Towing Boat In Drive Or Tow-haul Mode?

2500GMC2009 · May 25, 2009

Just bought a 2009 GMC 2500 with the 4.10 axle. Needs some advice on what gear to tow my 3600lb wakeboard boat in (drive/tow-haul/manual)? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Ranger · May 25, 2009

Is it a 6 speed? I thought the 2007s+ were 6 speed autos and thus don't get 4:10 gears...Anyways something that "light" to your truck you can just put it in Drive unless it feels like it's pulling too hard, in that case drop it down one gear...You don't need tow haul for anything under say 10k lbs.

5-0stank · May 25, 2009

Is it a 6 speed? I thought the 2007s+ were 6 speed autos and thus don't get 4:10 gears...Anyways something that "light" to your truck you can just put it in Drive unless it feels like it's pulling too hard, in that case drop it down one gear...You don't need tow haul for anything under say 10k lbs.

The 6spd autos come w/ either 3.73's or 4.10's.

pwall · May 25, 2009

Tow/Haul mode is 'generally' used on loads at 75% of your truck's capacity.

3600lbs is no where near that. ;)

2500GMC2009 · May 25, 2009

Thanks for the info!!!!

irengineer · May 25, 2009

Thanks for the info!!!!

GCVW for the 4.10 package is 18,500 LB, so plan on using Tow Haul when your total load (truck + gear + trailer) is above 13,875 LBS (75% of 18,500LBS). Assuming your truck + gear is in the mid 6000 Lb range.......lets say 6,875 Lbs for example, the 75% GCVW rule of thumb would tell you to use Tow Haul at trailers weights of 7000 Lb or greater.

IRE

Airspeed-Alive · May 25, 2009

Yep - that boat is nothing for your truck. I'd only use the Tow/Haul if going slow around a lot of winding hills (ex: through a park).

Stevens03 · May 25, 2009

You won't even know it's there.

InertiaFaze · May 25, 2009

Thanks for the info!!!!

GCVW for the 4.10 package is 18,500 LB, so plan on using Tow Haul when your total load (truck + gear + trailer) is above 13,875 LBS (75% of 18,500LBS). Assuming your truck + gear is in the mid 6000 Lb range.......lets say 6,875 Lbs for example, the 75% GCVW rule of thumb would tell you to use Tow Haul at trailers weights of 7000 Lb or greater.

IRE

Another thing to think about.....the "Grade Braking" feature works in Tow Haul only and you really don't want this feature to activate with a light load. It's intended to work when the loads are heavy as indicated above. But under certain situations it could activate with a light load as well. If this was to activate on gravel or other low friction surface, the trailer could get a little "loose".

IF

Daniel T · May 26, 2009

tow/haul mode does a lot more.

it changes the shift program in your trans. Raises the threshold RPMs that your tranny shifts at. Also holds the gears longer under lighter throttle application. And unless you are towing on gravel or dirt roads, the grade-braking feature is nice.

I use tow/haul almost anytime I am towing anything over 2500#s. It is there for a reason...use it, it will not hurt anything.

and 3600#s will effect the truck more than you think.

BlackSilver · May 27, 2009

There's no good reason NOT to use Tow/Haul mode. Even with a relatively light load it gives you several advantages and no disadvantages other than a little sharper shift transitions. If that upsets your girlfriend, dump her. She doesn't understand trucks anyhow.

vertikal · May 30, 2009

Just bought a 2009 GMC 2500 with the 4.10 axle. Needs some advice on what gear to tow my 3600lb wakeboard boat in (drive/tow-haul/manual)? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

that is really light, I'm pulling 9,440 lbs w/2500LT in drive/with tow-haul