Thread: Advice? TD5 Manual towing OB Jayco Swan

The ultimate towing gearbox would be an Auto with a Compushift unit to manually control gear selection and lock ups at speed - Compushift Controller Kit | HGM Automotive Electronics - works on ZF4HP24, dunno about 22EH.

I don't like the fact that in 4th lockup at 100 km/h it struggles - a bit more manual control here (like 4th unlocked) would help.

But when I've got the Kubo on board, its wonderful to just sink the foot rather than have to think about what I'm doing.



Very handy info!!

After reading Brad m I towed the last two pulls ,one 470k and the other 490k and put the girl into sports mode started off in 3erd and then into drive, put on the cruse and just let the computer do the job. Well it spent alot of time in 3erd and reving arround 3m but the fuel usage averaged 15.3 and 15.4 per 100k. A good saving, so over 10000 k thats 200ltrs of fuel.So when i drive back to Townsville from Perth i think this will be the driving option
Cheers Steve.

I tow a 1500kg pop-top with a TD5 auto. I have tried towing in sports mode 4th but found that the transmission spends too much time unlocked, which I think may lead to more heat being generated by the slipping torque converter. In normal 4th the trans seems to hang on too long before changing down, at which point the accelerator is almost flat to the floor. That's a lot of torque going through an overdrive gear. I now tow in 3rd at 85-90 km/hr and find it a lot less stressful for both me and the car. Under most conditions I can now click the CC on and sit back without having to constantly watch for and manually change down for every slight uphill gradient.

Originally Posted by StephenF10

I tow a 1500kg pop-top with a TD5 auto. I have tried towing in sports mode 4th but found that the transmission spends too much time unlocked, which I think may lead to more heat being generated by the slipping torque converter. In normal 4th the trans seems to hang on too long before changing down, at which point the accelerator is almost flat to the floor. That's a lot of torque going through an overdrive gear. I now tow in 3rd at 85-90 km/hr and find it a lot less stressful for both me and the car. Under most conditions I can now click the CC on and sit back without having to constantly watch for and manually change down for every slight uphill gradient.

I also tow a 1500 kg pop-top with a Td5 auto. I have tried towing in sports mode and found that it's all revs and nothing much else.

What most people seem to be missing is the 'momentum' theory. I do not understand why people sit on 85-90 km/hr labouring away when they can easily sit on 100-110 km/hr. This creates LESS stress on your vehicle and possibly uses less fuel as well. Not to mention the road block of your slow pace compared to other traffic.

If I do come to a uphill gradient I just pull it down into 3rd and take it from there.

As with most vehicles there is a little sweet spot that when everthing is cruising and effortless thats when you have it in the right position.

Hi Geoff,
I haven't driven a td5 auto so can't compare but we went around oz last year in our 03 d2 td5 manual towing a jayco eagle and it towed brilliantly. Wife, 3 kids fully loaded car incl roof, and towing about 1200kg and was getting over 800km out of a tank ( 11-12 l/100km) sitting on 100km/h, 5th gear all the way. Its a pretty flat country and you can drive for hours without having to change gear.