Towing with an 80

[thirdmatt01]

I have searched but can not find the answers I want. Whats the best mode for towing? Ect on? O/d on or off?
Thanks in advance

 

[crooozer]

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/247443-what-can-97-lx450-really-tow.html

 

[thirdmatt01]

Ok I read all the posts, found weight and hitch info, but nothing about ect button and o/d on or off. Am I missing it?

 

[Ebag333]

Either of those may or may not be needed, depending on conditions.

ECT on if you want it to rev higher before changing gears (usually good for towing, sometimes not).

O/D off if the O/D gear is too much (engine bogging), or if the tranny is hunting (usually when pulling hills, otherwise generally can be left on).

 

[kirkm76]

I tow a 3500 pound pop up camper with mine. I will always run ECT on when towing. If I am on the highway I'll use the overdrive. Once I get off I usually lock out the OD. When I am in any kind of hills the OD goes off...Mine will really hunt around if I don't. I feel like the ECT on setting not only will hold the revs longer, but performs the shift a little quicker. No hard evidence on that though.

I saw somewhere that the trans doesn't pump enough oil at lower OD RPMs when towing. Again, nothing Scientific on this.

 

[Brentbba]

Either of those may or may not be needed, depending on conditions.

ECT on if you want it to rev higher before changing gears (usually good for towing, sometimes not).

O/D off if the O/D gear is too much (engine bogging), or if the tranny is hunting (usually when pulling hills, otherwise generally can be left on).

I tow a 3500 pound pop up camper with mine. I will always run ECT on when towing. If I am on the highway I'll use the overdrive. Once I get off I usually lock out the OD. When I am in any kind of hills the OD goes off...Mine will really hunt around if I don't. I feel like the ECT on setting not only will hold the revs longer, but performs the shift a little quicker. No hard evidence on that though.

I saw somewhere that the trans doesn't pump enough oil at lower OD RPMs when towing. Again, nothing Scientific on this.

Couldn't agree more. ECT on and sometimes O/D off if in the hills.

 

[rove_mcanus]

Ok I read all the posts, found weight and hitch info, but nothing about ect button and o/d on or off. Am I missing it?

I think it says in the manual what toyota recommend.

I personally would be ect on, od on freeways, od off in town.

 

[kerrye]

Depends on the conditions. Just towed my 1500 lb Sea Pearl Trimaran from Denver to Flagstaff. Had OD and ECT on and off depending on the conditions. Much more clicking and pushing than usual.

 

[gorgedude]

I have searched but can not find the answers I want. Whats the best mode for towing? Ect on? O/d on or off?
Thanks in advance

I pretty much leave the ECT on all the time, towing or not. If the O/D is off, this just limits the transmition from going into the top gear. The only time I turn off the O/D is when I'm decsending.

I drag a boat and trailer around totalling about 4300lbs. Slow up the hills but otherwise does fine with ECT and O/D in on positions.

 

[kerrye]

I pretty much leave the ECT on all the time, towing or not. If the O/D is off, this just limits the transmition from going into the top gear. The only time I turn off the O/D is when I'm decsending.

I drag a boat and trailer around totalling about 4300lbs. Slow up the hills but otherwise does fine with ECT and O/D in on positions.

I just had a thread recently on this topic. With OD on, the transmission will shift into 3rd on a hill but the transmission will not lock. To get it to lock in 3rd, you need to turn OD off. This applies to a 94. Without the lock the transmission is generating excessive heat. Not sure how ECT on/off effects that situation.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/543742-explantion-transmission-overdrive-behavior.html