Towing in 5th gear

[Coontakinta]

Hope this topic hasnt already been done to death here, but am looking at another vehicle to tow my boat. Its a 5m platey.

Am currently looking at manual petrol rodeo's with one concern. I've been told ya cant tow with them in 5th. OK that means using 4th but geez, they must chew some juice in that gear on the highway coz when I've used my brothers unit to tow 80km/h is around 3000rpm in 4th and there is no way I want to be towing too far at that speed.

Current unit is an auto VZ commodore. Book says to tow in 3rd gear not top. Get around 100kmh @ around 2700rpm and ecconomy of between 16 -20litres / 100 depending on wind direction. I digress

Towed the same boat with my VL 5speed in top with never a hitch but wondered if the word on using top gear to tow is fact or fisction. One school tells me never another says so long as you keep the revs up.

Which is it?

[Kero]

I regularly tow in top gear when practical. I've never had any dramas with any vehicle as a result. As long as there's no undue strain/labouring on the engine then you should be fine!

[Chimo]

Hi C

I had 3 of the petrol rodeos as work trucks over the years. Used to get 300kms out of a tank not towing and consumption went thru the roof if you even towed a box trailer. I doubt you could tow a platey in 5th and your fuel bill will kill you even in 4th.

If I were you I would not be choosing a Rodeo at all.

You would be better of in a bigger proper 4wd like a patrol or landcruiser. When I tow 2.3 or .4 tonne with a GQ 4.2 turbo diesel and use 16 to 20 l / 100 depending on speeds and road and at least I know I'm not going the kill the vehicle doing it.

Cheers
Chimo

[GBC]

The last of the rodeos and the colorado petrols are the commodore v6 and are in a different league to the old rodeo v6 both in performance and economy.
I'd be surprised if there were any manual boxes left that you can tow in overdrive with. People will allways do it and most will get away with it - some will get a big bill.

As for needing a patrol/cruiser to tow a 5m boat???? Give me a break - any ute will do it easily.

Personally I'd recommend anyone doing a lot of towing to look for an auto box. The dual mass manuals just aren't standing up to the punishment.

[Kleyny]

Each vehicle is different. you cant compare VL's with VZ's or any other vehicle for that matter as they are apples and oranges.
I say ring your dear if in doubt.
when you ring them ask for the workshop forman and get his name. Just so you know who to blame if there is a drama.

neil

[Why Not]

I've got a 5.50m plate boat on a dual axle trailer. I tow it with a Landcruiser 4.2L diesel (non turbo). I tow in 5th if I can but I regularly tow in 4th. I have towed the same boat with a Nissan D40 turbo diesel. It's chalk and cheese. The little turbo diesel eats the hills and tows the boat like it's not there. The big girl eats fuel whilst the little turbo seems to use a bit more but nothing alarming.

Why Not

[DazSamFishing]

Just don't labour the motor in top gear. I'd look at a diesel if you're preparing to dedicate the vehicle to tow.
Daz

[ozscott]

Mate I tow in 5th - 4.0 V8 Discovery Series II (02) towing a 2 tonn Vagabond....100kph is 5th, anything less it is better geared to 4th. I disagree about needing a diesel or desiring a diesel to tow. A good torquey petrol engine is a thing of beauty...Im not debating petrol v diesel before anyone starts on me Im simply saying be open minded and try both engines in whatever you look at buying if you can or at least talk to a heap of people who have had both.

Cheers

[Rockrash]

Most manual gearboxes run 1st & 4th on the main shaft. 5th runs on a lay shaft. The design and position of the main shaft mean that it will generally be stronger and less prone to bearing and gear wear.
I tow every day and personally I do tow in 5th but not up hills or at low engine RPM.

I have previously owned 5 Rodeos. All bar one had MUA boxes and never managed to hurt one. Not sure if they still have the same box.

[DazSamFishing]

Mate I tow in 5th - 4.0 V8 Discovery Series II (02) towing a 2 tonn Vagabond....100kph is 5th, anything less it is better geared to 4th. I disagree about needing a diesel or desiring a diesel to tow. A good torquey petrol engine is a thing of beauty...Im not debating petrol v diesel before anyone starts on me Im simply saying be open minded and try both engines in whatever you look at buying if you can or at least talk to a heap of people who have had both.

Cheers

I towed my previous 2t boat with the following petrol vehicles:
hilux 4cy 2.4
pathfinder 6cy 3.3 (towed with ease) (needed to tow a petrol tanker behind the boat to refuel)

Then bought a bt50 4cy 3L TD which towed without a drama & the main difference was fuel comsumption.

Torquey petrols are good... but most torquey petrols are v8's which will chew the juice.

The above is my personal experience... but do your research & make a decision. We've got a patrol now & wish I had a petrol car for city work.

daz

[Wahoo]

With most cars if doing under 80Kph stay in 4th, over that 5th is ok

Daz

[honda900]

Coontakinta,

I think Ozscott has it right, again not to ignite a diesel v petrol war, I have a v8 jeep (auto) towing a 6 metre glass boat, and it does it easy, getting 16ltrs per hundred in overdrive in top gear running at around 1900-2000rpm. Highway driving it gets better.

Regards
Honda

[Scott nthQld]

I towed a 5.5m platey with a manual 06 falcon from Townsville to Mission beach back in january.

My owners manual says not to tow in 5th, but bugger that, the engine revs off its head and fuel economy is non existent in 4th.

When at cruising speed, slip it into 5th, all you really need is the box to keep winding the diff over, once you need the accelerate, eg going up hill, go down a gear or 2.

Oh I only slip it into 5th when going 90km or more, but thats my car and its geared a bit taller than the rodeo, you should have no problems in 5th while doing 80km, after all I drive the old mans around in 5th when I'm doing 60km cause its geared so short and revs off its head in 4th

[ozscott]

Daz makes a good point about better being a V8 if petrol...my experience with towing economy with the V8 is the same as Hondas.

Cheers

[White Pointer]

G'day,

I have one of the last of the Rodeos (before they became Colorado). It is a 3.0Lt diesel auto - 4-speed. It tows my 6M plate boat, which is just under 2-tonne. It eats it. Knocks the fuel consumption by about 20% which is nothing because it is very economical. It easily holds 100 and 110km/h in 4th and could easily accelerate from there. I pull it back to 3rd it speed drops below 90km/h and that doesn't put too many revs on it.

Buy the diesel. Brilliant engine.

White Pointer