Finally put my QX4 to use this weekend

[BoostTed]

I had a track event and towed my miata. Flat grounds it didnt have a problem at all, but once I hit the grapevine it definitely felt a strain. If I had a running start I could maintain 55mph. I was stuck behind a semi going 35mph up that hill and I had no chance of picking up speed to pass it.

[CJD91]

3.3 or 3.5?

[Chuck Tribolet]

And what gear? I've towed my 2000 pound boat trailer plus 400 pounds ofdive gear and a passenger up some damn big hills with a 3.3, and as longas I kept the revs up, it went fine.

[BoostTed]

3.5

[BoostTed]

I

And what gear? I've towed my 2000 pound boat trailer plus 400 pounds ofdive gear and a passenger up some damn big hills with a 3.3, and as longas I kept the revs up, it went fine.

Not sure what gear I was in but I was well above 3k rpm, it dropped another gear and was at 5kish once in a while.

I had about 200lbs of hear in the car, a 2500lbs trailer, and a 2100lbs car. The hill was a pretty long 7% grade.

[K03sport]

Silly question, but did you tow with the O/D on or off?

The O/D gear clutches aren't really meant for pulling more than the weight of a fully loaded truck and not really meant for pulling around 2700+ pounds of full trailer.

They might do the duty a few times, but if done too often, the O/D clutches will burn out and begin slipping.

If nothing else, I would turn off the O/D for any incline.

[BoostTed]

Silly question, but did you tow with the O/D on or off?

The O/D gear clutches aren't really meant for pulling more than the weight of a fully loaded truck and not really meant for pulling around 2700+ pounds of full trailer.

They might do the duty a few times, but if done too often, the O/D clutches will burn out and begin slipping.

If nothing else, I would turn off the O/D for any incline.

whoops I didnt know that. I'll be turning it off next time I tow.

[K03sport]

whoops I didnt know that. I'll be turning it off next time I tow.

The only reason I bring it up is I blew through some Chevy 3500 O/D cuthches on a truck used for towing up in AK. Rookie me at the time wasn't familiar with towing and wouldn't you know that pulling 9,000lbs (6k trailer+3k equip) , even with a 3500 diesel, would destroy the O/D (4th gear) clutch packs. We were able to make to our destination and back, but it was done in "3".

The 3rd gear clutch packs are designed to handle the extra load/tq better as they are usually thicker, or more of them, or both.

Yes, you mileage may suffer, but I figure few less miles per gallon is a lot cheaper than transmission work.

[SnowSurfLax]

Yeah, the grapevine is nasty. Blew my transmission pan seal there.

Might also suggest a flush and fill. Who knows how much crap you might have floating in there after grinding on those clutch bands with all that weight.