Towing in 3rd gear on a 1300 mile trip
I have a 1997 GMC k1500 Z71 5.7 liter with 20000 miles and a 4L60e transmission with only 2000 miles, I will be towing a 3000# dry weight TT from Louisiana to Colorado. I plan on breaking the trip int...
Forum Discussion
I owned the same truck, same year. Just gave it to my son last winter. It did some relatively light towing over the years, 16ft fiberglass boat, car haulers, and some with my old 22' travel trailer. I used OD most of the time as long as it wasn't hunting gears or unlocking the converter.
That transmission does something that most others won't do. It would unlock the torque converter and depending on load stay in 4th gear with the converter unlocked. RPM would go up about 300. Driving like that gets the fluid temp up quickly, so you want to avoid that no different than if it was actually downshifting frequently.
It will positively use a lot more fuel if you stay in 3rd gear all the time. On relatively flat roads with the load you plan, it should tow in 4th gear with no problem.
That transmission does something that most others won't do. It would unlock the torque converter and depending on load stay in 4th gear with the converter unlocked. RPM would go up about 300. Driving like that gets the fluid temp up quickly, so you want to avoid that no different than if it was actually downshifting frequently.
It will positively use a lot more fuel if you stay in 3rd gear all the time. On relatively flat roads with the load you plan, it should tow in 4th gear with no problem.
