Towing with O/D and/or Cruise

[lbffl]

So I have read several different posts on different sites, but couldn't find real life opinions from Titan owners.

I have a travel trailer that is around 7500# fully loaded.

Living in the midwest, I have a few hills (most would call slight incline or bump). Is it okay to using over drive and/or cruise on the flat highways? I would probably cancel cruise and shift down when on the hills and traffic areas.

Being an 07 CC, how high should I let the tranny gauge get before I change my driving style or pull over?

I believe I heard someone say that it depends on how many miles are on the rear end. i.e. <5000 = 318 degrees, <12000 = 290, etc.

[red_rider_elsinore]

I use cruise control everytime I am in long stretches of highway. As for 5th gear, you can find out yourself. Next time you're in the road, go into 5th and keep a watchful eye on your tranny guage. If it starts to rise downshift, and if it doesn't its okay. My friend tows a WW fk2100 superlite with a GVWR of 7000+ lbs and he can't pull fifth safely. Anyways, you'd still get better mpg towing in 4th.

[vipzach]

I don't have a tranny temp gauge, can't help there.

I do not tow in O/D ever, nor do I ever turn on cruise control when towing. With the weight you posted, I would not use O/D either.

Like I said though, I don't have tranny temp gauge, so I have never experimented with O/D and the temps.

[BattleWagon]

Originally Posted by lbffl

So I have read several different posts on different sites, but couldn't find real life opinions from Titan owners.

I have a travel trailer that is around 7500# fully loaded.

Living in the midwest, I have a few hills (most would call slight incline or bump). Is it okay to using over drive and/or cruise on the flat highways? I would probably cancel cruise and shift down when on the hills and traffic areas.

Being an 07 CC, how high should I let the tranny gauge get before I change my driving style or pull over?

I believe I heard someone say that it depends on how many miles are on the rear end. i.e. <5000 = 318 degrees, <12000 = 290, etc.

First off, I assume you have the tow package since you mention the tranny gauge. That's good for how much you plan on hauling around, however, have you broken in your rear end? The manual states no towing for the first 500 miles you own the truck and for the first 500 miles of towing, to keep things below 50, however the second part can probably be ignored if you have a fair number of miles (say > 3000).
As for driving style, you probably shouldn't base it on the tranny gauge's reading. If it's truely flat and you're doing around 70mph, you can probably get away with 5th gear, but otherwise use 4th, and if things get really steep and/or your tranny gauge does start rising, don't be afraid to use 3rd. Also, be sure to use Tow Mode (holds gears longer).
Cruise control is a person option. I don't use it (I'm a control freak). Happy towing!

[HiggySTL]

I tow my fishing boat, and with all the gear it comes in around 1200lbs, quite a bit less than your 7500lbs, but I was told that as long as the tranny temp gauge is in the green, it is fine to tow in O/D. I am in the Midwest also, and towing it down I-70 in O/D, the truck did great and the tranny temp gauge never moved even on the "hills and bumps".

[TruckinTitan]

Originally Posted by red_rider_elsinore

I use cruise control everytime I am in long stretches of highway. As for 5th gear, you can find out yourself. Next time you're in the road, go into 5th and keep a watchful eye on your tranny guage. If it starts to rise downshift, and if it doesn't its okay. My friend tows a WW fk2100 superlite with a GVWR of 7000+ lbs and he can't pull fifth safely. Anyways, you'd still get better mpg towing in 4th.

I haven't been towing very long but can you explain to me why I would get more mpg towing in 4th rather than 5th/OD? I would think that if my RPM's are lower I'd be getting better gas mileage...

Please explain...

[red_rider_elsinore]

Originally Posted by TruckinTitan

I haven't been towing very long but can you explain to me why I would get more mpg towing in 4th rather than 5th/OD? I would think that if my RPM's are lower I'd be getting better gas mileage...

Please explain...

Low RPM's don't always mean better mpg. Kinda like lugging a stickshift in fifth instead of going into 4th. One would have to push down the gas pedal more in 5th than in 4th to accompllish the same speed in certain conditions. Since he's loaded heavy and has a larger coefficient of drag w/trailer, he would get better mpg in 4th. That's just my little theory though.

[TruckinTitan]

Originally Posted by red_rider_elsinore

Low RPM's don't always mean better mpg. Kinda like lugging a stickshift in fifth instead of going into 4th. One would have to push down the gas pedal more in 5th than in 4th to accompllish the same speed in certain conditions. Since he's loaded heavy and has a larger coefficient of drag w/trailer, he would get better mpg in 4th. That's just my little theory though.

Interesting theory... I'm as loaded down... (5,500 lbs boat and trailer) but I think I'll test your theory with my application and see what my results are. Next time I make the trip to the lake house I'll pull in 4th all the way there at70. Then pull in 5th/OD on the way home and see what the difference is.

Thanks for the thoughts

[Clint]

Originally Posted by BattleWagon

The manual states no towing for the first 500 miles you own the truck and for the first 500 miles of towing, to keep things below 50, however the second part can probably be ignored if you have a fair number of miles (say > 3000).

I disagree as was posted elsewhere in this forum. When towing a load the gears mesh deeper than in normal driving and those parts of the gears need to be tempered for that reason. If you skip this procedure you're taking a risk. Why would Nissan know this or bother to include it in the manual. It's to keep up happy and out of the shop. We don't want a failure and they don't want to pay to repair something they could prevent.

Clint

[red_rider_elsinore]

Originally Posted by TruckinTitan

Interesting theory... I'm as loaded down... (5,500 lbs boat and trailer) but I think I'll test your theory with my application and see what my results are. Next time I make the trip to the lake house I'll pull in 4th all the way there at70. Then pull in 5th/OD on the way home and see what the difference is.

Thanks for the thoughts

Cool. I haven't been able to test my theory cause I either tow 1,500lbs or 8,000lbs or more. I don't want to tow in O/D with 8,000lbs.

[Learjet]

Tow that trailer in 4th !!!! You are not doing your mpg, transmission and engine any favors by bogging it down with that weight and drag. Also, up a long grade use 3rd to stop it from shifting back and forth between 3rd and 4th.

I use cruise control very carefully when not in traffic. Also, I recommend no more than 65 mph.

FYI: I have towed my Travel Trailer over 7000 miles with the Titan, Enjoy!

[Learjet]

remember... boats and Travel trailers tow differently due to the higher frontal area with a Travel trailer and the extra power needed to overcome this drag and pull it down the road. My Travel trailer may as well be drag chute. LOL

[RobKar]

Keep that tyranny in 4th with that weight and save your tyranny from "hunting" ... I have an 8,000lb TT and would never consider towing in OD.

[jcrassoc]

For you theory buffs...

Towed 5800 GVWR trailer/car combo with bed fully loaded (refrigerator, camping gear, etc., etc.) from San Diego to Kansas. Up hills and down. Left it in O/D for all but the steepest hills, down shifted for control on those. Got GREAT mileage with Tow Mode on. Worse when I forgot to turn it on. Best mileage was across Arizona and New Mexico, 17.5 MPG. Drier air may have helped. I drive the 04 Titan 4x2 LE Quad Cab with Big Tow package and all the other bells and whistles from the factory (except 4x4, NAV, and DVD). It was the most comfortable long distance ride I have ever experienced.

[Learjet]

Originally Posted by jcrassoc

For you theory buffs...

.

Just following the manufactures instructions!