Towing gear

[Mr_Shamrock]

I didn't want to hijack the earlier "tow vehicle" thread but was just wondering what the opinion is on towing in overdrive or not. I have spoken with a lot of people that tow boats and other trailers that complain about their transmission searching for the right gear. Just about everyone of them were towing in overdrive. I suggested towing in 3rd and everyone that I got a response from said it was a huge improvement. What do you guys think?

 

[riptide09]

Re: Towing gear

Dejavu

Still on the front page. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=424050

 

[Mr_Shamrock]

Re: Towing gear

Oops sorry, I totally missed that thread. This is a VERY active forum!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Towing gear

I suggested towing in 3rd and everyone that I got a response from said it was a huge improvement. What do you guys think?

3rd is relative to your transmission, in 3rd mine would be screaming for mercy on the highway Modern automatics are more likely to be 5 or 6 speeds.

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Towing gear

If it is gear searching - turn off the overdrive. Both of mine tow differently and require dropping the OD at different times. My Toyota T100 (2WD) drops the OD at the slightest hint of an incline pulling around 3k#. The Dodge B2500 (conversion van 3/4 ton) doesn't have to drop the OD until I hit the Ozarks. However, it has a lot more motor in it also.

Make sure you are running transmission coolers and that you aren't trying to make it is well matched to the loads you expect it to handle.

I have to say that I have been really surprised by what my T100 does. I got it when I got rid of my F350 and expected to be sorely disappointed. It is a boring truck without a doubt. But, it has done all that I have asked of it. That includes hooking a snatch block to our '09 F350 (anchor) and pulling the 6K# forklift back up onto the pavement.

Granted the Toy was spinning tires and sliding itself sideways at the time.

 

[Mr_Shamrock]

Re: Towing gear

3rd is relative to your transmission, in 3rd mine would be screaming for mercy on the highway Modern automatics are more likely to be 5 or 6 speeds.

I stand corrected, but us poor folks can't afford a truck that new. I should have said not in overdrive.

 

[Mr_Shamrock]

Re: Towing gear

If it is gear searching - turn off the overdrive. Both of mine tow differently and require dropping the OD at different times. My Toyota T100 (2WD) drops the OD at the slightest hint of an incline pulling around 3k#. The Dodge B2500 (conversion van 3/4 ton) doesn't have to drop the OD until I hit the Ozarks. However, it has a lot more motor in it also.

Make sure you are running transmission coolers and that you aren't trying to make it is well matched to the loads you expect it to handle.

I have to say that I have been really surprised by what my T100 does. I got it when I got rid of my F350 and expected to be sorely disappointed. It is a boring truck without a doubt. But, it has done all that I have asked of it. That includes hooking a snatch block to our '09 F350 (anchor) and pulling the 6K# forklift back up onto the pavement.

Granted the Toy was spinning tires and sliding itself sideways at the time.

Good to know about the T100. Since I bought the big block Suburban I really don't have a need for my other big block pick-up and have been looking for a 1/2 ton just pull my yard trailer around when I need it. Running errands in a big block 2500 is getting expensive!!!!!!

 

[nate1220]

Re: Towing gear

I know my gmc shuts OD off if you turn tow haul on but it also changes shift points.

 

[searay3]

Re: Towing gear

F150, 5.4 trailer/towing package. (trans cooler, wiring and such) pulling a 5000 lb boat. In the manual it states towing in OD is fine. If it starts 'hunting' for the proper gear, in other words goes into and out of od and will not stay in od, take it out of od as it will overheat the transmission/oil. Happens to me on longer pulls, 1/2 mile to mile up then back down. For the duration of that type of terrain, take it out of od. On flat terrain, it has no issues staying in od. If you are running a manual transmission, see your owners manual, some will handle towing in od, others will blow the gear out of the side of the trans. Some use very small shafts for od.

 

[109jb]

Re: Towing gear

I know my gmc shuts OD off if you turn tow haul on but it also changes shift points.

This depends. I have a 2003 GMC 2500 HD Diesel and "tow haul" and "OD off" are two different things. A short push of the button on the end of the shift handle turns "tow/haul" mode on and off. Push the button and hold it in and it turns OD on or off.

 

[jtmarten]

Re: Towing gear

I tow with OD on with my '96 GMC Suburban K2500/454 unless I'm in really hilly country. With the 1/2 ton models it's not advisable to tow with OD on, but the 3/4 ton tranny is fine with it.

 

[The Hammer]

Re: Towing gear

This is where a transmission temperature guage would be nice. When I had my Ford Ranger I turned the overdrive off when I towed, now I have the grown up version F150 I leave it in overdrive but turn it off if it shifts constantly. My fear would be climbing a long graduall grade where it stays in overdrive and overheats the oil.

 

[nate1220]

Re: Towing gear

My GMC is older it's a 1999 so just turning tow haul on turns OD off.