towing with a silverado 6 speed

I have 373s and always tow in 4th. But mine is a 4spd:B

Peg Leg wrote:
Get a ScanGauge. It can monitor actual gas mileage while your driving so you can compare on the fly. I forget how many things you can monitor, something more than 25. It's accurate too. I love mine.

I have the 6 speed gas but with 4.10's. My 5er has a 13,500 lb gross but I'm around 12,000 normally. I was always letting off the gas so the tranny would shift but the electronics would still hold it down. I've just quit using the tow haul mode and get along a lot better. Most of the time on a hill I'll slip into Manual mode to hold the climbing gear of choice, until I top out.

X2
With the scan guage in GPH mode(gal per hour) you can tell in a hurry
how much fuel you are useing

Get a ScanGauge. It can monitor actual gas mileage while your driving so you can compare on the fly. I forget how many things you can monitor, something more than 25. It's accurate too. I love mine.

I have the 6 speed gas but with 4.10's. My 5er has a 13,500 lb gross but I'm around 12,000 normally. I was always letting off the gas so the tranny would shift but the electronics would still hold it down. I've just quit using the tow haul mode and get along a lot better. Most of the time on a hill I'll slip into Manual mode to hold the climbing gear of choice, until I top out.

I use T/H mode and M5 most of the time and tow at 67-70mph usually, sometimes faster if its cool. Only you can test if 4th gear is better for your combo and conditions. I expect FE will be unmeasureably different if it is shifting that often or spending more than 25% of miles in 4th anyway.

TomG2 wrote:
That is where I run. I could use 5th gear part of the time, but it would also downshift to 4th quite often. Gas mileage is almost exactly the same and I don't have to feel/hear it shifting. The engine feels good cruising at 2,800 rpm. I am assuming you have a gasoline fueled engine. Big difference, as we will hear from those with diesels and eco boosts.

I have a gas engine, and was thinking along the same lines as you. in 4th gear the engine runs freely where in 5th running at the lower rpm you seem to be lugging the engine.

I usually let the tranny do the work - put it in tow haul mode, engage the exhaust brake and pull away.

I have down shifted to 5th gear prior to pulling a grade in PA near Ravine.

That is where I run. I could use 5th gear part of the time, but it would also downshift to 4th quite often. Gas mileage is almost exactly the same and I don't have to feel/hear it shifting. The engine feels good cruising at 2,800 rpm. I am assuming you have a gasoline fueled engine. Big difference, as we will hear from those with diesels and eco boosts.

Why would you tow in 4th? Use T/H, M5 and let it work at the correct RPM. To answer your question, never, even here in the mountains of the PNW with a heavy(10K) trailer.