Towing with an Automatic?

I think it's laziness that makes me knock it down a gear as it's easier to flip a flappy paddle than it is to press the brake pedal .... 

but there are times when you see signs that suggest you should select a lower gear when towing down long/step hills

bit of a contradiction there MM, left foot braking. here's your reply to my earlier post

"LL are you suggesting using two feet?"

I get normally high thirties solo and it once was showing 42mpg solo

My tongue was in my cheek 😉 .... it has been suggested here that left foot braking is all but impossible and you'll go directly to hell if you even try 🤣

42  were you coasting with the wind behind you? 😉

I once recorded 55mpg (solo), CC set to 58mph (Ford Kuga 2.0l TD..manual) 🙂

In the years that I had my 2.0L Kuga, I covered 24000 miles, of which 8600 were towing. Fuel consumption over ownership was a whisker over 40mpg.

No it was on the A14 between Peterborough and Northampton and with 4 of us in the car ,checked it as I was asked what our car did ,mpg so I brought up the current mpg and it keep at that for miles

As a club member for 45 years I'm with the X5 man. I have a X1 automatic. These vehicles are fitted an 8 speed automatic box made by ZF. This company has been making auto boxes for decades. I have paddles behind the steering wheel that allows me to change gear if I wish, Also I can turn it into a manual gear box by moving the selector and using the paddles. 

It is a totally different type of box to the DSG but works very well, I have had the car 5 years and towed in the UK and the continent .I also make great use of the cruise control function, this together with the auto box makes for relaxed towing, less fatigue and aides safe arrival.

It works very well when towing by leaving it in drive and letting it short which gear is best. However if you wish for more speed to overtake kick down is instant. Gear selection is smooth without jerks.

I would recommend an auto box and ZF in particular. Previous to this  have towed with manuals except in the early 1970's, but those gear boxes have no relevance to today's.

Why is this now in fancy writing?????

My advice - go for auto!!!!

What sort of auto box is it, Pete? TC rather than CVT?