Towing - GU Patrol 3.0TD Auto

I personally wouldn't have a prob towing a big tinnie on a trailer (I assume it's a tinnie) as it doen't weighthat much. If the auto is chnging down or hunting all the time because of hills, slow down and turn the OD off. Even if you come to a hill and it doesn't change down, turn the OD off. Usually OD gears are not as stong so it pays to not load them up.
Those 2 stages you talk about is the torque converter locking up and unlocking. If you are cruising in OD and you push the foot down a little you may notice the engine RPM increase but the auto doesn't change down a gear. You push the foot down a little more and it changes back to 3rd.

Leroy

125KPh towing a trailer..... Don't know of anywhere in Oz that that's legal or advisable. Even in NT I beleive that trailers are limited to 100KPH (could stand corrected there)
As far as towing in OD is concerned, I've done many miles towing my camper in OD (D for Drag in the Pajero) on open, flat roads with no problems. I usually change down before hills so engine/tranny doesn't get stressed.

Cheers, John.

Hi H2O

I think that the issues of towing in overdrive don't apply to the auto because you dont drive through a laygear, however heat is the biggest killer of auto gearboxes, so it is better to try to keep the converter locked while towing. This happens around 80 kph weather your in 3rd or 4th gear and it is the converter locking and unlocking that you can feel raising and lowering your revs.
I would drive using 3rd in hilly areas, but use 4th on the flat, and because your patrol has a decent trans cooler in it, you should have no trouble towing in overdrive, but always keep an eye on the trans temp light.

Chaz
http://members.bettanet.net.au/~conody/index.htm

H20,

Click on link below and goto the section "Trucks or Cars Towing with Automatic Overdrive Transmissions"

DRW Transmissions and Auto Care"

In summary:
"If your in OD and the trans is shifting back and forth from 3rd to OD, drop the shifter into 3 to save wear and tear on the fiction elements involved"

Cheers...

I asked Nissan and Toyota this question last year. They both said overheating of transmission AND engine, also wear in auto box are reasons not to do this.

Mine is pushing too hard when trying to stick to 110 when towing my camper (about a ton). I only click into O/D when overtaking at speed.

In a five speed manual, you would be doing 2750 rpm at 110 k/h. But with the auto box only 2250 rpm at 110 k/h. Just a bit too low for me (when towing). But perfect in normal touring out on the open road.

I prefer to stick to about 97 to 100 k/h and sit in 3rd when towing. Even when doing this I still use less fuel than my mate who tows his camper with 4.2 80 series cruiser, and he uses 5th gear whenever he can. Having UHF means we stay in communication, and the added bonus is he's halfway thru fuelling up when I get to the bowser. te he

Also, less chance of a speeding fine and more time to react or stop if any big furry critters jump out in front of me. Common Sense!!