The Titan tow mode (at least in the Gen1) raised the shift points for 1st/2nd/3rd gear, and activated downhill transmission braking which meant a downshift occurred when you applied the brakes at a certain level on a downhill grade.

I suspect it does the same on the Gen2, but read your owners manual to see for sure what it does. My guess is, unless you're under load, you won't really be able to notice any difference.

 

My 2017 does exactly as dubyam mentioned. It does not change the RPM's while wily underway unless you happen to be in that range where tow mode would have not shifted yet. It just holds low gears longer and the transmission braking assist is great from what I have experienced. We tow a heavy boat a lot and the transmission breaking is the best thing about the tow mode.

 

So basically it makes it upshift later and downshift sooner.

Good to know!!!

 

Kind of. It raises the shift points for both up and downshifting, for the lower gears (1-3 on Gen1 5spd trans), but it also will drop shift you if you brake, to add braking. It's one of the best tow modes I've had on a truck, and I've seen several different brands.

 

I agree with dubyam, significantly better than the tow mode was on my Z-71 and that is completely based on the down shifting to aid in breaking. As far as it's advantage while just towing, breaking not included, neither here nor there. If you give any tow vehicle enough gas it's not going to shift until it's ready to, so no big surprise when it holds a low gear for a bit longer.

 

So does it have to detect a trailer or just does it because it is pushed

 

No. It's all about speed versus brake pressure. Get a good running start down a steep grade, and dig into your brakes, and the Titan (if it still has the same programming as the Gen1) will downshift a gear or two.

 

Do you have green led TOW displayed in RPM gauge?

 

Not on the Gen1. My tow mode switch just lights up, but there's no "Tow" light on the dash or in the cluster anywhere.

 

Yes the tow light shows up on the dash, I am not to concerned about the down shifting going down hills although that would be nice.I am concerned about no Rpm change when this is pushed and no shift difference that I can tell. Now to be fair I am not towing a heavy trailer just an aluminum snowmobile trailer. But I in the past I have towed a heavier trailer with no change. I just find this truck lacks power while towing unless you really step on the pedal and make it shift or shift it manually with the shift button.I would like to see it downshift on it own, maybe it is just the way the transmission is. My echo boost was far superior for towing, power wise and shifting wise.Just find it lugs way to much that is why I was asking about the tow mode thought mine may not be working.

 

My 18 Titan does exactly what Dubyam suggested. This is towing a 5000lb camper @ about 5000 to 8500 ft above see level. The Torque curve on 3.5L Eco boost Ford is totally different animal. I've done a lot towing with that motor and 5.0L. The 5.6 is very similar to 5.0L in terms of torque. Your going to hit max torque @ 4000 rpms. I know Titans have had problems with computer/transmission. Probably wouldn't hurt to take it into the dealer. It shouldn't be lugging like you said. I haven't any problems with motor lugging. Plenty of power.

 

Thanks that is why I am asking all comments are welcome

 

Dubyam are you saying the tow mode only actually works in the lower gear range?

 

What I'm saying is that on the Gen1, it raises the upshift RPM for gears 1, 2, and 3, and the downshift points are also moved upwards. I don't know what the corresponding changes are in the later 7spd trans. May affect more than 1-3 on those.

Owners manual is useless

Well, I'm guessing you haven't read it. That statement is false on its face. Read the manual. It has more info than you know.

 

Owners manual is useless

 

"Tow mode includes the following features:

● Grade logic — Adjusts transmission shifts when pulling a trailer or hauling a load up a grade.

● Downhill Speed Control (DSC) — automatically downshifts when driving down a grade with a trailer or heavy load to help control vehicle speed.

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."

I defiantly noticed a difference in shifting when I'm going up a grade.

 

https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/techpub/common/2017/2017-nissan-towing-guide.pdf

Your truck should have come with one. If not, ask your dealer.

Page 20 discusses tow mode.

It basically helps keep the transmission from jumping around more while a trailer is attached.

Our trucks have pulled everything fine from a little 500lb empty trailer to a enclosed trailer filled weighing ~6k or so.

With eco-boost F150’s you get that turbo. You get a tiny lag when you get on it from a light or stop, but when the turbo spins up you get all that torque that they use for the selling point on those trucks.

A 5.0L, 6.2L from Chevy, or 5.7L from dodge are all going to pull the same as the nissan. You’re dealing with a naturally aspirated V8 that’s going to apply more consistent power all the way across. I’ve been very happy with the 5.6L motor.

A Titan XD with the 5.0 cummins turbo diesel would pull more similar to an F150 eco boost.

 

"A 5.0L, 6.2L from Chevy, or 5.7L from dodge are all going to pull the same as the nissan. You’re dealing with a naturally aspirated V8 that’s going to apply more consistent power all the way across. I’ve been very happy with the 5.6L motor." -We got Dodges and Fords in our fleet up at work. Could have said better myself! Torque ratings are all in same ballpark. Max torque is at about 4000-4500 rpms. Typical for a v8.

 

I looked up the 2018 owner's manual online and read through all the sections with the words "tow mode" in them. It's the same verbiage as my 2011 manual, almost to the letter, with the exception of the description of the "tow mode light" in the instrument cluster, which isn't on the 2011. All the info is there if anyone wants to read it.

 

Dubyam I read the manual long before I posted here, and your right lots about towing a trailer. But if you will read you will see I am not talking about how to tow a trailer which i have done for years and years while you were still in diapers. I am talking about tow mode and how exactly it is suppose to work. the manual as I stated is useless when it comes to this topic, section 2-70 is the only section I can find on this all it tells you is the green light comes on in the dash DA I already know that. I am looking for an explanation as to what it actually does to the engine transmission combination. Since you have found all this info out would you be kind enough to post it or at least the pages where this info is located.Hey maybe I missed it.

 

Read that before my post Adjusts transmission shifts was way to vague for what I was looking for,That is why I was looking for all feedback not someone telling me I don't know how to read, hence my negative comments. As I stated my truck does nothing that I can notice in tow mode, I have tried watching the RPMs all the way through the transmission shifts then in tow mode did the same thing the rpms shift as far as I can tell at the exact same time. Other trucks I have had have a noticeable rpm drop in tow mode so I figured mine wasn't working or Nissan works differently. As far as the hill decent I have never tried that as I only used the tow mode on up hill inclines. But I will try it on the weekend on a steep down hill I guess that will tell me if it is actually working, maybe I am expecting to much of a difference. After this weekend if I do not see a difference I will be contacting the dealer.Thanks to all who posted the constructive comments.

 

Did you mean to say "rpm increase" instead of "rpm drop" when in two mode, when you mention the previous trucks owned? Have you taken it to the dealer to check things out?

 

I have owned 8 new trucks in my life. This 2017 SV 4x4 is by far the worst at towing. Despite changing tongue weight, tire pressure and adding Air Lift, the truck is unstable and wavers at any speed over 70mph. Dealer says alignment and caster are at factory specs. Have towed 3 different trailers with the same exact result. Only thing left to do is change out the stock General tires for some Michelin's. I like this truck overall, but if that doesn't fix the wandering steering issue then this truck is going down the road.

 

The factory tires are nothing more than good enough to sell the truck.
1) Did the other trucks all have P (passenger) tires as well? If you’re going to tow any decent sized trailer get LT (light truck) tires.
2) have you ever looked at trailer tires speed ratings? You’re driving a bit fast hauling that load, most trailer tires are rated for 65 mph. I’m amazed at the speeds people tow at.

Clint

 

Maybe your tongue load needs to be adjusted, is too much weight forward and the trucks squatting? Different draw bar to level the trailer perhaps? Low in the rear makes steering vague.

Clint

 

Springs and shocks in Pro4x are a bit stiffer than the others so you should be fine there. Especially after adding the air bags. Those tires are fairly decent for stock tires too.

Did you add the air bags because of the sway or was it something you added early on?

 

If you have a friend with a truck hook that same trailer up with same load. Only way to know if it’s for sure the truck. Low tongue weight and heavy rear of trailer can cause this type of issue.

Towing should be pretty straight forward though. Almost every 1/2 ton truck ever made has leaf springs and solid rear axle. Nothing to screw up there unless they have the wrong leaf spring on one side. Even then I doubt it’d be that bad.

 

Also, go see if you tranny needs an update. These trucks are bad about not downshifting when it feels like they should. Seems like it’s got so much torque it’d rather just stay in gear and push through. Most folks are at least happier than before with the latest update.

 

Have owned my snowmobile trailer (30 ft enclosed) and towed with not only my last 2 trucks but also with a friends F150. No issues with any of them. I could steer with 2 fingers at 75 mph. I have tried changing the tongue weight by using different hitch drops. No real change. I installed the air bags about 2 months ago hoping to correct the original chassis ride angle. Made no difference. Upgrading tires is the only thing I haven't tried. It's not the trailer swaying, it's the truck darting and not tracking properly. A friend that works for GM Engineering told me that Nissan set their caster too "straight" to try and make up for heavy steering feel at low speeds. Might try another dealer to check caster and make sure it is at the top of the acceptable range.

 

No doubt, Titan’s steering wheel is pretty stiff. I thought they did that to help with towing but I don’t remember where I picked that up. I had mine lifted 2.5” in the front and feel like it could use a little more positive caster when the road gets bad.