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Towing 4,000lbs on steep grades

Discussion in 'Towing' started by dcgarcia5, Nov 9, 2020.

  1. Nov 9, 2020 at 12:24 PM
    #1
    dcgarcia5

    dcgarcia5 [OP] New Member

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    I am moving to CA from CO and towing a ~4,000lbs trailer. I'll be taking I-70 and it's got lots of steep grades, I believe 7% in some stretches. Should I be worried about the strain on the vehicle? Should I look into driving an additional 200miles by going thru NM instead?
     
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  2. Nov 9, 2020 at 12:59 PM
    #2
    Mtbpsych

    Mtbpsych New Member

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    I know a guy who has 35’s, not regeared, and is frequently in the mount Shasta area of California towing a 4000lb trailer on the steep grades of I5. You should be good especially if your rig is stock.
     
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  3. Nov 9, 2020 at 1:02 PM
    #3
    Dark Knight

    Dark Knight Get off my lawn

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    Drop it in S4 and let’r eat.
     
  4. Nov 9, 2020 at 1:42 PM
    #4
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    Keep it in S4 and drop to S3 when it starts struggling. Keep the speed down, and expect terrible mileage. Don't use cruise control. You'll be fine.
     
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  5. Nov 9, 2020 at 2:45 PM
    #5
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

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    What James said, and you will probably see some strong winds.
     
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  6. Nov 9, 2020 at 2:46 PM
    #6
    fajitas21

    fajitas21 New Member

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    I towed in CO this September, but only was towing about 2000 lbs. You'll need 3rd gear, but other than some higher RPMs, it's fine. I've run the truck at 3000 RPMs for hours and I'm not worried about it, it would occasionally get up to 3500 RPM, but not sustained, just up the big hills.

    The one thing I'd worry about was if your trailer has brakes.
     
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  7. Nov 9, 2020 at 2:50 PM
    #7
    ThePnsh3r

    ThePnsh3r New Member

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    Indeed - be more worried about downhill than going up. Make sure trailer has brakes and be sure to maximize engine braking to prevent the brakes from fading and your brake fluid boiling.
    And in general - take it easy. Drive to arrive :)
     
  8. Nov 9, 2020 at 2:53 PM
    #8
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    Good call! I didn't think of that one.

    That's another reason to tow in S-mode. Even without a trailer, I use S-mode to engine brake on steep descents.
     
  9. Nov 9, 2020 at 3:13 PM
    #9
    dcgarcia5

    dcgarcia5 [OP] New Member

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    Thanks for the advice! It's a u-haul trailer, so hopefully the brakes work!! Can I tow with cruise control once the grades are gone?
     
  10. Nov 9, 2020 at 3:18 PM
    #10
    Dark Knight

    Dark Knight Get off my lawn

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    I’d keep it in s4 to keep trans temps down.
     
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  11. Nov 9, 2020 at 10:32 PM
    #11
    MountainMan

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    I tow 3000 lbs with mine all the time in the summer, and there is nothing but hills and mountains around here. The 4Runner does great and I keep it in S4 most of the time. The most critical thing you can do will be to make sure the load is distributed properly. You don't want too much wait to the rear or to the front of the trailer. You basically want a 60/40 split towards the front. It can drastically change how the trailer tracks and turn what should be an easy tow into a powder keg waiting to get control of your vehicle. Especially if there are high winds involved.

     
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  12. Nov 9, 2020 at 11:12 PM
    #12
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    Yes, and keep it in S4. But if there’s lots of continued gear hunting, turn off the cruise and use your foot.
     
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  13. Nov 10, 2020 at 12:09 PM
    #13
    mac1usa

    mac1usa New Member

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    Guys, sorry if this is dumb question but what is S4? I was looking a buying a new 4R to tow my 3,300 lb boat/trailer etc fishing. I am Michigan near Detroit so no major hills out west. I have never had a 4Runner not familiar with S4 term? Any advice?
     
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  14. Nov 10, 2020 at 12:20 PM
    #14
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    Referring to "sport mode" driving. I use it to keep the truck in a lower gear when towing and off-roading.
     
  15. Nov 10, 2020 at 12:21 PM
    #15
    MountainMan

    MountainMan New Member

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    You have two modes on the shifter; Sport and Drive. When the shifter is clicked over to the left in "S" mode, you can manually select the gear by pressing forward for higher gears, or back for lower gears. So S4 is simply the shifter over to the left in "S" mode and in 4th gear.

    [​IMG]
     
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  16. Nov 10, 2020 at 1:08 PM
    #16
    mac1usa

    mac1usa New Member

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    Mountain Man thank you for the picture now I understand what you are referring to. What is everyone's advice about just using regular drive if you are towing on flat terrain at sea level? I am asking these questions as I normally towed with a body on frame Explorer and simply put it in drive (occasionally 4WD at a slippery boat ramp)
     
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  17. Nov 10, 2020 at 1:26 PM
    #17
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    I usually leave it in S4 while towing, and bump it up to S5 on a descent or if I'm on a flat stretch without an incline. If the motor starts to struggle, I'll drop it back to S4.

    S5 is the same as overdrive, except that I believe it adjusts the shift points a bit higher. It's also easier to drop to S4 or S3 if needed.
     
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  18. Nov 10, 2020 at 2:12 PM
    #18
    mac1usa

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    A&P Kevin==thats good to hear your boat has to much heavier than mine being fiberglass plus an I/O; Mine is a 18ft Crestliner aluminum boat with 115 Merc.
     
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  19. Nov 10, 2020 at 5:29 PM
    #19
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    S-modes are just a gear limiter. S5 allows all gears. S4 will lock out S5. S3 will lock out S4 and S5, etc.

    You can tow with any of them, but the drivers manual does recommend S4 for towing so as not to overtax the trans.
     
  20. Nov 10, 2020 at 5:38 PM
    #20
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    ^^^this. Our 4runners do not have a trans cooler, so I try to make it easy on the transmission.

    It's also just nice not having the transmission downshift every 10 seconds.
     
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  21. Nov 11, 2020 at 9:56 AM
    #21
    mac1usa

    mac1usa New Member

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    Thanks guys. Yes I remember when I got my Explorer I ordered with a tow package option which included a transmission cooler, a 3.73 rear axle, a large battery and a few other options I cannot remember.

    I see that the 4Runner has this new SAE tow rating supposedly ahead of other manufacturers. It seems the only manufacturers offering tow options are the domestics that I have see with pickup trucks.

    I was selecting the 4Runner based on its full frame, reputation, and 5,000lb capacity. It seems to be very similar with the 4.0 Engine and 3.73 rear axle to my old body on frame Explorer. I have a buddy with a new Explorer and he hates the fact it is not a full frame. He said his boat pushes his new Explorer around despite its towing capacity. I have read many times that the full frame makes a difference. There are not lot options out there for outside of pickup trucks anymore
     
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  22. Nov 11, 2020 at 4:31 PM
    #22
    mrmike7189

    mrmike7189 New Member

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    yes , 2010 was the last year of the body on frame Explorer. I had one. The new explorer sux. why I got the 4 runner. much better SUV.
     
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  23. Nov 11, 2020 at 8:41 PM
    #23
    Agent_Outside

    Agent_Outside A Guy A Girl and A Trail

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    FYI it’s sequential mode, all it does is limit the highest gear it will upshift into. It does not change the dynamics of how it drives and there is no sport mode.

    6F470C2C-232F-4D9F-9DF4-1C912042ADE2.jpg
     
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  24. Nov 11, 2020 at 10:54 PM
    #24
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    Just a small addition to what you said... I think regular D mode “learns” your driving habits. And “maps” shifting patterns/throttle response based on how you personally drive the vehicle.

    In S5, this adjustment (so to speak) isn’t employed. So, S5 and D are actually slightly different.

    This is how the Tacoma works, and I assume it’s the same with the 4runner. Can anyone confirm?
     
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  25. Nov 12, 2020 at 12:00 AM
    #25
    MountainMan

    MountainMan New Member

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    Almost forgot to add... Stop voting for the same idiots with a "D" next to their name or else you will get the same crap hole you are moving from...
     
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  26. Nov 12, 2020 at 4:38 AM
    #26
    Thatbassguy

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    Thank you for pointing that out!

    I knew that it didn't upshift the transmission, but I didn't know they called it sequential mode. I suppose that makes more sense, as using the word "sport" to describe anything about the 4runner is just plain funny.
     
  27. Nov 12, 2020 at 5:59 AM
    #27
    mac1usa

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    Thanks guys! That explanation is helpful. I know I have seen cars with the manual shifting capabilities and thought the same obviously the 4Runner is not meant to be a fast car. This logic makes sense. I think for my purposes particularly towing on flat terrain in Michigan I would think normal Drive would be fine (I hope).
     
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  28. Nov 12, 2020 at 6:04 AM
    #28
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    I would still recommend S4 as that's what the manual recommends. Also, it won't affect your mileage because it will downshift a lot in overdrive, which ends up worse than just leaving it in 4th sometimes.
     
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  29. Nov 12, 2020 at 6:32 AM
    #29
    mac1usa

    mac1usa New Member

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    That bass guy, so maybe this is a dumb question, but if you use S4 do you work your way from 1st,2nd,3rd gear while getting up to speed? In other words, if I am driving on 35-50mph road am I essentially driving it as though I have a manual transmission? Or do you just put in it in S4 for all towing speeds?
     
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  30. Nov 12, 2020 at 9:52 AM
    #30
    Thatbassguy

    Thatbassguy New member? Really??

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    No, S mode only limits the gear the transmission will go into. In S4, it drives like normal. It just won't go into 5th gear (overdrive).

    I will bump it into 5th in flat areas and downhill. Then I drop it back to 4 or even 3 when it starts to struggle.
     
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