Towing 5th Wheel over mountain passes

[ddbrown17]

I have a 2007 Tundra Double Cab and tow a 2008 Cougar 5th Wheel. I am new to towing a 5th wheel and was wondering when coming down off a mountain pass, other than make sure I am in "Tow Haul" mode and moderate use of brakes, should I also downshift to slow truck down?

[Only Toyota for me]

Originally Posted by ddbrown17

I have a 2007 Tundra Double Cab and tow a 2008 Cougar 5th Wheel. I am new to towing a 5th wheel and was wondering when coming down off a mountain pass, other than make sure I am in "Tow Haul" mode and moderate use of brakes, should I also downshift to slow truck down?

Yes, you should and i always do. What i try to do is estimate the proper gear due to speed, grade, etc... I usually find that 5th seems to work on most hills, but i use s-4 sometimes as well. It really depends on how steep the hill actually is really.

This is what makes the sequential mode so sweet.

[ddbrown17]

Originally Posted by Only Toyota for me

Yes, you should and i always do. What i try to do is estimate the proper gear due to speed, grade, etc... I usually find that 5th seems to work on most hills, but i use s-4 sometimes as well. It really depends on how steep the hill actually is really.

This is what makes the sequential mode so sweet.

Thank you. Have never used those "extra gears" yet, but haven't traveled except on flat driving to date either. We are hoping to do some mountain driving this summer.

[TundraBay]

From towing in hills (but not mountains, yet) a big cougar trailer, I always put the tow/haul button in, set the cruise at 60, and let the computer decide when to shift. It automatically downshifts to keep the set speed, at least in the hills I've driven in. If the hills were bigger, or I were in mountains, I'd definitely manually shift if I felt I was having to do anything other than touching the brakes.

Riding the brakes = heat = failure, so downshifting then becomes essential.

[Only Toyota for me]

Originally Posted by TundraBay

From towing in hills (but not mountains, yet) a big cougar trailer, I always put the tow/haul button in, set the cruise at 60, and let the computer decide when to shift. It automatically downshifts to keep the set speed, at least in the hills I've driven in. If the hills were bigger, or I were in mountains, I'd definitely manually shift if I felt I was having to do anything other than touching the brakes.

Riding the brakes = heat = failure, so downshifting then becomes essential.

I myself don't use the cruise on most hills, but it does seem to work okay on some hills. But you get a seriious hill, and i don't think 3rd will hold you back to 60 well enough. I think that's the lowest gear it will go, isn't it?

It should be i'd imagine; the highest speed allowed in second is 55 i think.

[fivecodys]

I have done both manual braking and using the lower gears.
I really don't have a preference.
I have tried setting my Prodigy controller a little more aggressively and that seems to help eleminate that "pushing" sensation.

The tranny braking feature almost always catches me by surprise when it engauges.

Bill

[Only Toyota for me]

Originally Posted by fivecodys

I have done both manual braking and using the lower gears.
I really don't have a preference.
I have tried setting my Prodigy controller a little more aggressively and that seems to help eleminate that "pushing" sensation.

The tranny braking feature almost always catches me by surprise when it engauges.

Bill

I prefer the manual method myself, but either way works just fine.

I also have adjusted my P-3 to B-3 and like 7.0-7.2 or so, if i remember correctly. Didn't have it on B-3 one day and made a panic stop to miss a couple deer in the road, and the anti lock brakes started clanking at first.
B-3 seems to engage the trailer brakes sooner than B-2, which i prefer.

[fivecodys]

Originally Posted by Only Toyota for me

I prefer the manual method myself, but either way works just fine.

I also have adjusted my P-3 to B-3 and like 7.0-7.2 or so, if i remember correctly. Didn't have it on B-3 one day and made a panic stop to miss a couple deer in the road, and the anti lock brakes started clanking at first.
B-3 seems to engage the trailer brakes sooner than B-2, which i prefer.

Yep. The hardest part for me is remembering to reset it when I get down the hill.
First time I forgot to do it happened while pulling up to a 4-way stop in the foothills.
The trailer brakes grabbed real hard and I nearly messed my drawers.
I seem to learn everything the hard way.

Have a great weekend.
Bill