewhere that there was some brand of transmission fluid I could use that would work better with heavy tow loads, but can't remember what it was. Does anyone have advice for towing mods with a vehicle that is close to its max weight? We will mostly tow local in SC/NC but will occasionally go to the higher east coast elevations when we have more time to travel.