Towing in 3rd gear on a 1300 mile trip
I have a 1997 GMC k1500 Z71 5.7 liter with 20000 miles and a 4L60e transmission with only 2000 miles, I will be towing a 3000# dry weight TT from Louisiana to Colorado. I plan on breaking the trip int...
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I used to tow with my '96 Buick Roadmaster wagon when I had a "lighter" 5600 lb trailer. It only had 2.93 rear gears (which were better than the standard 2.56 gears). It was always in 3rd and at 65 that was about 2500 rpm. I towed about 8,000 miles that way over 5-6 years. The main thing I would notice if I tried to tow in OD, the torque converter would unlock a LOT and the tranny temp would climb.
I just finished a 5300 mile trip to the far side of the rockies and back towing my current trailer (nearly 8,000 lbs) with my 2500 8.1L Suburban with 4.10 gears and a 4-speed. Due to a lot of windy days, much of the trip was in 3rd gear which is over 3,000 rpms a the speed I was going. No problem.
Do what works best for your vehicle, trailer and current conditions. If it is towing easily in 4th with the torque converter locked up, you are fine. If it is unlocking much at all, keep it in 3rd. Due to the spacing of the gearing in my wagon, it spent 90% of its time in 3rd with the TC locked up and any hill put in 3rd with the TC unlocked. I was pretty much never in 2nd unless I was below highway speeds or going over a mountain pass (also going slower).
I just finished a 5300 mile trip to the far side of the rockies and back towing my current trailer (nearly 8,000 lbs) with my 2500 8.1L Suburban with 4.10 gears and a 4-speed. Due to a lot of windy days, much of the trip was in 3rd gear which is over 3,000 rpms a the speed I was going. No problem.
Do what works best for your vehicle, trailer and current conditions. If it is towing easily in 4th with the torque converter locked up, you are fine. If it is unlocking much at all, keep it in 3rd. Due to the spacing of the gearing in my wagon, it spent 90% of its time in 3rd with the TC locked up and any hill put in 3rd with the TC unlocked. I was pretty much never in 2nd unless I was below highway speeds or going over a mountain pass (also going slower).
