Fix the Tow Mode - please - Page 3

milleniamarv · 08-19-2007, 08:45 PM

Towing on Vancouver Island, BC last month noticed trans temp had climbed higher than normal after stopping for gas (ouch!). After clicking tow mode back on, trans temp returned to normal within a few minutes.

PurdueTitan · 08-21-2007, 07:35 PM

I chose the tow in 4 with TM on, but don't think that it does much. I have a late build 04 w/big tow and tow a travel trailer ~ 6500lbs. Not to discredit what some are towing, but towing a travel trailer with the same weight is different because the wind resistance is the major factor at cruise. I would personally like to see a TM setting that works in conjunction with the cruise control, because I have personally given up on using the cruise control while towing unless there is a tail wind. Seems like the cruise lags to much before reacting. I guess that it (cruise)could just be better. The TM could do more also.

Smoke05 · 08-23-2007, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurdueTitan

I chose the tow in 4 with TM on, but don't think that it does much. I have a late build 04 w/big tow and tow a travel trailer ~ 6500lbs. Not to discredit what some are towing, but towing a travel trailer with the same weight is different because the wind resistance is the major factor at cruise. I would personally like to see a TM setting that works in conjunction with the cruise control, because I have personally given up on using the cruise control while towing unless there is a tail wind. Seems like the cruise lags to much before reacting. I guess that it (cruise)could just be better. The TM could do more also.

Not to be a nag, but you shouldn't be towing using cruise control. IIRC the owner's manual states this as well. It can be very dangerous as you have no direct, immediate control over the vehicle

**loufish** · 08-25-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Not to be a nag, but you shouldn't be towing using cruise control. IIRC the owner's manual states this as well. It can be very dangerous as you have no direct, immediate control over the vehicle

Too late...you are a nag!

Towing with CC on is fine as long as traffic isn't too much, just like using CC any other time.
The manual states stuff to keep idiots from sueing them, not everything in there is dangerous...Ok some things are, but not everything!
I tow all the time w/CC on...I kill it when climbing hills and when traffic gets busy...

07cajuntitan · 05-05-2008, 11:29 AM

I chose "I use it, but I don't tow anything real heavy" as this sums it up perfectly for me. I can't feel any changes with it on or off, but I guess it has a purpose - so I use it. My 14' aluminum boat & trailer can't weigh more than 2000#. My estimate was 1500#. I tow in "drive" and do use the cruise control on the interstate & highway.

Truth be known - I haven't even thought to look at the tranny temp gauge - don't even know if I have one. Do they only come on the Titan's that have the big tow package?

**Quartz** · 05-05-2008, 12:32 PM

I have an 06. Before my father died I would tow his restored cars to car shows for him. His favorite was a Studebaker. That car had a lot of steel in it and was solid as a rock (sorry Chevy). Car, trailer, tools, and other assorted stuff usually ran in the 7000 to 8000 Lb range. Now I mostly tow my boat. Total weight of the boat, motor, and trailer is well under 5000 Lbs.

I tow in 4th with the TM on. It gets Africa hot here in the summer but there are no hills. I have never seen my tranny temp gauge go over half way. I never paid much attention to the TC locking up but I will after reading this thread.

BTW, on the one hill around here I can feel my transmission braking when I coast down the hill.

greyfeather · 10-03-2008, 12:33 AM

I have just finished a 9000 mile trip from Colorado to Alaska and return. My 07 CC LE with BT had no trouble with my 5000 pound travel trailer. I played with the Tow Mode on and off for weeks in my 2 month travels, and found that my driving style, and the roads of Canada and Alaska, usually worked best without TM.

Using cruise, I could hold speed and downshift for grades BETTER without TM, and when without cruise, I found the TM would NOT upshift at the top of a grade for the LONGEST time..... I finally gave up on the idea and went to no-TM, using the manual 4-5 shift to let me think I was contributing to the speed management (empty roads can be boring).

There was no road situation where I found Tow Mode to be clearly helpful.

What have I missed?? Early on, I was disappointed that I had to re-set TM as active each time I started the engine. Later, I came to realize that was probably a good thing.

Steamguy · 10-03-2008, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyfeather

I have just finished a 9000 mile trip from Colorado to Alaska and return. My 07 CC LE with BT had no trouble with my 5000 pound travel trailer. I played with the Tow Mode on and off for weeks in my 2 month travels, and found that my driving style, and the roads of Canada and Alaska, usually worked best without TM.

Using cruise, I could hold speed and downshift for grades BETTER without TM, and when without cruise, I found the TM would NOT upshift at the top of a grade for the LONGEST time..... I finally gave up on the idea and went to no-TM, using the manual 4-5 shift to let me think I was contributing to the speed management (empty roads can be boring).

There was no road situation where I found Tow Mode to be clearly helpful.

What have I missed?? Early on, I was disappointed that I had to re-set TM as active each time I started the engine. Later, I came to realize that was probably a good thing.

You found, like I did, that it really doesn't do much for cruising. I believe that Nissan changed the firmware to allow the torque converter to lock when using Tow Mode. The only thing I've found it to be good for is when you're towing light at low speed like in a traffic jam and you want the engine speeds to be higher to keep things cooler.

You haven't missed a thing. Towing in 4, you can do better at managing the engine speed yourself.

HRTKD · 10-03-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyfeather

I found the TM would NOT upshift at the top of a grade for the LONGEST time

I have this problem without TM going up long mountain hills.

Where in Colorado are you at?

greyfeather · 10-04-2008, 03:31 PM

HRTKD, my Colorado location is out in the 'buffalo country', the rolling plains of Elbert County. SouthEast of Denver. I also spend time in North Texas, and am presently near "Big D".

HRTKD · 10-04-2008, 04:58 PM

Cool, I cruise through the teeming metropolis of Elbert a few times a year on my way to the Boy Scout camp just South of there. I'll honk at every Titan in Elbert County and eventually you'll be one of them.

Since I'm more Colorado-centric than Texas-centric (native of CO but lived in Houston for 13 years) is Big D for Denver?

greyfeather · 10-04-2008, 11:16 PM

Spoken like a good Colorado guy.....

No, there's only one Big D that I know about, and that's Dallas (Texas, of course....)

**loufish** · 10-05-2008, 10:38 AM

Quote:

There was no road situation where I found Tow Mode to be clearly helpful.

That's the bottom line for most Titan owners....It's so "weak" it's practically useless...