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 into 2 1/2 days of travel, question is will it be OK to travel for 10 hours or so at 2500/3000 rpm in 3rd gear towing around 3500#? Will it be too much of a strain on my engine/transmission?

Why do you want to tow a light trailer in 3rd gear? A 1997 with 20,000 miles?

Bruce1963 wrote: Will it be too much of a strain on my engine/transmission?No but it might be a strain on your safety......if that results in going too much below the posted speed limit.IF.....the transmission will shift into high gear/lock up and STAY there, you are much better off letting it DO that.Downshifting when/if necessary is MUCH preferred to staying in a lower gear because the transmission will heat more that way.

Sounds like your transmission is done. If it won't go in 4 gear your tranny might blow

Everything I have read says to not tow in overdrive, 4L60e is a 4 speed tansmmssion. It runs great the truck is in tip top shape, I just don't want it to hunt for gears, I want to find the sweet spot and that seems to be in 3rd gear going 60-65.

That's correct, the 60e is known to have weak OD gears. With the weight you're looking at it probably doesn't matter. Run whatever gear takes the least throttle.Frontal area / wind drag will always be more a factor than weight with travel trailers.

Towing in 3rd gear on a 1300 mile trip | Good Sam Community

JayGee
Explorer
Jul 03, 2017
I would not tow all the time in third gear. If it starts searching you can pull it down to third or just push the throttle a little and make it down shift. But unless it is running at low rpm or struggling I would let it go to forth.
Ductape
Explorer
Jul 03, 2017
That's correct, the 60e is known to have weak OD gears. With the weight you're looking at it probably doesn't matter. Run whatever gear takes the least throttle.

Frontal area / wind drag will always be more a factor than weight with travel trailers.
Bruce1963
Explorer
Jul 03, 2017
Everything I have read says to not tow in overdrive, 4L60e is a 4 speed tansmmssion. It runs great the truck is in tip top shape, I just don't want it to hunt for gears, I want to find the sweet spot and that seems to be in 3rd gear going 60-65.
snowpeke
Explorer
Jul 03, 2017
Sounds like your transmission is done. If it won't go in 4 gear your tranny might blow
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Jul 03, 2017
Bruce1963 wrote:
Will it be too much of a strain on my engine/transmission?

No but it might be a strain on your safety......if that results in going too much below the posted speed limit.

IF.....the transmission will shift into high gear/lock up and STAY there, you are much better off letting it DO that.

Downshifting when/if necessary is MUCH preferred to staying in a lower gear because the transmission will heat more that way.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jul 03, 2017
Why do you want to tow a light trailer in 3rd gear? A 1997 with 20,000 miles?

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Towing in 3rd gear on a 1300 mile trip

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