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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Pushing The Limits On Tow Vehicles
    Posted: 26 Sep 2016 at 8:09pm
Yep. I love cruise control. But when people are not paying attention and dawdling along below the speed limit for no good reason it is annoying.
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Sep 2016 at 5:38pm
It amazes me how many people do that on any given day and not just while towing. Even better is when they sit there blocking the left lane for miles and then speed up when you pass them on the right.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Sep 2016 at 9:04pm
Originally posted by Q7-retired

Toolman John, I have the Audi version of your TV.  What kind of mpg do you get at 65mph?  I run 14-17mpg at 60mph, depending on how many hills, but always feel like truckers think i'm a speed bump.  Would tow faster if the mpg didn't degrade too far ...

Thanks!

 I am getting a solid 15 mpg average towing at 65mph (cruise set) , 240 miles each way to Vermont. I just completed the trip again this weekend, and it is the same. I have decided to drive the speed limit int he right lane 100% of the time. The only time I pass is when there are people who drive under the limit for MILES, 55-60mph in the 65mph.  That annoys me. they are fine while left lane traffic blows by at 65-70mph, and when I attempt to pass when all is clear, they speed up to prevent a safe pass???...I surprise them, the Touareg can easily jump to 80mph in blink downhill when towing.

 On another note, one of my biking buddies has a 2004 4Runner V6, 5 speed. He tows an older T@B trailer doing the same trip to Vermont as me. He needs a new rear differential to the tune of $3000... During the biking trip the weekend, I was in his truck and it sounds bad. He passed me on the way home today with the T@B in tow on I91 south in Vermont at about 70mph... That poor differential.
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kent l View Drop Down
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Posts: 17 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Sep 2016 at 6:45pm
I am towing with a Jeep Wrangler 2012 with the 3.6 six cylinder with 285 hp. I have pulled it all over the mountains in Wyoming and Utah. I can pull it at 65 with no problems on the freeway and the two lane highways. If I go to 70 plus the frontal area of the trailer kicks in and it gets harder to pull ( gas mileage goes down). I I pull on mountain passes I have to go slower. Mountain passes with over 10 percent grade keep the speed down to 45 but that is just normal. I have pulled this trailer over passes of 10,500 feet. I have an anderson hitch the keeps the sway to a minimum and also distributes the weight to the front of the Jeep.
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Q7-retired View Drop Down
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Posts: 100 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 1:55pm
Toolman John, I have the Audi version of your TV.  What kind of mpg do you get at 65mph?  I run 14-17mpg at 60mph, depending on how many hills, but always feel like truckers think i'm a speed bump.  Would tow faster if the mpg didn't degrade too far ...

Thanks!
Best regards, Jim
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ToolmanJohn View Drop Down
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Posts: 451 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Sep 2016 at 7:33am
NWRPodder  For example going over the Oregon Coast range that I would not consider a real steep grade when I hit a hill I need to push my RPMs up to 3400 to 3800 just to stay in the 50 to 54 mph range. Above 54/55 mph is not an option as I am already pushing hard on the pedal just to stay in the 50's. If I want to keep it sub 3000 RPM then I am doing like 45 to 49 mph getting a long string of cars behind me on the single lanes.

 There's nothing wrong with the 4Runner. You will have to modify your expectations.

Your experience is a carbon copy of my own. I owned a 2003 4Runner and I also was not impressed with it's towing capability. I had a Starcraft 17RD , which made the 4runner work (in third gear!!) on the highway. I bought an R-Pod thinking the shape would make it easier to tow (and I wanted a bigger fresh and gray tank) but I was wrong, the Pod towed the same behind the 4Runner.

 I did install a transmission cooler soon after buying the R-Pod, I bought a BlueTooth OBD scanner and used the app Torque to monitor max RPM, trans temp, oil temp. After a year of towing, I decided my 10 year old 4Runner was due for a change, and I bought my current vehicle, a diesel SUV.

Totally different towing experience. Strong, no struggling up grades at 65mph at all, stays in 8th (!) gear on the flats and rarely shifts down to 6th except on very steep pulls, and the speed limit on those stretches is usually 55mph anyway.

 I thought about getting the V8 4Runner, and also the Lexus GX470/460 V8. But the torque ratings on most V8's are still less than my diesel (406ft-lb). Makes all the difference.
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NWRPodder View Drop Down
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Posts: 18 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 11:23pm
StephenH and techtrek, those are great ideas to monitor transmission. I found one that will work with iPhone that I think I will pick up called BlueDriver. I still may get a transmission cooler yet won't worry about that until next year now that fall is coming.

Mojave1, real interesting to know you had a huge change in pulling power rebuilding your engine. My 4Runner as 120k which doesn't feel like a lot but I am learning that may be a lot for towing. Will move to higher octane gas to start with and see what difference that makes. I know the prior owner said it ran better with higher grade and of course I said I don't need to do that. Now I think I do.
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 8:17pm
Add the tranny cooler, you can never cool a transmission too much (in the summer).

StephenH mentioned the OBDII tool.  Another (more expensive) option that I use is the Aeroforce Interceptor.  Great to keep an eye on things like transmission slip, actual oil temp, current gear, etc.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Mojave1 View Drop Down
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Posts: 33 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 6:15pm
Have you a lot of miles on the 4 Runner?

I've a 1994 Chevy 5.7L Pickup. Torque is stated as 300 foot pounds. With 132,000 miles on it, it struggled to pull a 2400 Lbs trailer up grades. I had changed the oil every 3,000 miles. Truck ran like a top. Just wouldn't pull... A 10% grade was almost impossible. I surmised that my cylinders weren't sealing like a new engine - loss of power under load. I rebuilt the engine - rings, piston, valves, etc. The rebuild made a night and day difference. 
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Posts: 6465 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 1:01pm
Originally posted by NWRPodder

Thank you JHoffman and techntrek, that feedback is really good and appreciated.

I might look into getting a tranny temp gauge installed before doing real long trips with many hills. I have seen mixed comments elsewhere about a tranny cooling system but seems like the best approach is a gauge to simply monitor it.

I didn't even think of the type of fuel. I normally just get regular unleaded. I will spring for premium or plus next time and see what that does. I would rather pay a little extra at the pump for a little better performance when pulling. Good advice.

Don't bother with a tranny temp gauge. Get an OBDII reader such as the BAFX Products 35t5 Bluetooth OBDII Scan Tool for Android Devices. This is the one I have. I use it in conjunction with the Torque application on my phone. Tablets work also. It will give you much more than just a tranny temp.
StephenH
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