Using the "Standard" shift on a 2008 Highlander

[mtran868]

I have a 2008 base model Highlander with no tow pkg. I want to tow a 2500 lb TT with it. Does anyone know if it's better to use the "standard" shift option? Or is it better to stick with the auto shift?

If i'm doing 60 on the hwy, can I switch from auto to standard?

[Dman1]

Originally Posted by mtran868

I have a 2008 base model Highlander with no tow pkg. I want to tow a 2500 lb TT with it. Does anyone know if it's better to use the "standard" shift option? Or is it better to stick with the auto shift?

If i'm doing 60 on the hwy, can I switch from auto to standard?

Is that 2500lbs dry or loaded? What is the towing capacity of your HL? Keep in mind that that number includes cargo and passengers over and above a 150lb driver.

In any case, you will likely need to use the shifter to manually shift gears. Yes you can go from Drive to Manual Mode while at highway speed, but it will drop to 4th gear from 5th, so I wouldn't do it unless you are slowing down while starting up an incline, and the automatic tranny downshifted (or is about to downshift) to 4th already. What I do is keep in in Drive if I am on a flat road and the tranny is not constantly downshifting. Otherwise, I use the manual shifter and don't go higher than 4th. Always keep an eye/ear out for constant downshifting and upshifting from the automatic tranny, and avoid that since that will kill your transmission.

Also, keep in mind that if you have it manually shifted to 4th, it will downshift. It will just not go higher than the gear you selected (i.e. if you select 4th, 5th will never be reached, but 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will be reached as per normal.

Hope this helps.

[Rexlion]

I believe you're referring to what they call the "sequential shifter." You just slide the shift lever over to the left. It will drop from 5th gear into 4th, which is perfect for towing. You will not experience any disruption if you do this while driving at highway speed. You then are free to use the shifter to drop into a lower gear by giving it a quick tap back toward you. (provided you aren't going too fast for the RPMs at that gear, in which case the tranny won't let you do it). This feature is perfect for applying more torque when climbing hills. You can also tap away from you to allow higher gears again.

I have 102,000 miles on my '08 HL (base model). Of that, about 85,000 miles have been put on while towing a trailer. I tow a 6x12 cargo trailer daily for work. It weighs about 3500 lbs with a 400 lb. tongue weight. The HL handles it fine. I also have a 16' travel trailer, a little under 3000 lbs but it's 7' wide. Last summer I towed that trailer from Tulsa through the mountains of Colorado, through Utah and Idaho, all the way to Glacier National Park in Montana. Then to Mount Rushmore, to Denver (for a business meeting), and back home. The Highlander is a great towing machine.

[mtran868]

Rexlion,

I assume your base model HL does not have a tow pkg? Did you install a tranny cooler? Or do you just tow it as is? If you tow as is, do you have any concerns about your tranny prematurely going out?

[Yazon]

same question here to Rexlion - no tow package or tranny cooler?

[Ralph6410]

Originally Posted by mtran868

I have a 2008 base model Highlander with no tow pkg. I want to tow a 2500 lb TT with it. Does anyone know if it's better to use the "standard" shift option? Or is it better to stick with the auto shift?

You have an "automatic" transmission, it will select the proper gear relative to your speed and load. If (when) you notice it frequently shifting then perhaps it would be desirable to downshift only to prevent this frequent shifting.

That "standard" shift method you are referring to requires a clutch, which you do not have, a transmission with gears that you select that you also do not have.

All you do by selecting something other than "D" is limit the upper ratio that the transmission will shift into.

[Rexlion]

Originally Posted by mtran868

Rexlion,

I assume your base model HL does not have a tow pkg? Did you install a tranny cooler? Or do you just tow it as is? If you tow as is, do you have any concerns about your tranny prematurely going out?

I have the tow package. One of the very few options on my Highlander. (Another was the daytime headlights, which I think are a good safety feature.) If a person did not have the tow pkg, it would definitely be a good move to install an auxiliary transmission cooler. I've had that done on previous vehicles I towed with... it's good insurance. But let me also say that I don't push my vehicles to the extreme; I mean, I don't try to floor it and charge up every grade at top speed. I'll judge the grade, then shift down and slow down accordingly. For example, on the long climb north of Durango toward Silverton I took it down to 2nd and ran about 35-40 mph (but then with the curves I could not have gone much faster anyway). Limiting the gear and running at a higher RPM takes a great deal of the stress off the tranny vs not doing so.

Excuse me for loosely calling it "shifting"; like others have said it's really just locking out the higher gears.

I should add that locking out 5th gear while towing is especially beneficial. If one does not, the extra load causes the engine RPM to rise about an extra 500 at every little incline. It is not enough to make the tranny actually shift on its own (which would take it up about 1000 rpm more), but it induces a controlled slippage in the tranny. This slippage causes extra friction and heat. And of course, we know that heat is the enemy in our trannies.