Thread: new 70 series

Originally Posted by No.3

Fark no, just no. Auto boxes for towing with the modern electrically selected 4wd systems that you can't put into L4 with the front hubs disengaged are just arse. As soon as you try and reverse a heavy trailer up and around a corner (especially starting off in that condition) you're almost duty bound to have it stall on you. The VW's with the 10-speed box were the absolute worst for this, so high geared in reverse.

At least with a clutch you have the option of punishing the poor little grabby thing to get the job done, but the problem here is the modern dual mass flywheels really take to that sort of treatment. Mechanics friends, those things. This is the issue with modern gear, the older auto's were garbage for shifting and performance but usually had a half decent reverse ratio. The older manuals were fitted with tougher clutches and flywheels, and usually came with manual freehubs which gave the option of L4 tractor mode (as long as you were gentle with the axles). Compounding the problem, the older utes were usually running a 2500kg tow rating vs 3500Kg on the newer options.

Guess it depends on what type are car you are talking about and how much horsepower you have?
I cant reverse a trailer up an asphalt drive in my Silverado in L4 because it will rip the Asphalt off on a turn,but I dont need to use low on tarmac anyhow.

Originally Posted by norsk

Guess it depends on what type are car you are talking about and how much horsepower you have?
I cant reverse a trailer up an asphalt drive in my Silverado in L4 because it will rip the Asphalt off on a turn,but I dont need to use low on tarmac anyhow.

Factory amarok, colorado, hilux and ranger utes - with things like 2.5ton diggers on trailers and 3500Kg boats (which are sods of things to tow due to the parachute effect combining with the weight factor). Work ok until you try and go backwards uphill and then throw a corner backing maneuver into the brew. Reverse should in theory be the same as 1st, but they aren't and I've never been able to work out why.