tow/haul mode, "D" or "3"??

[Coachmenguy]

howdy

i tow a 30ft travel trailer with a weight around 7000# and in michigan(fairly flat, some hills) i leave it in D and let the tow haul mode do its thing, this is what GM says to do, but reading some forums i see people who drop it into 3rd, i have a trans temp gauge and it stays pretty cool so i roll with it, im just wondering what youguys are doing???

[lrymal]

...i have a trans temp gauge and it stays pretty cool so i roll with it, im just wondering what youguys are doing???

 

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I don't think you'll find a set rule because it depends on the terrain, as you have mentioned. In my area, we have a lot of hills and deeper into East Texas, #3 has GOT to be used. "D" is really an over-drive.

 

I think you just go with what feels good to the truck. Don't lug it, and if it is hunting a lot for a good gear, then drop it back to "3". You may or may not need to use TOW/Haul all the time. All of this is variable. That is the beauty of these trucks, you can adjust for a given need. In your case, you may have the perfect combination.

[Bish]

howdy

i tow a 30ft travel trailer with a weight around 7000# and in michigan(fairly flat, some hills) i leave it in D and let the tow haul mode do its thing, this is what GM says to do, but reading some forums i see people who drop it into 3rd, i have a trans temp gauge and it stays pretty cool so i roll with it, im just wondering what youguys are doing???

 

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Tranny temp is the key IMO. 200 degrees is my magic number. If it is flat and you're not hunting gears AND the torque converter is staying locked, I see no problem in D. If you are hunting gears or the torque converter is running unlocked or locking/unlocking, it will heat up the trans FAST.

 

The prime reason I got an Escalade Cluster ws for the trans temp. When I was towing about 5000lbs in Colorado, I could not keep it under 200 degrees in D, not even close. 3 would stay at 195ish. Believe it or not, I get better gas mileage towing in 3.

[Shaners]

I've towed both ways and both seem fine... I would use the tow/haul any time you are hitched up to anything that weighs more than a small trailer with a quad on it.

 

If you can get used to the sound of the motor turning the RPM's then you might be surprised when you put it in "3" and get better MPG's. A good test is to run at a steady 60 MPH in "D" on flat ground (no cruise control). Then pull it down to "3" without moving your foot on the gas pedal, and I'll almost guarantee you will begin to accelerate. This means that you can let off the gas a little and will get better MPG's because the motor is in it's powerband.

[scrapykunas]

(off topic, sorry) with escalade gauge swap, do you need to wire anything for trans temp to work or does GM already have that sensored wired in computer?

[fmjhp594]

(off topic, sorry) with escalade gauge swap, do you need to wire anything for trans temp to work or does GM already have that sensored wired in computer?

 

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it is a plug and play ordeal. no fancy wiring or mechanical stuff to do. it takes a whole 15 minutes to do a swap.

[freakyt]

I thought Tow/Haul mode kept the tranny out of overdrive all the time... That isn't the case?

 

I've never used mine

[AirForceAngler]

I thought Tow/Haul mode kept the tranny out of overdrive all the time...  That isn't the case?

 

I've never used mine

 

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In T/H mode, mine will go into Overdrive around 60 MPH. With that heavy of a trailer, I'd recommend towing in 3. It is a 1:1 ratio, so it's no different than the older trucks without OD. You'll give up some gas mileage, but that's a small price to pay vs. rebuilding the transmission.

 

This applies to my 1500 though, a 2500 may be able to tow more in OD.

[GMC6000]

Tow/haul mode only changes the shift points, and has nothing to do with overdrive, excluding the allison.

[DJinCO]

3

[Guest chevydeerhunter]

(off topic, sorry) with escalade gauge swap, do you need to wire anything for trans temp to work or does GM already have that sensored wired in computer?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

it is a plug and play ordeal. no fancy wiring or mechanical stuff to do. it takes a whole 15 minutes to do a swap.

 

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But you do have to take it in to have the mileage programmed, don't you?

[Bish]

(off topic, sorry) with escalade gauge swap, do you need to wire anything for trans temp to work or does GM already have that sensored wired in computer?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Plug and play. Unplug olf cluster, plug in new, voila instant temp guage.

 

Sorry, didn't see the response. For mileage, a speed shop (dealer told me where they send them) and $ will solve that. Or a door sticker. At the speed shop, I pulled the cluster in the parking lot and brought BOTH clusters in. They required the old one to set the new or else it was a door sticker. 10 minutes later, install in parking lot and drive off.