On an equipped 2022-and-newer Toyota Tundra, use TOW HAUL for a loaded trailer under 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) and TOW+ for a loaded trailer over 5,000 lb. Toyota’s published wording does not assign either mode at exactly 5,000 lb, so check the owner’s manual for your exact model year at that boundary. These modes change engine, transmission and steering behavior for towing or hauling; they do not increase any towing, payload, axle, tire or hitch rating.
Last updated: September 19, 2026. Mode names, weight guidance, activation steps, automatic deactivation conditions and trailer-sway instructions were rechecked against Toyota owner-manual materials.
Quick Answer
For an equipped 2022-and-newer Tundra, select TOW HAUL when the trailer’s actual loaded weight is less than 5,000 lb and TOW+ when it is more than 5,000 lb. Toyota’s manual wording leaves exactly 5,000 lb unspecified. Press the TOW HAUL switch to activate the system, use the mode select switch to change to TOW+ when needed, and confirm the corresponding indicator in the instrument cluster.
Key Takeaways
- Use the trailer’s actual loaded weight, not its advertised dry or empty weight, when choosing a mode.
- On equipped 2022-and-newer trucks, Toyota specifies TOW HAUL below 5,000 lb of trailer weight and TOW+ above 5,000 lb.
- Toyota says the modes change engine, transmission and steering operation to better suit towing or hauling; TOW+ is the higher-demand setting.
- The mode does not raise the truck’s payload, axle, hitch, gross combined or trailer-weight limits.
- Earlier Tundras generally use a single TOW/HAUL mode, so do not apply the newer two-mode instructions to an older truck.
Toyota Tundra TOW HAUL vs. TOW+: What Is the Difference?
Toyota uses TOW HAUL and TOW+ on equipped third-generation Tundras to change engine, transmission and steering behavior for towing or hauling. Toyota describes TOW HAUL as the lighter-duty setting and TOW+ as the higher-demand setting. Earlier Tundras use a different single-mode TOW/HAUL system, so the two-mode weight guidance below should not be carried backward to those trucks.
Naming note: Toyota marketing has also described the heavier setting as “Tow/Haul+,” while the owner’s manual and instrument indicator use TOW+. This guide uses TOW+ when referring to the control or indicator.
| Setting | General Use | What You May Notice |
|---|---|---|
| TOW HAUL | Loaded trailers weighing less than 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) on equipped 2022-and-newer models. | Engine, transmission and steering operation are adjusted for towing; response is less aggressive than TOW+. |
| TOW+ | Loaded trailers weighing more than 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) on models equipped with the second setting. | The higher-demand towing calibration is selected when more towing power is needed than TOW HAUL provides. |
| Normal mode | Everyday driving without a meaningful trailer or payload demand. | Standard daily-driving calibration rather than the towing calibration. |
The modes do not change the truck’s weight ratings. They alter vehicle-control calibration so the truck responds more appropriately to towing or hauling.
Note: Earlier Tundras generally have one TOW/HAUL setting rather than separate TOW HAUL and TOW+ modes. Use the Toyota manual for your exact model year instead of applying newer instructions to an older truck.
How Do You Activate TOW HAUL and TOW+?
On an equipped third-generation Tundra, press the TOW HAUL switch once to activate TOW HAUL and confirm the TOW HAUL indicator. If the trailer requires TOW+, turn the separate mode select switch until the TOW+ indicator appears. Press the TOW HAUL switch again to cancel the towing mode.
Toyota also states that TOW HAUL and TOW+ automatically deactivate when the four-wheel-drive control is in 4L or when Drive Mode Select or Multi-Terrain Select is selected. If the towing indicator disappears, safely check those settings before assuming there is a fault.
Exactly 5,000 lb: Toyota’s published third-generation wording says TOW HAUL for trailers weighing less than 5,000 lb and TOW+ for trailers weighing more than 5,000 lb. It does not expressly assign a mode at exactly 5,000 lb. Check the manual for your exact truck or ask Toyota for model-specific guidance at that boundary.
When Should You Use TOW HAUL for Lighter Loads?
On an equipped 2022-and-newer Tundra, use TOW HAUL when the trailer’s actual loaded weight is less than 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). That can include a small utility trailer, personal watercraft trailer, motorcycle trailer or lightly loaded cargo trailer, provided the complete setup remains within all applicable ratings.
Gross trailer weight means the trailer plus everything loaded inside or on it. Water, batteries, propane, tools, camping supplies and cargo can make the real weight much higher than the manufacturer’s dry-weight figure.
TOW HAUL is also intended for hauling a heavy load even without a trailer. When towing or hauling changes the truck’s response on hills or in traffic, the towing calibration can keep the engine and transmission operating in a more suitable range.
Pro Tip: Weigh the fully loaded truck and trailer at a certified public scale. A brochure’s dry weight does not include every passenger, accessory, fluid or item you add for a trip.
How Does TOW HAUL Help on Hills?
Grades increase the demand placed on the engine, transmission and brakes. In normal driving, the transmission may favor a higher gear and then downshift again as load and grade change. TOW HAUL or TOW+ changes the towing calibration so the powertrain can respond more appropriately to that demand.
On descents, the system may select or hold a lower gear to provide engine braking. Engine braking helps control speed and reduces how continuously you must press the service brakes.
You still need to choose a safe speed before the descent begins. Do not depend on TOW HAUL, cruise control or Trailer Sway Control to correct excessive speed or an unstable trailer.
Warning: If the truck displays a transmission-temperature, brake, engine or towing-system warning, reduce the load on the vehicle, stop safely and follow the owner’s manual. Do not continue towing simply because TOW HAUL or TOW+ is active.
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When Should You Use TOW+ for Heavy Towing?
On an equipped 2022-and-newer Tundra, select TOW+ when the trailer’s actual loaded weight is more than 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). Toyota describes TOW+ as the setting to use when more towing power is needed than TOW HAUL provides.
TOW+ uses the higher-demand towing calibration. Toyota also describes its throttle response as more aggressive than standard TOW HAUL. This can suit a travel trailer, equipment trailer, enclosed cargo trailer or larger boat that exceeds the 5,000-lb mode threshold, while remaining within the truck’s exact ratings.
The heavier setting does not make an overweight trailer safe. Before towing, verify all of the following:
- Trailer weight rating: The maximum permitted trailer weight for your exact Tundra configuration.
- GCWR: The maximum combined weight of the loaded truck and loaded trailer.
- GVWR: The maximum allowed weight of the loaded truck itself.
- GAWR: The maximum weight permitted on each axle.
- Payload: The weight available for passengers, cargo, accessories, hitch equipment and trailer tongue weight.
- Hitch rating: The limits of the receiver, ball mount, hitch ball and weight-distribution equipment.
- Tire ratings: The load capacity and inflation requirements for the truck and trailer tires.
How Do You Choose the Right Toyota Tundra Towing Mode?
Use this process before leaving:
- Confirm the generation and controls: Earlier trucks may have one TOW/HAUL mode; equipped 2022-and-newer trucks may have both TOW HAUL and TOW+.
- Find the loaded trailer weight: Use a scale when possible rather than relying only on advertised dry weight.
- Check your manual: Follow Toyota’s mode-selection guidance for the exact model year.
- Select the mode: On the two-mode system, press the TOW HAUL switch and use the mode select switch for TOW+ when required; confirm the correct indicator on the instrument cluster.
- Test the trailer brakes: Confirm that the brake controller, gain setting, lights and electrical connector work correctly.
- Reassess while driving: Reduce speed if the truck shifts constantly, the trailer begins to sway or temperatures rise.
The payload label on the driver’s door area is important, but it is not a complete towing guide. It helps you understand how much occupant and cargo weight the truck can carry. You must also check the owner’s manual, towing specifications, axle ratings and hitch limits.
Towing capacity is only one limit. A trailer combination can remain below the advertised towing maximum and still exceed the truck’s payload, rear-axle or hitch rating.
What Changes When TOW HAUL or TOW+ Is Active?
The operating changes can feel different from normal driving. These changes are expected and do not necessarily indicate a problem.
| Possible Change | Why It Happens | What It Does Not Mean |
|---|---|---|
| The engine runs at higher rpm. | The transmission holds a lower gear to keep useful power available. | It does not automatically mean the transmission is slipping. |
| Upshifts happen later. | The towing shift schedule prioritizes response under load. | It does not guarantee improved fuel economy. |
| The truck slows more when you release the accelerator. | A lower gear can provide additional engine braking. | It does not replace properly adjusted trailer brakes. |
| Fuel use increases. | Towing weight, aerodynamic drag and lower gears require more energy. | It does not mean the wrong mode was necessarily selected. |
How Does TOW HAUL Change Powertrain Operation?
TOW HAUL is intended to make engine, transmission and steering operation more suitable for towing or hauling. In practice, the transmission may hold a useful gear longer instead of prioritizing the same shift behavior used for unloaded driving.
Do not treat either mode as transmission protection or as permission to exceed a rating. Vehicle condition, temperature, speed, trailer weight, terrain and driving technique still determine how much stress the truck experiences.
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Reduced Gear Hunting
Gear hunting occurs when the transmission repeatedly shifts between two gears because one gear cannot comfortably maintain speed while the next gear produces more engine speed than normal mode prefers.
A towing shift schedule can hold the lower gear longer. This provides steadier power on an incline and reduces repeated shifting. You may hear more engine noise because the engine is operating at a higher rpm.
What About Transmission Temperature?
TOW HAUL and TOW+ are towing calibrations, not temperature-control systems. If the truck shows a transmission-temperature warning, follow the message and owner’s-manual instructions rather than assuming the selected towing mode will keep temperatures normal.
Reduce speed and load on the powertrain when conditions demand it, and stop safely when a warning message requires you to do so. Do not continue towing an overloaded or unstable trailer.
Best TOW HAUL Practices for Toyota Tundra Owners
The mode name alone is not enough to choose a setting because Toyota changed the Tundra system across generations. Match the instructions to the truck you are actually driving.
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Toyota Tundra Guidelines
- Use the exact model-year manual to confirm whether your truck has one TOW/HAUL mode or both TOW HAUL and TOW+.
- On the two-mode system, use the trailer’s actual loaded weight when applying Toyota’s under/over-5,000-lb guidance.
- Confirm the dashboard indicator after selecting a towing mode.
- Remember that the towing modes can deactivate when 4L, Drive Mode Select or Multi-Terrain Select is selected.
- Use properly adjusted trailer brakes and towing equipment when required.
- Stay within every truck, trailer, tire and hitch rating, and reduce speed before steep grades and curves.
How Should You Use TOW HAUL Safely?
The correct mode can make the truck easier to manage, but safe towing depends on the complete setup. Before every trip, inspect the hitch pin, coupler, safety chains, breakaway cable, electrical connector, lights, tires and cargo securement.
Keep enough following distance for the longer stopping distance created by a trailer. Enter curves more slowly, make wider turns and avoid sudden steering corrections. Strong crosswinds and passing trucks can move a tall trailer even when the truck is within its ratings.
If trailer sway begins, Toyota instructs the driver to grip the steering wheel firmly, steer straight ahead and release the accelerator immediately but very gradually. Do not increase speed and do not apply the tow vehicle’s brakes. After the combination stabilizes, stop in a safe place and check the trailer tires, load distribution, tongue weight and vehicle loading before continuing.
Warning: TOW HAUL and TOW+ do not increase towing capacity, payload, GCWR, GVWR, GAWR, tire capacity or hitch capacity. They also cannot correct an improperly loaded or unstable trailer.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use TOW HAUL mode in a Toyota Tundra?
On an equipped 2022-and-newer Tundra, use TOW HAUL for a loaded trailer weighing less than 5,000 lb (2,268 kg). It is also intended for hauling a heavy load. Earlier Tundras may use one TOW/HAUL mode instead, so follow the manual for your model year.
When should I use TOW+ on a Toyota Tundra?
On equipped third-generation Tundras, Toyota specifies TOW+ when the loaded trailer weighs more than 5,000 lb (2,268 kg), or when more towing power is needed than TOW HAUL provides.
Which mode should I use at exactly 5,000 lb?
Toyota’s published wording says TOW HAUL for trailers weighing less than 5,000 lb and TOW+ for trailers weighing more than 5,000 lb. It does not expressly assign exactly 5,000 lb, so check the owner’s manual for your exact truck or ask Toyota for model-specific guidance.
How do I turn on TOW HAUL or TOW+?
Press the TOW HAUL switch once and confirm the TOW HAUL indicator. To use TOW+ on a truck equipped with the two-mode system, turn the mode select switch until the TOW+ indicator appears. Press the TOW HAUL switch again to cancel the towing mode.
Why did TOW HAUL or TOW+ turn off by itself?
Toyota states that the modes automatically deactivate when the four-wheel-drive control is in 4L or when Drive Mode Select or Multi-Terrain Select is selected. Check those settings and the instrument-cluster indicator.
Does TOW HAUL or TOW+ increase the Tundra’s towing capacity?
No. The modes change vehicle-control behavior but do not raise the truck’s trailer-weight, payload, axle, tire, hitch or combined-weight ratings.
Conclusion
For an equipped 2022-and-newer Toyota Tundra, use TOW HAUL below 5,000 lb of actual loaded trailer weight and TOW+ above 5,000 lb. At exactly 5,000 lb, Toyota’s published wording does not specify a mode. Earlier Tundras may use a single TOW/HAUL setting, so match the instructions to your model year.
Before towing, confirm the trailer’s loaded weight and every applicable payload, axle, combined-weight, tire and hitch limit. Select the correct mode, verify its indicator, check the trailer brakes and connections, and reduce speed when grades, wind or traffic increase the demand on the combination.
Sources
- Toyota Tundra Owner’s Manual — TOW HAUL/TOW+ operation, trailer-weight guidance, towing limits and trailer-sway instructions.
- Toyota Manuals and Warranties — model-specific operating instructions for other Tundra model years.
- Toyota Tundra Specifications and Features — current Tundra capability and feature information.
- SAE J2807 Tow-Vehicle Rating Standard — standardized procedures used to determine trailer-weight and combined-weight ratings.
- NHTSA: Towing a Trailer, Being Equipped for Safety — trailer loading, equipment and safe-driving guidance.
