hi all GN's...new to caravaning caravaning...brought a cruiser 4.2 diesel 5 x speed manual...I have been advised , when towing the van, never use 5th gear...travel in 4th at about 90 to 95 ks..is this correct, as it seems that the revs are sitting on 6600 rmp...is the doing damage to engine / gears...please advise
We have a 105 series Poverty Pack (Standard) Cruiser, the 2006 model or last before 200 series came out. It is the 1Hz motor, with an after market turbo fitted diesel motor, 5 speed manual gear box. Is that the motor you have in your Cruiser, as I agree it does seem to rev high (although 6600 rpm sounds very bad). If I am in 4th I think I am at about 3000 rpm. I will check next time I drive.
I acknowledge that most if not all people advise to use 4th gear for towing, but I go against that advice. I tow in 5th all the time, using the gearbox as and when needed to stop the engine lugging when under stress. In 5th, and between 90 to 100 on the GPS (about 2-3 kms below Speedo) I am at between 2300 - 2600 rpm.
I have had no issues, touch wood, with the motor or gearbox in about 85000 kms of towing the van, and 170000kms owning the vehicle. I am not recommending that practice, but am simply advising what MY experience has been.
Hope that helps.
-- Edited by TheHeaths on Sunday 8th of September 2024 04:01:24 PM
Welcome to the gang Michael, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Completely different tow vehicle but, I know but I have a Colorado Twin Cab Ute, towing a 21ft aluminium tent. It is 6 speed auto with selective shift. Most of my towing is in selective shift and very rarely go over 90kmh. Usually sit on 93kmh on the dial which in real life is 90kmh. I tow in 5th gear most of the time unless on long flat roads or highways. Revs sit around 1600 not towing in auto all the time and the thickness of a bees wing over 2000 towing.
Your 6600 sounds excessive though. Your car would more than likely be heavier than mine and the weight of your van might be heavier than mine so would expect revs to be higher than mine.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
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I think 6600rpm is a typo - well past redline.
Most people would not use an overdrive gear for heavy towing. I have read that it places an excessive amount of strain on the driveline, although I would guess some makes/models or more susceptible to damage than others.
I have a 6 speed manual in which 6th is overdrive. I only tow in 5th unless I am going downhill (and don't need the lower gear to keep the speed down).
If you get an Exhaust Gas Temperature gauge you'll probably find that the combustion temperature can rise to scary levels when towing in higher gears - much better to keep in a lower gear with slightly higher revs.
Hi all...dopey me! ...2600...not 6600..what a goose...the cruiser has an after market turbo
Thats my experience as well HCS.
As I said, I have noted no adverse effects at present, over the past 11 years of driving as I do. My disclaimer though is that it is my experience, others may be different, and I am not recommending it as preferred driving method.
Good luck (PS. Glad the motor doesnt rev that high)
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Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
Hi all; We have a 1995 Pajero with the 2.8 ltr diesel motor and a 5 speen gearbox. I was told by a few people to never tow our caravan in 5th gear and always use 4th. We have had our pajero and a couple of caravans over the years ( our current caravan, ( a 17' Jayco pop top ) we have had for 12 years now and bought new ). My pajero only now has 286,000 Kms on the clock and i have always towed in 5th gear. I listen to the engine revs and the speedo and change up or down as needed. 4th gear and 80 Kph sees my engine reving at 3 grand, and time to grab 5th gear One would never get to there destination at that speed as well as holding up traffic in 4th gear. 3 grand in revs is my change point at when i choose to go up a gear and 2 grand when to go down a gear.
In 5th gear my engine has hit it's sweet spot of around 2800 rpm and 100 Kph with no complaints from the engine or the gearbox. I did have a problem with the pajero jumping out of 5th gear from time to time, This turned out to be the the end float on the 5th and reverse lay sharft was out of adjustmen. That was in the very early days of owning the Pajero and was repaired, along with a new clutch and rear main seal 11 years ago.
One has to pick the time and road conditions as when to travel in 5th gear with a caravan on the back. One has to listen to the engine revs, road speed and the condition of the road, up hill or down.
Driving around tassie as we do, some of the hills and with the caravan on the back certainly give your left arm a work out, I'm always listening to the engine/taco and engine speed. Over the years we have done a fair amount of traveling, at the time we lived in Mildura and traveled several times over to Adelaide, Melbourne and a couple of trips up the Sturt highway to Alice Spings and Darwin and not to forget the times we whent over to Tassie ( 5 times and we now live in tassie full time ). We have never had a problem with the gearbox, Just listen to your engine, watch the taco and road speed.
Hi Hobie cat sailor , if you want to see the results of towing in 5th gear have a look at the youtube vids made by the gearbox rebuilders. Very interesting stuff.
Hi Hobie cat sailor,
Prior to buying our current Isuzu, I owned three Nissan Patrols - the first (an MQ) only had a 4 speed box, the next two (GQ & GU) both had 5 speed gearboxes & I put gas injection on both.
I always towed in 5th gear within reason ie as soon as the revs started to drop off, those gearboxes were always back to 4th! I never had any trouble with them & those cars both covered distances of 500,000km at sale. And for those who would choose to say I was wrong, I would ask them if they can carry a Nissan 4.2L diesel gearbox in two arms. Like most of Nissan mechanicals, they are well built & VERY heavy!
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Warren
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