Auto or manual for towing

[Soup dragon]

Morning all,
as per heading looking for a 2.7 to tow a 1200k caravan am I better off with a manual gearbox or is the automatic strong enough to cope, any advice well appreciated.
Cheers
Soup dragon

[solarman216]

manual for towing every time, the box itself may be up to it but the oil cooling often lets them down, Rick

[emjaybee]

Always tow with a manual. Better towing capacity, strong gearbox, better control on down hill runs.

:thumb2

[russell.huffer]

Auto why work any harder than you have to.


Kind regards

Russell.

[emjaybee]

Auto why work any harder than you have to.


Kind regards

Russell.

Until it accelerates downhill and you burn your brakes out.

Manual every time.!

[Banshee]

Until it accelerates downhill and you burn your brakes out.

Manual every time.!

VERY good point!!!!!!! never thought of that

[elty001]

Until it accelerates downhill and you burn your brakes out.

Manual every time.!

Not if you use the gears properly, drop it into 1 and turn overdrive off and it will easily hold a 2 ton trailer back on steep hills with very little braking.
I don't tow that much with my auto but when I do I never have any problems.

[Blocky10]

My caravan is max at 1900kg and have had no problems with hills either up or down. The only problem is that Norfolk hasn't any so found some in Yorkshire!
When you need to maintain a steady speed down hill, first of all switch off the overdrive, which is usually enough, but if she's a steep one, brakes and back into second. Only had to do this once and the revs were up but could leave off the brakes.
[emoji106]

[rayf3262]

The only problem is that Norfolk hasn't any
[emoji106]
The closest in Norfolk I can think of that resembles a hill, is Ketts Hill in Norwich!

Anyhow, I find the auto performs well when towing a 1300Kg van. If you keep a check on the speed the fuel consumption is not too bad either.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

for terrano2 need to factor in trailer weight,

manual 2.7 2800kg , manual 3.0 3000kg.
auto 2.7 1700kg auto 3.0 2000kg.

these are official max trailer weights based on a restart uphill 1 in 8 gradient.

patrols are all 3500kg regardless of gearbox type.

[Barrbeast]

patrols are all 3500kg regardless of gearbox type.

You sure bud? All the specs I've seen say 3500 manual Trol, 2500 auto Trol. That was one of the main factors in me getting a manual as I knew I would be towing livestock/horse trailers :nenau

[firebobby]

I have towed with both and prefer the manual option.

[elty001]

I prefer manual for towing but I was just pointing out that driven correctly towing with an auto is also no problem as long as you know your weight limits and keep the transmission fluid at the correct level and in good condition :thumb2

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

You sure bud? All the specs I've seen say 3500 manual Trol, 2500 auto Trol. That was one of the main factors in me getting a manual as I knew I would be towing livestock/horse trailers :nenau
Sorry my error. Checked several sites and giving zd auto trol as 2800kg odd as green oval autos match their fellow manuals so some how along the way thought the big nissan did too.

[Terrano Steve]

I am sure the Auto is more than capable of towing & stopping a 1200kg caravan.
Personally I would prefer to tow with a manual

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

all our cars have been manual for towing though 25 odd years ago did have
an auto maestro 1.6 that towed well. did tend to hold the gears manually
to save the box searching which is the cause of them overheating.

would certainly consider an auto next, a former member with a 3 litre auto
terrano towed a twin axle caravan (aprox 1700kg) to spain every year. then
replaced it with an auto patrol.

[marti666]

I've towed with both and really there not much in it as long as your within the vechicle's limits but from a personal perspective I prefer Auto's due the fact less footwork esp in tarffic..... the idea of caravaning is to enjoy the whole holiday not dread the journey there and back....

[Blocky10]

I've towed with both and really there not much in it as long as your within the vechicle's limits but from a personal perspective I prefer Auto's due the fact less footwork esp in tarffic..... the idea of caravaning is to enjoy the whole holiday not dread the journey there and back....
mmmmm kind of. I think the stressful leg aching terrible journey there puts you in the correct mood to throw up an awning [emoji37]

Auto every time for me. [emoji106]

[marti666]

mmmmm kind of. I think the stressful leg aching terrible journey there puts you in the correct mood to throw up an awning [emoji37]

Auto every time for me. [emoji106]

We best not mention awaning erection even after a reasonable journey there's always arguements...... why is it as soon as you go to put up the awning everyone and their dog needs to go in the caravan.....

[jims-terrano]

We best not mention awaning erection even after a reasonable journey there's always arguements...... why is it as soon as you go to put up the awning everyone and their dog needs to go in the caravan.....

I remember it well, lol.

Then the trapped fingers as the poles drop off the side of the caravan.

[Blocky10]

For just weekends away, I only roll out the roof. Any longer I put the whole thing up.

[firebobby]

Just got back from the Cotswold's, nice weather apart from today.
We haven't used a full awning in years, we have the bag type that rolls out and is done in less than 5 mins. We used it in France but have a screen that fits the front, to give a bit more privacy.

[Paultrol]

I would not go back to a manual, Auto every time.
no flaffing about on hill starts, eat your sandwich with out having to change gear.
steep hills drop it into 2nd or at times 1st thats going up and down hills.
Been all over Wales in the trol towing 2000kg and 7 people no worries.

[melissachels]

I've towed with both, manual terrano & auto surf. Definitely prefer a manual, even tho its more leg work, I just feel its more controlled especially downhill and you don't get the a/t oil light/overheating bother with a manual as rick said:thumb2

[micktheshed]

I've done many 1000's miles over the last 40 years using both.

Apart from the supreme ease of slow speed manoeuvring, faultless hill starts & the lack of clutch abuse whist doing both, the auto wins every time for uphill gear changes as there's no time lag to loose momentum. Under very trying conditions this can require two ratio drops, rather than one, whereas the auto is so quick only one ratio drop is required. These things are invaluable if (like me with a 1.6t 'van @ 50%+ use) a lot of towing is done.

Downhill engine drag is simply a case of selecting the correct gear, though I've always considered cadence braking the cheaper of the two options & use this in the main, in conjunction with either type of box (it helps if you have complete faith in you're brakes LOL).

The price is higher fuel consumption but, hopefully, no clutch replacement bill so this will help to offset it. I would prefer a manual during normal use though, if only for the (psychological?) sense of cornering control it gives.

The number of people I know that have changed to auto (for various reasons)
all insist (after a few months to get used to it) they would not change back; especially those that tow.
It's all about what you're used to, & what you find suites you & is more important personally, in the end.

[robertpanama]

Not if you use the gears properly, drop it into 1 and turn overdrive off and it will easily hold a 2 ton trailer back on steep hills with very little braking.
I don't tow that much with my auto but when I do I never have any problems.


With the automatic, the use of the o/d lockout and 1 & 2 gears has allowed me to descend with almost no use of brakes. If you just leave it in D you will over use your brakes. My location is actually in the Republic of Panama, 2009 Patrol.

[Daviduk1]

Just ducked into this forum from Nissan Pathfinder having broken my clutch.

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25932

Interested to see the antipathy to auto boxes. More modern autos have a lot more than 3 gears don't they? My wife's mini has 6 and can either be driven as a full auto or manual (virtually) (I think it has an electric clutch but have not investigated further yet) Surely the more modern 4x4s have more than 3 gears don't they?