When to use Tow Mode

bcapon · Jun 24, 2015

Okay All,

Let me start by admitting I am new to this and may ask dumb questions, but if I don't ask I'll never learn!

I have a Titan with the Tow Mode and was wondering at what point do you use this mode?

If I were towing a small trailer carrying a jet ski I don't see a point in this since your average corolla with a hitch could do the same. Then to the next level (which is what I am most interested in since this will be me in 2 weeks), towing a 6x12 uhaul trailer filled with wooden bedroom furniture, dining room furniture, and full boxes of belongings. (I will also have a full bed). I know this will be a breeze for the Titan but would a task like this require the Tow Mode?

Does the length of the trip matter? I will be going from central Jersey to north west Massachusetts so about 3.5 hours.

Can someone also please describe what exactly engaging the Tow Mode does, this may help me better understand when it is necessary to use it.

Thanks so much for any help!

Gunfreak · Jun 24, 2015

the search feature on here works wonders

http://www.titantalk.com/forums/titan-towing-hauling/12570-tow-haul-mode.html

donedirty · Jun 24, 2015

I believe Tow Mode just changes the shift points in the trans.

More then likely you wouldn't need it for a jet ski which weighs next to nothing for a truck rated for 9300lbs.

Camelfter · Jun 24, 2015

I've never towed anything before, not even a trailer with a rental truck.

Last month I bought a used military trailer (M101a2), and loaded it up pretty good & towed it from Boston to Oregon over a week.

I used tow mode about 95% of the trip, and kept it in 4th gear for about 90% of that. I used cruise control about the entire time, probably 95% of the interstate driving given the lighter weight of my tow. ~2-3000lbs or so, plus the crap in my truck.

Your trailer will be a bit bigger than mine, mine is around 5x8, but similarly is a giant box (I used the tarp & ribs on my trailer the entire way).

My T liked being around 2400-2800 RPM, up hills/mt passes it held 4000+RPM when it downshifted. As i noticed it "searching" on a few occasions on larger climbs, I kicked cruise off and gave gas as need be-slowing down 4-5 mph helped the rare searching on large climbs immensely.

80MPH + I think I was around 29-3400RPM in 4th...mind that that was going with traffic out west where the speed + sight lines warrant that speed, ie slowing to 65MPH would be dangerous for me IMO.

If you can keep your speed under 65MPH your MPG should be pretty good, under 60 even better. Just don't let your transmission "lug" ie don't let your RPM go low, ie under ?1400-1800RPM. I'd imagine 2000+ would be better though.

I had to consistently remind myself I was towing...the T did that good. So just always use patience with other drivers and give yourself extra space if you need to stop / emergency maneuver etc.

Also the OEM tow mirrors are super!

Camelfter · Jun 24, 2015

Oh & to add, you have to think a bit more about where you gas up/park/turn & such. No biggie for me, because I need the exercise, I just parked out at the edge of lots & such.

That took a little getting used to, and I passed up on a couple coffee/drainage stops early on in the trip because I hadn't figured out yet where I could & couldn't fit/turn etc.

also, adding if you've towed jet skis or whatever before, your familiar with setting up safely & checking your lights safety chains & such.

Think about your load too, that helped me out a bunch. I had the weight pretty even out, with a bit more at the rear of the trailer given how my trailer is slightly angled down at the truck/hitch connection - ie my rear suspension would have been helped with about an inch to an inch & 1/2 more height.

You can get adjustable height hitches, but read up on whether or not they cut down on the tow rating as you adjust them.

bcapon · Jun 24, 2015

Camelfter said:
Oh & to add, you have to think a bit more about where you gas up/park/turn & such. No biggie for me, because I need the exercise, I just parked out at the edge of lots & such.

That took a little getting used to, and I passed up on a couple coffee/drainage stops early on in the trip because I hadn't figured out yet where I could & couldn't fit/turn etc.

also, adding if you've towed jet skis or whatever before, your familiar with setting up safely & checking your lights safety chains & such.

Think about your load too, that helped me out a bunch. I had the weight pretty even out, with a bit more at the rear of the trailer given how my trailer is slightly angled down at the truck/hitch connection - ie my rear suspension would have been helped with about an inch to an inch & 1/2 more height.

You can get adjustable height hitches, but read up on whether or not they cut down on the tow rating as you adjust them.

Thanks Camelfter! That is exactly the kind of answer I was looking for! Now that you bring that up, (all the detail about where to keep your RPM's) I am wondering at what size/weight load do I need to start worrying about keeping my RPM's up? For an example, I wouldn't bother trying to keep it up for something light like a jet-ski or a light bike trailer?

I don't want to keep the rpms up and waste gas if I dont need to and I also dont want to hur the transmission by not keeping up high rpms when I should have been, I just dont know that point in which a load should be kept at higher rpms?

Also is it not bad for the engine/transmission to drive at high rpms? I always thought that was bad for the engine, unnecessary strain?

Thanks for the help!

dubyam · Jun 24, 2015

The first time you tow with the Titan, you'll answer a lot of your questions. You will know how your truck runs normally, and you'll feel when it seems to be gear-hunting, and when it seems to be lugging. Beyond that, there's not much to it. I use the tow mode almost every time I tow, as it gives me a little better acceleration and some engine braking help, and it doesn't hurt the truck to run in that mode even with a light load on the drawbar.

Rammpage · Jun 24, 2015

ive got a 25 foot fully enclosed race trailer that i tow my hotrod in.. if youre going to use the tow/haul (it changes the shift points) make sure you take it out of Overdrive!!! keep it in 4 not 4 with the square around it or eventually you can kiss your truck good bye

bcapon · Jun 24, 2015

Rammpage said:
ive got a 25 foot fully enclosed race trailer that i tow my hotrod in.. if youre going to use the tow/haul (it changes the shift points) make sure you take it out of Overdrive!!! keep it in 4 not 4 with the square around it or eventually you can kiss your truck good bye

Okay, now I will sound really stupid but how do you take it out of overdrive? On my Gen 1 Xterra there was a button on the shift handle, this is not on the T.

Also do you suggest keeping it in 4th at highway speed even with a smaller trailer than yours? talking about the 12ft trailer i will be towing over the weekend?

honda250xtitan · Jun 24, 2015

you can leave it in 4th yeah. Once your on the highway you can throw it back in drive and see how it does. if it starts searching for gears or is really bogging down just leave it in 4th. I tow our wake boarding boat once or twice a week for an hour to the lake and its all highway, and all in 4th, doing about 65.

i don't even use tow mode actually. its got enough power to get up and going, just sucks at highway speeds in that last gear lol

agnostic x · Jun 24, 2015

bcapon said:
Okay, now I will sound really stupid but how do you take it out of overdrive? On my Gen 1 Xterra there was a button on the shift handle, this is not on the T.

Also do you suggest keeping it in 4th at highway speed even with a smaller trailer than yours? talking about the 12ft trailer i will be towing over the weekend?

If your in "D" that's over drive. Click the gear shift to the left 1.

cmcdar · Jun 24, 2015

I'm new to towing with the Titan (not to towing)

I have a 2010 Titan Pro4X Crew cab Automatic

These are my options:

What gear should I be in while in tow mode?

dubyam · Jun 24, 2015

Unless you find yourself in hilly terrain or towing so heavy a load that your transmission is shifting gears a lot, just put it in "D." But if you're in hills, or your trans is shifting back and forth a lot, move your shifter to the left from D and you'll be in 4th. If you pull straight back from there, you're in 3rd. To the right and back from 3rd is 2nd, and further to the right is 1st.

You can use the same gated shifting pattern to downshift in the mountains to use engine braking to keep from overheating your brakes coming down steep grades.

bcapon · Jun 24, 2015

Rammpage said:
ive got a 25 foot fully enclosed race trailer that i tow my hotrod in.. if youre going to use the tow/haul (it changes the shift points) make sure you take it out of Overdrive!!! keep it in 4 not 4 with the square around it or eventually you can kiss your truck good bye

I dont understand this about the "4 without the square vs 4 with the square"? I have the square around the number 4 and don't know how to get rid of it. (See attached image)

RickW · Jun 25, 2015

That is 4 th gear. When you see (D) you are in overdrive. Just move you shifter to the right and you see the (D) Hope that answers your question.

cmcdar · Jun 25, 2015

So, this is how my gear shift is really laid out?

bcapon · Jun 25, 2015

cmcdar said:
So, this is how my gear shift is really layed out;

Correct and the only Titans that have an actual overdrive button are the older models that had column shifters. All of the titans that have their shifter handle in the center console area do not have an overdrive button and just switch to overdrive when you move from drive to 4

Cuban11182 · Jun 28, 2015

I found out that when in tow mode and going down a hill when I hit the brakes momentarily and releasing it would downshift and use the engine braking to slow me down. I hadn't known that before.

bcapon · Jun 29, 2015

Okay, if the Tow Mode will engine brake for you that is awesome but does that mean that you need to have you truck in overdrive "D" not in one of the actual gears when using it? If I were to drive with Tow Mode on in 3rd or 4th wouldn't it do nothing since all tow mode does is prolong the shift point and engine brake and since I am not letting the engine shift it can't do this?

Camelfter · Jun 30, 2015

bcapon said:
Okay, if the Tow Mode will engine brake for you that is awesome but does that mean that you need to have you truck in overdrive "D" not in one of the actual gears when using it? If I were to drive with Tow Mode on in 3rd or 4th wouldn't it do nothing since all tow mode does is prolong the shift point and engine brake and since I am not letting the engine shift it can't do this?

Tow mode will allow engine braking from 4th. I don't know about from 3rd or not, but if your locked into 3rd downhill it would be difficult to get above 50mph without using the accelerator.

When to use Tow Mode

bcapon

Gunfreak

donedirty

Camelfter

Camelfter

bcapon

dubyam

Rammpage

bcapon

honda250xtitan

agnostic x

cmcdar

dubyam

bcapon

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