Towing with T5 manual

[njg02]

Hi. I tow a 5.8m fibreglass boat which weighs around 1.8t. The T5 tows it well but I'm trying to find the sweet spot. I mostly drive around 90-95km/hr and in 6th when possible. I'm going to the Whitsundays at the end of Sept and want to ensure I do it as economically as possible. I've been toying with the idea of mostly driving in 5th at around 90 to maximise economy. Of course I'll go to 6th, but will that lug the motor too much at 90?
What are your thoughts?

Neil

[Tornado T5]

Hi. I tow a 5.8m fibreglass boat which weighs around 1.8t. The T5 tows it well but I'm trying to find the sweet spot. I mostly drive around 90-95km/hr and in 6th when possible. I'm going to the Whitsundays at the end of Sept and want to ensure I do it as economically as possible. I've been toying with the idea of mostly driving in 5th at around 90 to maximise economy. Of course I'll go to 6th, but will that lug the motor too much at 90?
What are your thoughts?

Neil

I can't answer your question directly as I have an auto 128kw however because I've got a trip computer I've often watched the instantaneous fuel use while towing and using cruise control. At the speed you plan on driving I think you'll be fairly economical while avoiding being a "slow moving" hazard on freeways which is something to consider. I've noticed that fuel use jumps a fair bit (while towing heavy loads) when I take the speed from 95 to 100 or 104km/hr. From memory at 100km/hr the engine is doing less than 1800rpm and peak torque starts from 2000rpm. Add the factor of when the turbo kicks in more boost thus increasing fuel use. At that range of 90-95km/hr often the box kicks down when a slope arrives causing the fuel use rate to jump a fair amount while at 100km/hr is seems to stay in 6th longer and not hunt up and down gears.

[Transporter]

Hi. I tow a 5.8m fibreglass boat which weighs around 1.8t. The T5 tows it well but I'm trying to find the sweet spot. I mostly drive around 90-95km/hr and in 6th when possible. I'm going to the Whitsundays at the end of Sept and want to ensure I do it as economically as possible. I've been toying with the idea of mostly driving in 5th at around 90 to maximise economy. Of course I'll go to 6th, but will that lug the motor too much at 90?
What are your thoughts?

Neil

It will, you put too much strain on dual mass flywheel as well. I would use 5th gear, unless driving down the small hill and cruising.

[brasstinman]

Tornado T5 I've been told that using cruise control when you're towing is not good for the engine as it slaves the engine away trying to keep the vehicle at the set speed. But then again maybe that was in an manual as the car can't be shifted when cruise control is on and having it in the wrong gear for a hill will strain the engine.
Can anyone confirm?

[Tornado T5]

Hi Brasstinman, I don't know, but I think you may be right re only a manual gearbox which obviously can't kickdown. To be honest I've really only ever used cruise while towing on long flat freeway runs anyway and drop it back into 5th if I think it's going to hunt up and down during some undulating sections.....and maybe occassionly taken it up to 110+... avoiding any kickdown at all.

[brasstinman]

I had a chat to a few people today who tow and they all said an auto is the preferred towing vehicle as it can shift when required rather than burning out the clutch on a manual gear box under the load/strain of towing.
Then again as long as you select the right gear in the manual gear box before you slave the engine and put strain on the clutch when changing then I can't imagine the manual would be bad. Just annoying I guess always making sure you're in the right gear.