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shasta24's avatar
shasta24
Explorer
May 24, 2015

Overdrive or not?

I finally purchased my first three quarter ton suburban with 8.1 motor. Until now I had a half ton with 350. I always towed in third gear because I understood that towing in overdrive was a no no. Now with this huge motor and trans. does this rule still apply? It has 4.10 gears with the tow haul mode button. Should I use that button when towing and pull shifter down to 3rd? Thanks for your help. Also my trailer is a 79 Shasta that dry weight is 5250 pounds.

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  • mr61impala's avatar
    mr61impala
    Explorer
    May 24, 2015
    kaydeejay wrote:
    Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
    Just engage the tow haul button and go the computer will select the right gear.
    X 2


    X3.

    In our Ram Tow/Haul locks out 6th but it will achieve 5th, the first of two overdrives, albeit at a higher engagement speed. In fact all upshifts occur later and deceleration down shifts seem to occur sooner.
  • kaydeejay's avatar
    kaydeejay
    Explorer
    May 24, 2015
    Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
    Just engage the tow haul button and go the computer will select the right gear.
    X 2
  • Tvov's avatar
    Tvov
    Explorer II
    May 24, 2015
    I don't know how your auto trans works, but with my F250 "tow/haul" doesn't lock out overdrive... it just doesn't shift into it until you have been towing on flat ground for awhile.

    As others posted, see what your owner's manual says.
  • dbbls's avatar
    dbbls
    Explorer
    May 24, 2015
    The owners manual is a great source of information. It is based on what the manufacture recommends and not the opinion of people who may not have a clue as to the correct answer.
  • scbwr's avatar
    scbwr
    Explorer II
    May 24, 2015
    Refer to the owner's manual re towing in overdrive. I use overdrive when on flat terrain as long as the transmission doesn't start searching for gears. Use the tow haul mode and let the transmission shift gears and see how it does. But, see what the manual says about towing.

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