In tow haul mode is eighth gear automatically turned off?

JRB · May 28, 2025

I do some light to mid duty long distance towing. I am thrilled to move to the LC from a V6 4Runner. I was accustomed to always being in manual mode and never going above fourth gear to avoid cooking the overdrive. In the LC will the transmission stay out of eighth gear while in tow Haul? Thanks!!

misfits9095 · May 28, 2025

I don’t think there’s a as to know for certain, but I believe the transmission does not go into 8th gear while in tow haul mode. The RPMs are significantly higher than in regular drive mode. From what I have read Toyota’s tow haul mode keeps you at a stronger gear for towing (which also happens to be a lower gear) to avoid wear on the transmission. I read that on a tundra forum recently while researching tow haul mode.

ferrari1898 · May 29, 2025

JRB said:
I do some light to mid duty long distance towing. I am thrilled to move to the LC from a V6 4Runner. I was accustomed to always being in manual mode and never going above fourth gear to avoid cooking the overdrive. In the LC will the transmission stay out of eighth gear while in tow Haul? Thanks!!

In manual mode in the Land Cruiser w/ Tow Mode, you can enable 8th. Having the Toyota shift in Tow mode I think it could select 8th gear, but you will need a long road with a gentle downhill grade. I am less concerned with what gear the transmission uses and more concerned with the frequency of shifting. I notice many times after filling up, that I forget to enable towing mode and start to notice the Land Cruiser seems bogged down. In tow mode it seems to select a lower gear and does not shift as frequently.

I do not think 8th is locked out, but conditions to justify it are very limited.

PDPete · May 29, 2025

I don't know, but I'd honestly be surprised if it even hit 7th gear when towing, which is also an overdrive gear (6th gear ratio is 1:1)...mine seems to rarely hit 7th gear even when not towing.