Any ideas on how to get my TT from Wisconsin to Florida?

[drsolo]

I have pulled a teardrop and a 1975 13' Shasta behind my 1992 GMC G2500 V8 with no problem. But I bought a used 1996 Wildwood click here and I was having a hard time with the pedal to the medal keeping it at 55 mph. I turned back. So now I either sell it or is there some kinds of services will drive it down without charging an arm and a leg?

[dodge_guy]

Passin Thru wrote:
There are no backhauls. It's called a haul. Where do people get backhaul from. I had a trucking business and we hauled to Seattle and then hauled to Baltimore. Same rate both ways. Yellow, Roadway and UPS all charge you $25 to send a pkg to California and if you send it back it's still $25 more, not $20. Go figure.

I think people call it a back haul because if you haul to one place and they give you something to "haul back" hence the term back haul. and some places have trailers or load to take back to their origin, again "back haul".

[Passin_Thru]

There are no backhauls. It's called a haul. Where do people get backhaul from. I had a trucking business and we hauled to Seattle and then hauled to Baltimore. Same rate both ways. Yellow, Roadway and UPS all charge you $25 to send a pkg to California and if you send it back it's still $25 more, not $20. Go figure.

[dodge_guy]

Dick 641 wrote:

jmaotto wrote:
It is always best when towing a heavy load to NOT tow in OD. The transmission will run cooler and less strain on the engine.

X2

Actually its just the opposite. the trans will run cooler when in O/D and the converter is locked. with a heavy enough load in 3rd gear the converter may stay unlocked and the trans will run hotter due to the torque converter slippage. this all goes back to having the proper gears for towing. 4.10`s would have him towing at 65mph+ and getting better mileage in 4th gear with no strain!

[westend]

drsolo wrote:
OK, so I am now in Alabama. I drive between 55 and 60 mph. I dont hear anything straining. The flat route has been very good. Definitely getting out of OD was essential. I use 2nd gear to get up to speed on on ramps. I think I am getting something like 6 mpg. Sheesh. Thanks to everyone.

ps. I actually passed another smaller van hauling an even bigger trailer.. LOL. Not passed anyone else.

Good thing gas is cheap and you're getting to your destination OK.

Enjoy the slower, less strainful ride!

[drsolo]

OK, so I am now in Alabama. I drive between 55 and 60 mph. I dont hear anything straining. The flat route has been very good. Definitely getting out of OD was essential. I use 2nd gear to get up to speed on on ramps. I think I am getting something like 6 mpg. Sheesh. Thanks to everyone.

ps. I actually passed another smaller van hauling an even bigger trailer.. LOL. Not passed anyone else.

[Dick_641]

jmaotto wrote:
It is always best when towing a heavy load to NOT tow in OD. The transmission will run cooler and less strain on the engine.

X2

[jmaotto]

It is always best when towing a heavy load to NOT tow in OD. The transmission will run cooler and less strain on the engine.

[drsolo]

dodge guy wrote:
Thinking about it, if it goes fine when you touch the gas pedal when it's in cruise it may be as simple as a vacuum leak to the cruise servo, or the servo itself is weak.

I have long had an issue with the cruise but my former mechanic couldnt seem to fix or even get the parts to just replace it. When I get back in April I will have him take a look. Thanks.

[dodge_guy]

Ok. No nothing wrong with that! Actually now that I think about my Excursion has the same issue. It has a weak (by design or bad programming) cruise control. It will drop a lot of speed before the cruise kicks in and by then it needs to downshift to pick up that speed again. So if it's doing fine In regular Drive then you will be OK. I don't know if you said what it is or not, but you probably have 3.42 gears which is why it doesn't do well in O/D with the trailer attached.

Thinking about it, if it goes fine when you touch the gas pedal when it's in cruise it may be as simple as a vacuum leak to the cruise servo, or the servo itself is weak. With no trailer the engine has enough vacuum to operate the cruise. With the trailer attached and being under a load vacuum will be less which may be why your having the issue only when the trailer is hooked up!

[drsolo]

dodge guy wrote:
It's odd that the van will hold O/D at full throttle! It should drop out of O/D around 3/4 throttle under a load. You may want to have the throttle valve cable (throttle body to trans) inspected and maybe adjusted. This cable adjusts transmission fluid pressure and shift rpm! If it's out of adjustment it can potentially damage your newly rebuilt trans.

It is in cruise that the speed starts declining. If I just tap the accelerator then speed picks up. There isnt anything wrong with just driving in regular drive instead of overdrive, right?

[drsolo]

Timtation wrote:
Try putting the pedal to the metal rather than the medal. Could make all the difference needed.

Well I put my gunnel bobbing medal down there as something to aim for... LOL.

[dodge_guy]

It's odd that the van will hold O/D at full throttle! It should drop out of O/D around 3/4 throttle under a load. You may want to have the throttle valve cable (throttle body to trans) inspected and maybe adjusted. This cable adjusts transmission fluid pressure and shift rpm! If it's out of adjustment it can potentially damage your newly rebuilt trans.

[drsolo]

I read everything I could on WD systems but then had it checked at an RV/trailer place who said it was good.

I now have a transmission cooler. They installed it when they fixed my transmission.

[Timtation]

Try putting the pedal to the metal rather than the medal. Could make all the difference needed.