1500 yukon xl tow mode

Tow mode should cut down on the hunting. We have a 2011 Yukon XL that I towed a 7500# trailer with and it only really hunted in hills. You can try to change the gears by either slightly putting more or less pressure on the gas and sometimes that forces it to shift.

I have a 2007 Yukon Denali XL and always use the tow setting....I pull a Passport 2910bh (dry weight 5,400..cargo 1,700). The limit on the Yukon is only 7,900. I only get 8-9mpg when towing.

Many people towing with naturally aspirated gas engines like ours do get slightly better fuel economy towing in one gear higher than sometimes needed. This is because you are using less available torque. For example 25% accel pedal in 3rd at 2500rpm vs. 50% in 4th at 1800rpm. Also, little reserve power means speed drops quicker on hills. Then it finally downshifts two gears and tries to make up for the speed loss.

My prior TV was a 2003 F-150 5.4L 3.73. It towed very well in 3rd gear. It was a little happier at 3000rpm than 2500rpm, but that would be about 72mph. 4.10 would have been perfect.

Yea, it is right around the speed I like to run, I don't feel comfortable going over 65 with a trailer, the tires are only rated to 65. I seemed to not shift alot on flat ground but any type of small hill or incline it would shift down. Thanks for the help guys.

I didn't think you can get better fuel economy with a lower gear and higher rpm's?

Bill

Lock out 4th gear, use tow/haul mode. Both will offering improved towing experience, better throttle response, longer transmission life, and maybe better fuel economy.

dreeder...check out this thread... Manual Transmission? Yea or Nay?


You and I are on the same page

Tow mode does not lock out overdrive. It sounds like the speed you like to run is very close to the programed shift point. I'm sure this would cause problems. If the trans is shifting back and forth a lot then lock out overdrive. Or, you could run at a slightly higher speed and see if it holds in overdrive. If so you would likely get better mileage that way then going slower in a lower gear.

Yep, I like to lock out the higher gear so that it doesn't search like your describing. Tow mode will allow the transmission to go into overdrive it just holds gears longer and adjusts shift points depending on the load your putting on the powertrain. Man I miss having the option of a manual transmission in these newer trucks.....drives me up a freakin wall, I do not like autos. What the heck just happened? I just went off on a complete tangent and a rant...sorry about that..:S