[Bukiman]

My 09 titan has a 'towing mode' but with button pushed it does not seem to take it out of over drive, my previos truck had a button on gear shift for tow mode and it would not let the converter lock up ? Should i still push button on gear shift when towing ?
Thanks

 

[Indy]

The tow mode changes shift points. Vehicles don't have an over drive anymore, it's just another gear. If you notice it shifting a lot still or transmission temp running high, then yes, you manually down shift to a lower gear.

 

[Carbeaux]

Your '09 Titan's 5th gear IS an overdrive gear. That being said, the previous poster's info about watching your temp and watching for your truck hunting for a gear is accurate. If you find that the torque converter isn't locking, you're probably in need of a little lower gear. The Titan's transmission is pretty good at torque management, so if it's hunting, there's a reason for it.

 

[Lee-the-Impaler]

If you're towing heavy, and on grades. Just use manual mode and keep your RPMs high (at least 2800). Your transmission will thank you. It will always hunt for a higher gear in the name of 'fuel efficiency'. Don't be afraid to keep the engine RPM between 3k and 4k. The overheating issue comes when you let it try and cruise at 1500rpm, which is where it tries to go. if you have the 2.94 gears like me, then 45mph in 2nd is about par for a heavy load and/or a good climb even in tow mode, at 45, it will try to hit 5th, or 4th if you're climbing. if you're not on flat ground, even 3rd is too high at that speed and will start your tranny temp climbing pretty fast. The only time I just use tow mode for real loads, is when i'm at 60+. Even then, keep an eye on the temp gauge.

 

[AZPRO4X]

The T/H button only holds the shift point for a little longer through the 1-3 gears. If it's a decent load keep the transmission locked out in 4th at the mimum & lower is need be. If a trailer was hooked up to my truck I kept it locked out in 4th.

 

[VRamkelawan]

The T/H button only holds the shift point for a little longer through the 1-3 gears. If it's a decent load keep the transmission locked out in 4th at the mimum & lower is need be. If a trailer was hooked up to my truck I kept it locked out in 4th.

I have to agree. I'm fairly new to owning a Titan as a truck, and my first tow last weekend performed above expectation when locked in 4th. My old Ford would need a little more assistance managing the gears.

 

[Lee-the-Impaler]

The Titan tows exceptionally well for a half ton, the trouble comes when you try to overdo it.

 

[Bukiman]

THANKS FOR THE INFO :cheers:

 

[Quartz]

Put it in 4th, push the tow button, and watch your water temp (and tranny temp if you have a gauge). If the temps start to go up drop down a gear. You'll be fine.

 

[LUBECAKES]

I'm not so sure if the tow button works in manual mode, because I've never tried it.
I use manual mode for all towing and hauling. Even when I'm not towing, like big hills with a 45 mph speed limit, I use it. It's all about keeping the torque converter temps under control. The higher gears cause more slippage, which generates more heat.

 

[Lee-the-Impaler]

I'm not so sure if the tow button works in manual mode, because I've never tried it.
I use manual mode for all towing and hauling. Even when I'm not towing, like big hills with a 45 mph speed limit, I use it. It's all about keeping the torque converter temps under control. The higher gears cause more slippage, which generates more heat.

Putting it in manual shift mode, totally negates tow mode. Personally, I use tow mode for freeway on-ramps when unhooked and for residential/surface street towing in town, between 10-35mph. I've found that with over 1200# on my trailer in drive, driving from one stoplight to the next, it hits third Way too fast, bogs, then hits second, and then third again. If I have tow mode on, it just shifts smooth and sequential. If my load alone gets over 3500#, then it's manual mode all the way. If I'm on hills, I use manual even under light load. As an example, today i drove 70 miles on hwy 50 with about 2900# behind me. That strip of hwy is 65mph, and known for long uphill and downhill stretches. If I go in drive, the tranny gets hot. It will downshift all the way to third just on cruise control at 60, but i'll run in the last third of the temp gauge, touching the 'red' several times. What I do is set my cruise at 60, and hit manual (4th). When I get close to a good climb, i toggle 3rd, and it takes me up with no issue. Same thing for the descents, I grab third, and I won't coast over the speed limit. RPMs don't get over 3k, but the tranny temp never even reaches the halfway point. Now the hills aren't all that steep here, just long. When running the divide on I-70, I've many times run 70MPH in 2nd on long descents and climbs, pulling up to 5200rpm. While I wouldn't advise revving that high for that long, I have done it, quite a bit, and had no engine issues. Maybe it stems from being a truck driver, but my go-to for controlling speed has always been gears first, save the brakes for emergencies.