Anyone heard of 80% rule

[lbffl]

Just picked up a Titan last Thursday as a Valentine gift from my wife. What an excellent gift!

My family and I like to go camping and spend time outdoors. We have struggled the last few years with my other tow vehicle and this was the time to upgrade.

Reading thru the manual, I believe I read somewhere that it said the tow mode is needed when towing 75% of the GCVWR (I think it is 149??) for the SE Crew Cab with tow package. Our current travel trailer is 19' weighing around 3800 when loaded. The Titan weighed 5700 with the family and dog. So if my math is correct; 5700 + 3800 + (firewood & bikes) < 75% of the GCVWR which does not require tow mode. With that said, should I leave it on or not? I heard someone explain it to me as an overdrive lockout and that once I got to cruising speed, I would want to turn it off. Would like to get clarification around it please. I talked with my sales dealer and he didn't have enough information on towing.

I also have much lighter stuff I would tow like the jet skis, utility trailer, or fishing boat. Would I need to have the tow mode on for these or not?

Cruise - I never saw anything in the manual about using cruise or not when towing. My other tow vehicle specifically said not to use cruise so I only have that to base my experience off of. Any thoughts?

And finally, my wife's motive for getting the Titan is to upgrade the travel trailer a bit. When we bought our camper, I believe we were told to stay around 80% of the towing capacity. I know that our other vehicle had a 5000# rating and it used everything to move that trailer on the slopes of Iowa flatland. Is 80% a good rule of thumb or do I need to worry about that anymore? I do have a weight distribution hitch with sway control and understand that it factors into the towing, but I don't want to be under powered again.

Thanks in advance!

Chad

[rvandam]

Do NOT use cruise when towing. It specifically said that in my 2004 manual, haven't checked my 2006 manual yet.

[blkbelt65]

Chad,

check this thread, may be of more help to you.

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/tita...-capacity.html

[Shane06fl]

You can use the tow mode all the time even when not towing. All it does hold the lower gears longer so you can get up to speed. Towing your camper two mode is a great. It is not needed for light weight towing and your camper doesn't meet the manual stated 75%. Give it a try and see if you like it.

Cruise control and towing is a personal preference and the manual says not to but that is do to safety reasons. I use cruise while towing and the only thing it does for me is give me better mpg. The tranny will shift as needed with or without cruise on.

80% is a good rule. Another good rule is trailer length for truck wheelbase. Lots of info on the Internet about that. Most 1/2 tons trucks are maxed out in length at 27ft but that is per X amount of weight. There are few guys pulling some long travel trailers with their Titans. It will do it but how safe is it, I don't know.

Good info here

http://www.rvtowingtips.com/how-long.htm

[loufish]

The 80% rule is quoted a lot at RV.Net forums(a great RV info web site) as a way to give yourself a little bit of breathing room when towing. Your truck will last longer towing at 80% of max rating, you won't be pushing the truck all the time and it might be a little safer for stopping and such.

Just remember that the tongue weight has to be included in the gross vehicle weight. I tell people to load up the trailer with everything instead of the truck when you start creeping up on the gross weight.

I tow on flat ground all the time with the cruise control, but on hills I take over. Tow in 4th gear when ever you hit a hill or headwind, or if your trailer gets heavy.