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Second_Chance's avatar
Second_Chance
Explorer II
Oct 28, 2013

Duramax, Allison, Tow-Haul mode advice

We traded the '05 Tahoe in on a new 2013 GMC Sierra 2500HD crew cab with the Durmax diesel, Allison transmission, and HD tow package. We tow a Surveyor Sport 220 that weighs in about 4,400# dry with about 2,300# cargo capacity (which we never approach). For those of you with similar GMC/Chevy trucks, in what load/grade combinations do you or do you not use the Tow-Haul mode? Do you wait until the motor is working harder or just use it all the time when towing. I realize our travel trailer is nowhere near the limit for the truck, but want to strike a balance between economy and vehicle life...
  • I pull quite a bit more than that and only use tow haul when i get in mountains.
  • Love the tow /haul Allison .
    I do shift to 3rd and sometimes 2nd manually for compression braking .
    just use the lever on the steering column .
    17.5 to 1 compression works !
  • Your new vehicle came with an owner's manual that fully explains all of the vehicle's features and when and how to use them. You would be very wise to read and understand that manual.
  • I put mine in TH when I'm sitting in my driveway getting ready to take off and leave it in till I unhook.
  • I think the manual says to use tow/haul when towing 6000 lbs or more.