Towing up grades with "M" and 1 gears
So I have several coaches, but this will be my first attempt pulling a TT up a steeper mountain grade. I'm towing with a 1 ton Chevy express 3500. I'm a bit "confused" on just how to use this tra...
Forum Discussion
Gdetrailer wrote:
Just put it into to drive and enable the "towing/haul" mode and forget about that "M" mode.
No Bueno.
By the time the computer/transmission decides to downshift as it loses speed on a grade, all bets are off for maintaining a decent speed.
My rig is a different animal (Duramax / Allison). I run it in Manual mode and 5th most of the time. I watch my RPM and speed. I have driven the truck long enough that I know at what RPM (and corresponding speed) I need to down shift to the next lower gear, but that RPM isn't the same for each gear.
I keep the RPMs in sweet spot and can maintain my speed relatively well, or lose very little.
The point I'm making is that my "manual down shifts" are pre-emptive. The computer will shift too late, unless I put the hammer down on the skinny pedal and force it to shift earlier... but there goes my EGTs!
My suggestion: Drive it and try things out, that's the only way "you" will get the feel for "your" vehicle. The internet, nor a dealer, can tell you what "gear you should be in" because there are far too many variables involved.
When I'm towing heavy, I change up my shift points vs when I am towing light.
