overdrive

I have a manual, but my rule of thumb has always been once I have to use more than half trottle I drop back to 4th and I have never had to overhaul a gearbox(touch wood). Certainly downhill would not be a problem. How heavy is the van?
Cheers Pete

Friends of ours live in Batesman Bay and they have a 2002 T/D Prado and tows a Coromal 18 footer and averages around the 13/14 and always uses overdrive. I was talking to him about it not so long ago after reading things on here just to see what he had to say about it and said so far no issues doesnt even have an extra tranny cooler on it and now has just on 150k on the clock and uses the prado purely for towing the van they have another car for around town so most/virtually all of the klms on the prado have been with the van hooked on. He reckons the transmission is very responsive and will kick down when ever it needs to or will kick out the lock up torque converter first then click back out of O/D if need be. In fact has never even had the transmission serviced and to my surprise is still nice and pink ?? Must admit if mine and was doing all that towing I would have definately had it done but he said is not in service book at all so has never bothered. Luck ?? maybe but so far not one issue but must say he only uses it on road, the van is also not for off road. He also uses cruise control most of the time. Regards Steve M

Have you checked the Owners Handbook for direction on the subject? Have you checked with Toyota for 'their opinion'? Why not call into your 'local' Auto Trans. Service Centre and ask them, they should be able to give you 'the good oil' on which transmissions in your class of vehicle are in the group that they constantly have to re-build because of 'failures'. Worth a try.