"Towing kills CVTs"
Background
Occasionally I tow one or two motorcycles on an all aluminum trailer. The motorcycles are small and weigh less about 400 and 300 pounds each. Let's say 700 pounds of bikes and the trailer weighs 400 pounds.
On my motorcycle forum, I posted a picture of this setup being towed by my 2022 RAV4 Hybrid. Another member promptly told me towing that load will kill the CVT transmission. I've read my transmission is not the typical CVT but that's about all I know.
Am I damaging my transmission towing 1200 pounds or less?
Thanks!
Occasionally I tow one or two motorcycles on an all aluminum trailer. The motorcycles are small and weigh less about 400 and 300 pounds each. Let's say 700 pounds of bikes and the trailer weighs 400 pounds.
On my motorcycle forum, I posted a picture of this setup being towed by my 2022 RAV4 Hybrid. Another member promptly told me towing that load will kill the CVT transmission. I've read my transmission is not the typical CVT but that's about all I know.
Am I damaging my transmission towing 1200 pounds or less?
Thanks!
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No worries. The term CVT immediately congers up the steel belt and pulley system used by Nissan and others. IMO they pretty much destroy themselves towing or not.
Why Toyota and Honda even use the term as in eCVT is beyond me. That's what Honda calls the "transmission" in my Accord Hybrid when in reality it doesn't even have ANY transmission, being a direct drive system like a Tesla.
Toyota Hybrids use a variable drive system that's been the most trouble free one on the planet since it debuted in the Prius years ago.
Many posts on the drive system.
Why Toyota and Honda even use the term as in eCVT is beyond me. That's what Honda calls the "transmission" in my Accord Hybrid when in reality it doesn't even have ANY transmission, being a direct drive system like a Tesla.
Toyota Hybrids use a variable drive system that's been the most trouble free one on the planet since it debuted in the Prius years ago.
Many posts on the drive system.
one cannot ordinarily kill a Toyota hybrid e-cvt (or any planetary gear based cvt)
every other part of the car will die or fall apart before the e-cvt ever has an issue
FFS is just should be called [synergy drive] to keep it out of the cvt-naming arena
you can drive the hell out of it...far more reliable than an automatic tranny, or anyone else's CVT
that uses belts or balls and cones.
every other part of the car will die or fall apart before the e-cvt ever has an issue
FFS is just should be called [synergy drive] to keep it out of the cvt-naming arena
you can drive the hell out of it...far more reliable than an automatic tranny, or anyone else's CVT
that uses belts or balls and cones.
Not advrider.com. One of my bikes is a Versys X300 and it was on that bike specific forum.Just for reference - My Lexus NX350h (Rav4 Hybrid) has a 2000 lb towing package, with 240 total hp using this trans.
What forum and thread, I am on Advrider also and sub to the lets see your moto hauling thread.
Ha! Same bike.
The “CVT” in eCVT is achieved with a planetary gear set in combination with a small electric motor (not the one that powers the wheels) that controls the outer ring gear providing the variable in CVT. There are no slush box torque converters, no clutches as in dual clutch automatics and no belts as in conventional CVTs. This should be more reliable than those other types of transmissions. Keep towing and ignore people who don’t know what they’re talking about.
If you got a few minutes give this a look.
If you got a few minutes give this a look.
Thanks for the peace of mind.
that Weber video (among other things) convinced me to buy the rav4 hybrid ...knowing
the cvt transmission is essentially superior to any other manual or automatic or other type of CVT
it's stupid simple and bombproof. keep fluid at correct level and change it on schedule....like a lawnmower.
just dump out Toyota WS and throw new WS oil in.
the cvt transmission is essentially superior to any other manual or automatic or other type of CVT
it's stupid simple and bombproof. keep fluid at correct level and change it on schedule....like a lawnmower.
just dump out Toyota WS and throw new WS oil in.
Change it in intervals of 50K (80K km) and it will last forever. Toyota assumes it's lifetime - total B.S.
The Lifetime fluid is correct, it lasts the life of the transmission, but the kicker is that if it lasts 10,000 miles, that was the life of that transmission, they will make no bones telling you, it last a lifetime, could be 5yrs, or 20 years and 10,000 miles, 300,000 miles...
It is the life of the transmission. As whenever it dies, that was its life.
Ah Hahahahaha...
So, im changing the oil every 500 miles, transfer case and rear end at 30,000, and trans. at around 50,000
It is the life of the transmission. As whenever it dies, that was its life.
Ah Hahahahaha...
So, im changing the oil every 500 miles, transfer case and rear end at 30,000, and trans. at around 50,000
Sorry, what is WS...? i tried to figure it out but i kept going down a rabbit hole that didnt work... LOL
Is there a different transmission in the ICE than the Hybrid..?
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Ah you beat me to it. I was going to post this same YouTube reference. The same fellow also has a video about CVT transmissions. The eCVT in the RAV4 is light years ahead of the conventional CVT.
Absolutely. You need a variable speed electric motor to make the eCVT work.
WS is the name of Toyota's World Standard transmission fluid.
Unfortunately you should not be towing anything with a CVT because of its design it's a belt driven transmission. It will not last 10,000 miles if you keep if you keep doing it. its probably already damaged. That's why I bought the naturally aspirated RAV4 because they all come with 8 speed transmissions.
Sorry, you are wrong, but that's just the common misconception this whole thread is about.
And while true for other car brands it is virtually the absolute opposite of the so called eCVT Toyota has been using since the Prius.
Please read the responses posted here, especially #4, #9 & #11.
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