Posting this for my hubby:I recently bought a 2014 GMC Duramax Diesel. Previously pulledWith a big block Chevy. Not sure what gear to use when pulling: Drive or Manual and I am not sure about the tow button (I am assumingI use the tow button (I am assuming whenever I am towing).Would appreciate any advice.

Put it in drive and let the Duramax and Allison do what they do. Its a great combo and a great truck. Tow/haul will hold gears a little longer, which helps when going up hills.Stay on top of maintenance, change your oil and fuel filters according to your manual. You'll love how the diesel pulls!

spoon059 wrote:Put it in drive and let the Duramax and Allison do what they do. Its a great combo and a great truck. Tow/haul will hold gears a little longer, which helps when going up hills.Stay on top of maintenance, change your oil and fuel filters according to your manual. You'll love how the diesel pulls!X2.Your diesel will put a big block gasser to shame. The torque just seems to be endless.

Use the towhaul button when towing or any other time if you wish. Truck will pick the right gear, but if you don't like how it's hunting gears, drop 1or 2 with manual mode. If the truck will hardly accelerate at all in the gear you're in, likely rpms are low, drop a gear. You'll be amazed how easy it tows compared to any big block gasser.

GMC owners' booklet does a good job of explaining these issues. How was it unclear?Duramax....https://my.chevrolet.com/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/dynamic/manuals/2015/gmc/sierra_1500/2015-Silverado%20HD%20&%20Sierra%20HD-Duramax-Diesel-Manual.pdf

JaycoAngel wrote:Posting this for my hubby:I recently bought a 2014 GMC Duramax Diesel. Previously pulledWith a big block Chevy. Not sure what gear to use when pulling: Drive or Manual and I am not sure about the tow button (I am assumingI use the tow button (I am assuming whenever I am towing).Would appreciate any advice.I will tell you how I tow with our 05 5 sp Alison. Tow mode is the best thing to use when towing. At times driving solo it can be used if you want to. I have. On our 5 speed I will hit the end of the shift handle to kick out over drive. This way it doesn't shift up but can go to 3rd if needed. Our truck seems to not shift down fast as I would like so this is how I run when we tow the 35 ft alpenlite. Trannie runs cooler in tow mode. Works great going down mountains. Great truck for us.chevman

Rookie Diesel Owner | Good Sam Community

Grit_dog
Navigator
Sep 10, 2017
Use the towhaul button when towing or any other time if you wish.
Truck will pick the right gear, but if you don't like how it's hunting gears, drop 1or 2 with manual mode. If the truck will hardly accelerate at all in the gear you're in, likely rpms are low, drop a gear.
You'll be amazed how easy it tows compared to any big block gasser.
ScottG
Nomad
Sep 10, 2017
spoon059 wrote:
Put it in drive and let the Duramax and Allison do what they do. Its a great combo and a great truck. Tow/haul will hold gears a little longer, which helps when going up hills.

Stay on top of maintenance, change your oil and fuel filters according to your manual. You'll love how the diesel pulls!

X2.
Your diesel will put a big block gasser to shame. The torque just seems to be endless.
spoon059
Explorer II
Sep 10, 2017
Put it in drive and let the Duramax and Allison do what they do. Its a great combo and a great truck. Tow/haul will hold gears a little longer, which helps when going up hills.

Stay on top of maintenance, change your oil and fuel filters according to your manual. You'll love how the diesel pulls!

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