Posted 2012-09-17 10:37 PM (#147038) Subject: Tachometer reading when towing?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Just out of curiosity.... does anyone watch their tachometer when they are towing? What does it generally stay at/around when on the flat, or pulling in hills?
Posted 2012-09-17 11:36 PM (#147039 - in reply to #147038) Subject: RE: Tachometer reading when towing?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by ridingarocky on 2012-09-17 10:37 PM
Just out of curiosity.... does anyone watch their tachometer when they are towing? What does it generally stay at/around when on the flat, or pulling in hills?
On the flat it depends on what your cruising speed is...and the mass you are pulling...:)
Posted 2012-09-18 1:46 PM (#147058 - in reply to #147038) Subject: RE: Tachometer reading when towing?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
OK, I guess i left those important variables out..LOL! Say pulling @ 6 - 6.5k at 65-70 mph? The truck is a 5.7L gas engine 1/2 ton. I was just idly curious...... I watch mine to see if my truck is working too hard, and it usually stays from 2 - 2.5 k RPM. My truck doesn't sound or feel as if it is struggling..
Posted 2012-09-19 4:37 PM (#147085 - in reply to #147038) Subject: RE: Tachometer reading when towing?
Regular
Posts: 95 Location: Nashville, TN
As mentioned earlier....comparing your tach reading to someone else's is like asking someone what kind of mileage they get when towing....all depends. For example, I rarely look at my speedometer because I know I get max mileage at 2000 rpm in a 7.3L Ford diesel. That happens to be about 62-63mph since I have a 4:10 rearend gearing. Same motor with a different rearend gear would have max mileage at a different rpm.
Posted 2012-09-19 5:18 PM (#147086 - in reply to #147038) Subject: RE: Tachometer reading when towing?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 681 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
I guess what I'm trying to get at is to see if having my tachometer stay @ the 2 - 2.5k range means that my truck is pulling comfortably and without strain.. It has once or twice gotten as high as 3k when on an incline, but I now let my speed drop somewhat so as not to suck gas by letting it rev.
Posted 2012-09-20 7:08 AM (#147098 - in reply to #147038) Subject: RE: Tachometer reading when towing?
Veteran
Posts: 264 Location: Sumas Washington
Being a truck mechanic really does not enable me to answer the question accuratly.. Here goes anyway.. ASSUMING that your Toyota has the V-8 engine and the normal automatic transmission and common differential gearing. The engine should range between 2000 and near 4000rpm during towing.. At a 60mph flat cruze I would think that 2000rpm would be about right. Towing up a steep freeway hill the truck should downshift, and it would not be uncommon to see up to 4000rpm. This will depend on how fast you want to go up the hill.. This will not damage the truck or engine, it will however use more fuel..
Tachometer reading when towing?
