Tow Haul mode appears to increase low end torque, making it useful for maneuvering a trailer in tight spaces as well as for normal driving with a trailer. I also found it useful to temporarily increase power while driving without a trailer. Recently, I was camped on Proctor Road near Madera Canyon in Arizona. There was a short section of steep rough road that I often crossed before reaching pavement. I found my OT handled this section better when I briefly turned on Tow Haul, then turned it off to return to the default Normal mode. Something to consider in your travels. Comments?
Tow Haul mode for off road
- Thread starter Bruce
- Start date
I'd be shocked if Tow Haul mode has an impact on low end torque. It doesn't change engine performance. It mainly just alters shift points.
Man, you were way down south!
I’ll try the town haul button this weekend. I’m headed to Box Canyon for a few days. I was looking at the tow haul button this afternoon thinking “I’ve never pushed you” and I was wondering what it does. I assumed it turns off over drive (typically the top gear but maybe the top few gears now that we have 10 of them?). It wouldn’t surprise me if it also adjusted shift points to take advantage of torque curves, thereby making the truck feel more torquey.
With my Land Rovers I would usually off road in sport mode because it did just this….adjusted shift points and held gears longer, thereby improving quick-pedal-push torque and also providing more engine braking while running fast on curvy dirt roads.
I’ll try the town haul button this weekend. I’m headed to Box Canyon for a few days. I was looking at the tow haul button this afternoon thinking “I’ve never pushed you” and I was wondering what it does. I assumed it turns off over drive (typically the top gear but maybe the top few gears now that we have 10 of them?). It wouldn’t surprise me if it also adjusted shift points to take advantage of torque curves, thereby making the truck feel more torquey.
With my Land Rovers I would usually off road in sport mode because it did just this….adjusted shift points and held gears longer, thereby improving quick-pedal-push torque and also providing more engine braking while running fast on curvy dirt roads.
- Thread starter
- #4
Yes, I was in SE AZ for a month to escape the Colorado winter. I towed my 4k pound trailer 2,400 miles in the process, and was pleased with tow-haul mode, including starting from a stop.
In my 2021 Tahoe the only time I noticed any difference in power, rpm’s, or shift points was using tow-haul mode on steep downhills pulling a trailer, when the rpm’s were much higher.
Thanks, keep the comments coming.
In my 2021 Tahoe the only time I noticed any difference in power, rpm’s, or shift points was using tow-haul mode on steep downhills pulling a trailer, when the rpm’s were much higher.
Thanks, keep the comments coming.
- Thread starter
- #5
Could tow-haul mode engage the turbochargers at low throttle for more power to overcome inertia and gain the momentum needed to move trailers from a stop? The GX is my first turbo vehicle, so not sure what to expect.
I tried tow/haul mode this past weekend while off road. I didn't notice any difference. I kept the mode controller in comfort while on the long slogs through rocky trails in high-range gears. I used rock crawl mode quite a big in low-range with center & rear differentials locked while climbing. I also used Sport+ mode in high-range, high-speed runs on the wide-open and graded flat dirt roads.
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