Towing with Landcruiser Automatic

I have a 80ser. auto. mine has a transmission cooler on as standard. Maybe yours has as well. I don't mean the type where a pipe passes through the radiator but a separate radiator of it's own.
I tow a 17' 6" full size caravan and under most circumstances disengage overdrive but if the country is very flat and very little headwind I do engage overdrive and let the gearbox do the thinking

Used good quality oil and fit as big a cooler as you can fit (separate from the radiator) The biggest killer of auto's is heat, it apparantly burnishes the oil and it becomes abrasive which is the last thing you want in an auto. Check the oil regularly and if you detect any colour change dump the oil. I change every 30000 but with heavy towing I would do it more regularly maybe 15 or 20 thou. Oil is cheap compared to box repairs.

Cheers

If you haven't already, then pop over to lcool.org for some more advice from owners. There are regular threads on towing.

David
The 5spd auto as fitted to the Turbo Diesel uses a synthetic oil anyway, DO NOT ever put normal tranmission fluid into it, and the only way to check the oil is from the side fill plug, it has no dipstick.

These boxes are rated for a 3.5t towing load, so you will be 900kg under that.

I think you will find that your car has a proper cooler fitted from the factory. You only have to look to confirm that.

Yes keep an eye on the oil colour periodically, but I think you will find that the transmission is up to the task, assuming the quoted weight is the total loaded weight, and not the tare weight of an empty van.

This I know because I have just fitted that same engine-transmission unit into my car, and have raised all those questions with the experts.

Colin.

Hi David,

I tow an 18.5 foot 2.1 tonne caravan with a 97 mod 80 series auto land cruiser and on the last 6000k holiday I found that the fuel consumption increased whenever I put it into overdrive.

I also slowly, barely noticably, lost speed while towing in overdrive.

Everything I have read and heard suggests "don't do it".

But of course you don't have much to loose but a bit of fuel so if in doubt, when next your out there towing, give it a try for yourself.

See what sort of result you get and then you will be in a position to advise others from your first hand knowledge as well.

Hope to see you on the road some day.
Regards,
Gazal.

Well I tow a 2.8 tonne van in mine and I let it do its thing.

Surely thats what an auto is for.

It changes up or down according to the load on it.

I wouldnt let it lug in o/d up a gradual grade for instance, usually just kick it down and keep it there. The trannys are sealed for life as I understand it.
Also they require a specific oil.

Gday
Toyota design these things pretty good...dont touch it...but do as the owners manual suggests and tow in power mode...this keeps the box out of o/d untill your doing over 100km/hr and foots off....as soon as you put the pedal back down, it will change back....its been designed to work that way and will do so for years to come.
Enjoy
Andrew