towing in 5th gear
Submitted: Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 08:20
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Member - dennis&evelyn Z (TAS)
I am towing a 14ft 1400 kg van, that i have only had for few weeks with a 1hd fte troopy. i am getting mixed advice with regard to towing, I tow in 4th gear but a number of opinions is that i can tow in 5th.I have tried towing in 5th and it seems to be no problem, what is the experience out there?
thanks, dz
Reply By: Notso - Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 08:27
Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 08:27
I was advised by the RAC that it was inadvisable to tow in Overdrive 5th in these types of Boxes. Nissan Toyota etc.
Nissan told me it was OK to tow in 5th and the box stripped the spline on Top Gear at about 45,000. Friend with a toyota and a lot heavier van than yours had his box rebuilt three times because he refused to tow in 4th because Toyota said it was fine to tow in 5th.
So who knows, I know a lot of people with Toyotas and Nissans who have towed in 5th with no problems. I now tow in 4th and the difference in fuel economy is closer than a bee's whisker.
AnswerID:
349822
Follow Up By: Member - Taipo (VIC) - Friday, Feb 20, 2009 at 19:29
Friday, Feb 20, 2009 at 19:29
What yr Patrol?
FollowupID:
618440
Follow Up By: Notso - Friday, Feb 20, 2009 at 19:59
Friday, Feb 20, 2009 at 19:59
2000 3.00litre,
This model had a bigger problem than most with the gearbox.
Nissan bought out a fix for it in about november 2002 I think. But I have heard of others with the problem built since then. Not first hand though!
FollowupID:
618445
Reply By: bockstar1 - Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 11:26
Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 11:26
Running a Mazda Tribute, 4 speed Auto with a Challenge C/T.
We got close to killing the gearbox in our car recently. It was on day 2 of a Red Centre trip. Found tranmission fluid sprayed from the front of car to the back and onto the front section of the C/T.
Fixed in
Broken Hill at the BP. They installed a second cooling unit and replaced the (very black and burnt) transmission fluid.
For the rest of the trip and in subsequent trips with the C/T, we always drive with the O/D off and no cruise control!!
With towing the C/T, at the slightest whiff of an incline, the car is going back to 3rd pretty consistently. Less of an issue in the outback but heading out of
Sydney over the Range and through the towns out west, the gearbox is doing a lot of work.
Cheers.
AnswerID:
349862
Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 12:25
Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 12:25
Hi All
When we tow the Van, I disengage the Overdrive,and push the
Power Button on, which is written in the Manual, no problems at
all, might use a bit more diesel which is insignificant in the whole
scheme of things.
Cheers
Daza
AnswerID:
349869
Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Feb 20, 2009 at 00:12
Friday, Feb 20, 2009 at 00:12
Daza
In your case, I wouldn't Had thought it to be as mush a problem, assuming you have an auto?
I would have thought the converter would have taken up any overload and transfered it into heat, as in oil temp?
Regards
Richard
I not questioning what you have stated just a thorght...
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Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Friday, Feb 20, 2009 at 00:37
Friday, Feb 20, 2009 at 00:37
much a problem
FollowupID:
618300
Reply By: Flywest - Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 14:52
Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 14:52
3 new gearboxes in the ol bitsamissing triton 4x4 2.5TD eventually convinced me!
I don't think any of them were under $3K
If you look inside the gearbox and see where the O/drive lay shaft is out tio the side and the tiny needle roller bearings that support it - then you woiuld understand and never tow in 5th.
One of the supposed 'fixes' for that particular box back in the day was to have the alloy box housing mounted up in a lathe and the bearing races for the OD lay shaft at each end turned out to take a larger bearing race with ball bearings rather than pins...
450,000km's and the last repaired box is still going strong - a new owner has it now - hopefully it won't et him down!
Cheers
AnswerID:
349884
Reply By: kend88 - Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 20:29
Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 at 20:29
Agree with all those against towing in OD. Apparently it's not only the transmission/gearbox which will suffer, but also the motor.
A free revving motor will last a lot longer than one which is straining in lower revs. Particularly for petrol motors.
Fuel consumption is much the same and it's a much more pleasant trip if you are not constantly having to worry about changing up and down at every
hill or head wind. Just turn the radio up a bit if you don't like the higher revving sound of the motor. Better for the motor/transmission and the wallet.
Ken D
Bris
AnswerID:
349934