towing with 2001hd 6 liter auto.

pointhalifax · February 23, 2002

I am told that GM recommends towing in overdrive,with the tow haul mode on.

It has been suggested that when entering freeways where you have to accelerate to 45 quickly one should use third gear so as not to heat up the transmission.

Would appreciate the benefit of all you wise, experienced, peoples advice.

Ron

2001 Silverado 2500hd vortec 6,4:10

Titanium 24E29

Shaners · February 23, 2002

Ron, welcome to the forum.

When I tow I use the tow/haul button and OD. My trailer weighs 8000lbs and the tranny seems to know that it shouldn't shift into OD until it can handle the load at speed. For me, that means the tranny generally won't shift into OD until I'm moving the legal speed limit and I'm on a flat piece of road.

Dihappy · February 23, 2002

I tow a couple boats alot.

I keep my tranny in 3rd on the highway. At least here in TX, there are alot of hills and if i have it in OD (even with tow/haul) the tranny shifts alot when climbing hills.

So, i keep it in 3rd gear. I use up more gas, but at least the tranny isnt shiftin so much and gettin hot.

Every now and then when i know ill be on a stretch of flat land ill kick it up to OD to help the gas.

kc2aku · February 23, 2002

if speeds dont get over 60mph i tow in 3rd if on the interstate where the speed limit is 75mph I tow in D. I generally dont pull more than 5k and the hills in eastern SoDak are from pot holes. so it'll stay in D with no "shift business" and even cruise into a mild head wind and not bog down

Shaners · February 24, 2002

Towing my trailer last summer on a 90* day with the a/c on most of the time my tranny temp gauge never went above 195*. This was towing in OD the whole time. The tranny wouldn't shift into OD unless the truck was on the flats...

pointhalifax · February 24, 2002

Thank you very much for your advice and for sharing your experience.

You are good folks.

Having this site to come to for help and for sharing experiences is great stuff.

Ron

BDBWTE · April 30, 2002

Under hard acceleration from a stop I would recommend putting the truck into 3rd and also using the Tow/Haul option to cut the clutching of the tranny. Once at highway speeds I would drop the tranny into Overdrive again with the Tow/Haul engaged. Once the load is moving the stress on the tranny is significantly less then the initial stress of starting the load to move.