Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Lookin at buyin a 80 series for my tow vechicle. What are the auto's like for towing heavy loads? Anything to be worried about???

Willy Hilux wrote:Lookin at buyin a 80 series for my tow vechicle. What are the auto's like for towing heavy loads? Anything to be worried about???

Im about to buy one for a tow rig too so Im keen to hear what people have to say about em as well.
I was thinking a manual would be the go for towing.

From what i have found Toyota auto's are based on a dyna truck auto alot stronger than nissan but the nissan manuals are tougher than the toyota.

It would pay to to talk with an auto repair shop.

I know that the early 'manual' autos in 80 series are the same as early Jeep and 95-97 Paj boxes, and they are generally weak and suffer from overheating and pramature clutch wear. They are a copy of an old GM (car) auto and were not designed for heavy vehicles nor heavy towing.

Tow with them and expect trouble and eventual expense - 2.5K+ to repair, usually happens around 150-200ks, or earlier depending on use.

Later electronic autos are stronger and more reliable.

In any event fit extra cooling for towing as this will reduce premature wear on clutch packs.

PS the Paj box won't fit the Yota or vise versa cause they use a different input shaft/spline set up.

From what I've read auto is easier to tow with, (no messing around with gears or being in the right gear for hills down hill etc)

You need to get them serviced if doing lots of towing though, price depends on the place.

You'll want an auto oil cooler somewhere most 4wd's should have this, you might need to upgrade it though if doing lots of heavy towing or due to problems, the tarreno/pathfinder/navara auto cooler clogs up apprantly as an example for a reason to up grade it.

Most 80 have oil coolers as standard, cruiser autos came out in landcruiser only some were in dyna's, never heard or seen them in pajero's, towing will be fine just keep them serviced and get a temp guage fitted and make sure it stays around 100 degres c, keeping the lock up convertor applied in 4th gear will help the reduce the heat, driving style will help this.

I have a 4.5lt petrol Auto.
I've towed,
My hilux serval times from Albury to Nissan Trials etc in sydney and also serval times down melbourne way.
Cheezy's old mav with 42's
Mocks buggy
a couple of GQ's


Never had a problem with it so far and have had it for about 4 years now.
Yes the auto heats up while towing, but not enough to effect it.
Have had it hot to where it was getting sluggish once 4x4ing, but it was getting pushed hard for 20 odd mins, plus had 36 inch swampers aired down to 12 psi, locked front and rear and 4 adults in the car trying to get up steep rutted muddy hill

The worst thing about towing with the auto is when you hit a big hill. The motor has more then enough power to just put foot down and cruise up and over still on 110km per hr, but the auto wants to kick back a gear and motor then wants to rev to red line. Since I've put the 35's on it its heeps better as when it kicks back a gear its not red lining

Would I ever change from the auto now I've had one? NO WAY IN HELL!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, That's the info I needed. Someone thats got one to tell me.

I have a 4.5 litre Landcrusier auto. I haven't towed anything real heavy with it but the few things I have towed have been no problems at all. Mine runs a transmission cooler as standard.

Reddo wrote:
I know that the early 'manual' autos in 80 series are the same as early Jeep and 95-97 Paj boxes, and they are generally weak and suffer from overheating and pramature clutch wear. They are a copy of an old GM (car) auto and were not designed for heavy vehicles nor heavy towing.

.

whoever told you this deserves a thump

the A440F auto which may have appeared in some very early 3F carby 80's is the same auto that was in 60 series, which is internally identical to the A442F in later modeal 80's, the only real difference being electronic control on the 442. the look the same from the outside and the mechanical guts are all the same. the shifting is smoother and more positive with the electronics and can be further augmented by modifications to the valve body. The major worry when towing in having the lockup clutch slip excessively and cause chunks of the friction lining to be pumped thrrough the circuit; it can be avoided by careful driving. It is a good idea to fit up a larger external cooler, and possibly a trans temp gauge (not sure if there is a port for a sensor, otherwise tee it into the coolant line to the cooler - dow50r will know).

it is a strong box. any 80 you buy will have the A442F. it is designed for towing and will handle a horse float or 2 ton caravan or car trailer with ease - thousands of people - retirees, farmers etc bought these vehicles new for heavy towing duties and toyota would not have rated them with a big tow capacity unless they were capable of it. Of course it will increase wear and tear but there is no reason towing will kill the auto.

i have an auto that i tow my rocky with.

tows well a bit of bump into 3rd if your goin slow, but thats all i got

I've towed my old 60 series and someones 80 series (not mentioning any names) behind my auto 4.5. It did it no worries. No over temp lights or any funny business. My cruiser is a 1997 model with Toyota 3500kg towpack, and i can tell you when you are pushing the 3500kg limit, the auto is the least of your worries.

Its no rocket ship with 3 tonne behind you, but it will get you there.

As far as it being a Paj or GM box, I would check your info sources Reddo. I can tell you now, having had an A440 and A442 on the floor in my garage, they dont resemble anything remotely GM. I could throw around my old commodore box's by myself. The A442f is hard to move around with 2 people and impossible by myself. They are a big auto, and doubt they would even fit in a Paj.