Not a lot if you're towing heavy

Anybody know what the tow mode is suppose to do ? I don't see any differance.

Cougar,

I've tried it all different kinds of ways, and here is my humble opinion:

It changes the shift points in D if you're towing something fairly light.

You want to tow in Manual 4 if you're towing something heavy. Period. Towing in 4 is a delight. Smooth operation, the truck will out-tow even Powersmoke trucks. The truck is a delight to tow with when you tow in Manual 4.

Now then:
What it SHOULD do is change the shift points in D, plus keep the tranny from hunting. We tow a 6800# Arctic Fox travel trailer and if you're in D, the trans will act as a 'hill-finder' and shift constantly back and forth between 5 and 3. What it does is wait until the engine bogs past the range of 4 then goes directly to 3 (or 2 -eeek!) until it gets enough speed to shift up.

I would GLADLY go into the dealer for a memory flash to fix this.

Hello, Nissan, are you listening?

 

I think it disables the torque converter lockup, which helps keep the transmission from hunting.

 

The tow mode changes the shift points but only by a very small amount, not really noticeable. See the attched for the difference between modes.

 

Where in the owners manual does it say to tow in 4 rather than D?

 

I use 4th and tow mode. I want to hold the gears a little longer and lock out overdrive.

 

This is all that I have ever found from pg 9-31 of the owner's manual. (Online version)

c To maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
overdrive.
c Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the
brakes to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency.
c Increase your following distance to allow for
greater stopping distances while towing a
trailer. Anticipate stops and brake gradually
c Do not use cruise control while towing a
trailer.
c Some states or provinces have specific
speed limits for vehicles that are towing trailers.
Obey the local speed limits.
c Check your hitch, trailer wiring harness connections,
and trailer wheel lug nuts after 50
miles (80 km) of travel and at every break.
c When stopped in traffic for long periods of
time in hot weather, put the vehicle in the P
(Park) position.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more frequently.
For additional information, see the
ìMaintenance and do-it-yourselfî section
earlier in this manual.
Tow mode
Tow mode should be used when pulling a heavy
trailer or hauling a heavy load. Press the tow
button to activate the tow mode. The tow indicator
in the instrument panel illuminates when the
tow mode is selected. Press the Tow button
again to turn the tow mode OFF. The Tow mode is
automatically cancelled when the key is turned
OFF.
The Tow mode does the following:
c Reduces transmissions shifts when pulling a
trailer or hauling a load.
c Provides similar shift feel to driver when the
vehicle is towing.
The Tow mode should be used when the vehicle
and trailer weight is at least 75% of the vehicleís
GCWR. Tow mode is most useful in the following
driving conditions when towing a heavy trailer or
hauling a heavy load:
c Rolling terrain.
c Stop and go traffic.
c Busy parking lots.
Driving the vehicle in the Tow mode with no
trailer/load or light trailer/light load will not cause
any damage. However, fuel economy may be
reduced and the transmission/engine driving
characteristics may feel unusual.
When towing a trailer, final drive gear oil
should be replaced and transmission
oil/fluid should be changed more frequently.
For additional information, see the
ìMaintenance and do-it-yourselfî section
earlier in this manual.