Towing Gear - Manual Transmission -120 Series Prado

[trueblue Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close trueblue]

I contacted the Toyota Dealer today to find out what they recommend as the top towing gear for a manaul 6 speed 120 series Prado (2008 model). (I am towing a 1.2.tonne boat/traler from victoria to WA).

I was advised by the service manager (after he checked with mechanics etc) that the 1 to 1 ratio gear on my model prado is 5th gear. He recommended that 5th gear is fine as a gear to use. Not 6th (overdrive).

I always thought that 4th was 1 to 1 on the Prado 120 series looks like I was wrong. Any input on this folks??

Murf

[winniliss Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close winniliss]

It's like anything, listen and or feel your engine. My camper is the same weight and on the flat I use 6th. If approaching a hill and the rpm starts to drop off then change back a gear and not wait until the engine starts to labour.

In relation to the owner's manual it only states the following as a "Good driving practice":

"When towing a trailer, in order to maintain engine braking efficiency, do not use fifth gear (five speed) or sixth (6 speed)"

Winston.

[gspy4u Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gspy4u]

yep, i have a almost 2.5t tandem caravan and usually tow in 6th on flat roads, highways etc and drop to 5th, 4th or whatever when needed. Feel if the car is working and drop a gear or hold that gear longer than usual if going up a grade. You can tell just by the feel if you are in the right gear. If you run in 5th at the legal speed it's too high and will chew more juice. I find sitting around 100-105 which is really 100 anyway is perfect turbo range in 6th but too high revving for 5th and just drop down when a hill comes up. Have done so for over 20,000k so far with the van on and the prado now has 183,000k's on it with original clutch and brakes. Gotta love these beasties :-D

[azzss Member Find all posts View Profile Close azzss]

Yep, same here 6th most of the time (around 2-2.5 tonnes) tralier with excavator buckets etc back to 5th on the hills. I just set the cruise and when it just starts to drop speed, drop her back one!

[trueblue Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close trueblue]

Just in case anyone every wants this these are the manual gear ratios on 120 series Prado (Info provided by Toyota dealer);

1st = 4.171
2nd = 2.190
3rd = 1.488
4th = 1.193
5th = 1.000
6th = 0.799
Reverse = 3.607

The Toyota dealer advises that 5th ok to tow in but advises to still vary that during a long journey.
Thanks again all for your input.
Murf

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

As others have said, you can feel when your vehicle is labouring, and adjust the gear to suit the situation. I don't believe there is an optimum gear to suit all situations. The amount of weight being towed will dictate which gear, and when.

On the other side of the equation, using the engine to assist braking (in lower gears) going down a hill is also adviseable, especially with a heavy load behind. This is a big advantage with a manual over an auto.

[cfryback Find all posts View Profile Close cfryback]

That's where Jacobs Brakes are nice, sadly not on Toyota's....