5th or 6th gear for motorway towing ?
We had an Audi A4 S line tdi for several years and it didn't have a fuel computer so wasn't too sure on mpg's etc but late last year we purshased a Passat tdi Sport and it does have a fuel computer on board and whilst driving along on the motorway with the van last month was seeing what was the best gear for cruising but couldn't decide as both gears were chucking out similar figures, anybody have any views on this please ?
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Whatever feels right. We don't tow for economy but for good, safe travel on the road.
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Both feel perfectly safe it's just that 6th didn't seem to return better figures than 5th, the revs for 6th at 60 mph were quite low and almost feel as the car doesn't like it. Also off to Italy soon so i will want to drive for economy too.
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If the car doesn't like 6th gear when towing it clearly needs 5th. Use what is best for the conditions. Honestly, you need to forget economy and do what is best. you've spent x thousands of £s on your outfit so what difference is a bit more fuel going to
make? Drive properly, tow safely and that's all that matters.0 -
Ok thanks.
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You're welcome.
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Yes, whatever the car feels best at, my car can just about settle in 6th gear (its an auto) which equates to 60mph at 1500rpm, but the slightest incline or throttle and it will change down. In day to day towing on the motorway it really is happier in 5th gear which only equates to 2000rpm and is probably in its 'sweet spot' for torque and economy.
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I tow with a Passat 2.0 tdi estate 170 bhp model.
i find its best on a motorway in 5th at 60mph it will cruise in 6th if level road but in 5 th it saves keep changing gear. Fuel wise the mpg is excellent towing a caravan in either gear, i just leave it in 5th and give my left leg a rest.
2000 rpm seems to suit with caravan hitched.
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I tow with a Passat 2.0 tdi estate 170 bhp model.
i find its best on a motorway in 5th at 60mph it will cruise in 6th if level road but in 5 th it saves keep changing gear. Fuel wise the mpg is excellent towing a caravan in either gear, i just leave it in 5th and give my left leg a rest.
2000 rpm seems to suit with caravan hitched.
Write your comments here...This is along the lines of what i was thinking too.
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The answer is what ever gear the car wants ..... what gear do you use for 35 mph? ..... obviously depends if you are loaded up with a full car .... up hill ..... or down hill etc etc
Like Dave, buy an auto & you won't know or care what gear it's in
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6th gear with cruise on at 55mph in our Kia nice and relaxed
I found that going the same speed as lorries made life so much easier in the MH. Why bother constantly looking for gaps to overtake for the sake of 5mph.
I often set my cruise to exactly match a lorry in front - slipscreen for better fuel economy too!
I'll be doing the same when towing the caravan - 5mph isn't worth all the fuss of constantly pulling in and our of the inside lane.
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6th gear with cruise on at 55mph in our Kia nice and relaxed
I found that going the same speed as lorries made life so much easier in the MH. Why bother constantly looking for gaps to overtake for the sake of 5mph.
I often set my cruise to exactly match a lorry in front - slipscreen for better fuel economy too!
I'll be doing the same when towing the caravan - 5mph isn't worth all the fuss of constantly pulling in and our of the inside lane.
IMHO that just means that you're constantly being blocked in by the heavy weights that just drive with their right foot planted to the floor. I like to do 5mph more than them when & where I can.
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I often set my cruise to exactly match a lorry in front - slipscreen for better fuel economy too!
I don't like to view the backend of a lorry on a long journey, also like to observe a little further up the road rather than be so close to slipstream.
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I often set my cruise to exactly match a lorry in front - slipscreen for better fuel economy too!
I don't like to view the backend of a lorry on a long journey, also like to observe a little further up the road rather than be so close to slipstream.
Sorry, I didn't mean to tailgate I set myself a comfortable gap.
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Like petertr I stick to 55mph on MW when towing,our Kuga was happy at this speed in 6th gear but new car a Ssangyong not happy so 5th gear used but still haven't towed on MW with this car
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6th gear with cruise on at 55mph in our Kia nice and relaxed
I found that going the same speed as lorries made life so much easier in the MH. Why bother constantly looking for gaps to overtake for the sake of 5mph.
I often set my cruise to exactly match a lorry in front - slipscreen for better fuel economy too!
I'll be doing the same when towing the caravan - 5mph isn't worth all the fuss of constantly pulling in and our of the inside lane.
Write your comments here...The trouble is lorries go at different speeds from about 49 mph upto 56 or even 57 mph so you'll need to overtake from time to time anyway and i don't like being in the mix with them if i can help it.
So it appears to be a 50- 50 split depending on what car you own as to what gear you use. Certainly on the flat 6th works with me but meet a slight incline and it seems 5th is better.
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My last car a manuel cx5 had a gear change indicator, so you always knew which was the optimum gear, it was often at 1500 rpm solo or towing.
Latest auto cx-5 uses about 4mpg more fuel solo, and around 1mpg towing, but for some reason seems to run at higher revs, the gearing is about the same as the manual.
If i use the manual mode i do get the change gear indicator, but i leave it in auto unless i need more engine braking.
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My 136BHP Kuga tows 1350Kg in sixth quite comfortably at 55-60. It has to be a a reasonable incline before I need to drop down a cog.
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I use sixth generally for motorways but need fifth on some hills. There does appear to be little or no difference in fuel consumption between them though as at just under sixty the revs in sixth are below the engines peak power but nearer in fifth.
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When towing with my Freelander I try and stick to 50 on main roads & 56 on M/Ways both in 6th and with the cruise control on whenever possible.
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I would think 6th. We have an Audi S Tronic (yes I know it's Auto) and it selects 7th on the motorway at between 50 and 60 and that's with a 1600 kg caravan. It's only on inclines that it drops down to 6th and occassionally 5th.
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Every model of car is different and every car/caravan combo is a different weight so drive in whatever gear you think is right for you. And as for the economy difference, words fail me that people are happy to spend £thousands on a car and caravan and then
try and eek out an extra 1-2mpg as if it will save them enough to pay for their holiday!0 -
As others have stated some cars are quite happy towing in sixth while others prefer fifth. My previous car a Mondeo 2.0 TDi towed best in 5th, while my 2.2 Dci X-Trail can happily tow in 6th with cruise control set between 55-60mph. Even with cruise set at 58mph I have had lorries pulling out alongside me and taking miles to overtake. Those of you who think that an extra few miles an hour don’t matter, try telling that to a lorry driver.
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I use sixth generally for motorways but need fifth on some hills. There does appear to be little or no difference in fuel consumption between them though as at just under sixty the revs in sixth are below the engines peak power but nearer in fifth.
Peak power or peak torque. Peak power is going to be near your rev limit which is probably around 100mph!
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For every engine there is a speed at which it produces the maximum amount of power to turn the wheels. With internal combustion engines used in road vehicles this is generally between 1500 and 2000 revolutions per minute. The manufacturers have always fiddled
about with engine design and gear ratios to give a target overall performance, and now with computer control and the focus on emissions and economy this can be a good bit different from what the engine is actually capable of.So for the best running of the engine the driver should be using the gears available to keep the engine as close as possible to its optimum operating speed, and nowadays that may not be possible because of engine "management" by computer. Fifty years ago
three and four speed gear boxes were normal, now the latest automatic boxes are eight or even ten speed to keep the engine as close to this optimum as possible. Latest assistance is from satellite navigation and geographic databases to allow gears to be selected
in anticipation of hills! If the vehicle is following a route already in the navigation system the management system could also change down in anticipation of turns at junctions.There is an effect of running an engine at other than optimum speed. Modern valves don't burn out so easily, or bearings fail, so it is unlikely the first or second owner will face the resulting bills.
So find out the performance claimed by the manufacturer of the vehicle and watch the rev counter as much as the speedometer!
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In response to the OP , all the answers are very good ones and they are very considered . I read one time to do with towing caravans that , to do with a cars gearbox that a 1 to 1 ratio of towing is the best Ie some cars may be 5 th gear , others may be
4th . The 1 to 1 ratio meant it was advisable to tow at that as not to wear the gearbox out . Now I do understand the stress that gearboxes , clutches and engines go through , however someone on here may better explain what I am trying to explain . I never
go in to 6 th gear unless the road is flat or on a downwards incline and normally never go above 5thPaul
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