GM Tow haul use - opinions

[falconbrother]

We picked up our travel trailer today at CW. They set up the weight distributing hitch for us and gave us a lot of instructions on how the accoutrements in the camper work. One thing the guy said that I need some opinions on though..

The TV is a 1500 Suburban 4x4 and the trailer dry weight is about 5500 pounds. I asked him about using the tow haul feature and he said he wasn't sure that he would recommend it. He said out on the open interstate he would recommend leaving it off and never, ever use it with the cruise control on. He said: "It will rip your transmission out". I haven't used it very much at all. The Suburban pulls the trailer just fine either way.

What's your experience with using tow haul while actually towing a trailer?

[deltabravo]

austingta wrote:
Use tow/haul anytime you want to. I would recommend it when towing over about half max load. My DMax/Allison gives the most responsive grade braking when using tow/haul and the cruise control.

Ditto.

I use mine when driving empty on occasion. Using it (or not) is personal choice.

I love it.

[Passin_Thru]

You have to be rough and run 500 HP to tear up an Allison 6 spd. Like ktmrfs said.
Neither of my 2 duramax w/Allisons run cooler, just lock the converter which keeps it from slipping.

[austingta]

Charlie D. wrote:

austingta wrote:
Use tow/haul anytime you want to. I would recommend it when towing over about half max load. My DMax/Allison gives the most responsive grade braking when using tow/haul and the cruise control.

Don't you also love that EB? Almost stops itself.

It is amazing. There is a big hill I travel and if I push all the buttons right it will hold 30 MPH without the brakes. It's really a great safety feature to not risk overheating your brakes on a long steep downgrade.

[Charlie_D_]

austingta wrote:
Use tow/haul anytime you want to. I would recommend it when towing over about half max load. My DMax/Allison gives the most responsive grade braking when using tow/haul and the cruise control.

Don't you also love that EB? Almost stops itself.

[JIMNLIN]

falconbrother wrote:
We picked up our travel trailer today at CW. They set up the weight distributing hitch for us and gave us a lot of instructions on how the accoutrements in the camper work. One thing the guy said that I need some opinions on though..

The TV is a 1500 Suburban 4x4 and the trailer dry weight is about 5500 pounds. I asked him about using the tow haul feature and he said he wasn't sure that he would recommend it. He said out on the open interstate he would recommend leaving it off and never, ever use it with the cruise control on. He said: "It will rip your transmission out". I haven't used it very much at all. The Suburban pulls the trailer just fine either way.

What's your experience with using tow haul while actually towing a trailer?

I'll repost your question as it has a different tranny that the tow/haul works different than all the Dmax owners/Ford and Dodge owners auto trannies.

The 4l60e....6l80e tow/haul mode we have in our 1500 GM trucks just hold the TC clutch unlocked up to a higher rpm or so before locking up or a upshift. Nothing at all like the Allison in the Dmax or a Ford or Dodge tranny in 3/4 and one ton trucks..

I don't/didn't use TH mode in a 4l60e or the 6l80e in the wifes new 1500 chevy truck. The biggest reason is no engine braking with the TC clutch unlocked in 2nd/3rd gears.
Not using TH mode lets the TC clutch lock up normally for good down hill braking in those lower gears.

IMO T/H mode in these two GM auto trannies is for folks that don't know how or understand the need for proper rpm for towing.
Anyways...try T/H mode fore a couple of trips and then try it without TH mode on.

[ktosv]

I agree with the others about using tow haul when towing your trailer, but to answer about using the cruise I would want to know more specifics about your Suburban. They have come with tow haul since the 2000 model year.

What year, axle ratio does your Suburban have? Also, what engine...there were a very select few built in 2005/2006 era that actually had the 6.0L (LTZ).

[edatlanta]

trail-explorer wrote:

blt2ski wrote:
That brings up the question of......When am I not towing and or hauling, so why bother having a normal shift pattern, why not just program the trans to ALWAYS be in tow haul mode!

IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY when allowing the trans to shift on a normal shift pattern and not rev and shift later.

And not towing anything will improve fuel economy also, but when towing the tow/haul mode is there for a reason. I use it.

[trail-explorer]

blt2ski wrote:
That brings up the question of......When am I not towing and or hauling, so why bother having a normal shift pattern, why not just program the trans to ALWAYS be in tow haul mode!

IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY when allowing the trans to shift on a normal shift pattern and not rev and shift later.

[trail-explorer]

falconbrother wrote:
We picked up our travel trailer today at CW.

The TV is a 1500 Suburban 4x4 and the trailer dry weight is about 5500 pounds. I asked him about using the tow haul feature and he said he wasn't sure that he would recommend it. He said out on the open interstate he would recommend leaving it off and never, ever use it with the cruise control on. He said: "It will rip your transmission out". I haven't used it very much at all.

CW employees are not very knowledgeable.

Setting the tow/haul mode to ON is not going to "rip your transmission out"

Tow/Haul mode changes the shift points, and makes the shifting a bit firmer. It holds a given gear longer, letting the engine RPMs get higher before shifting.

Use it or not, the choice is yours.

[Lynnmor]

The tow/haul button was well covered above, now you need to worry about the hitch setup done by a clueless dimwit.

[Old-Biscuit]

I use mine when towing 5th wheel
I use mine when hauling a load in bed
I use mine when in stop/go traffic not towing or hauling
I use mine whenever I feel the urge to Push The Button


Go on...Push the Button
You know you want to!

[APT]

If you consult the Suburban's owners manual, I expect it to suggest use tow/haul mode when towing around 80percent or more of towing capacity. However, since towing high wall RVs are a lot or work for the engine and transmission, I recommend using it for all weight RV towing.

[edatlanta]

ktmrfs wrote:
use tow haul. it changes shift points to help get moving or accererating, and depending on the transmission will lock up the torque converter in gears other than top gear. In the case of my duramax's, it locks up the torque converter in 2nd through 6th., that helps reduce transmission temperatures by reducing slip, and helps with engine braking by better engine to transmission coupling.

Oh.... also read your owners manual. it will give very useful information on when to use tow haul.

X2

[blt2ski]

That brings up the question of......When am I not towing and or hauling, so why bother having a normal shift pattern, why not just program the trans to ALWAYS be in tow haul mode! Works for me!

Reality is, when I had my 05 dmax with a TH mode, did not seem to matter other than downhill grade braking, if I had a load, foot was to the metal per say, it shifted later on its own......

Marty

[owenssailor]

I agree with the comments above. I use tow/haul whenever I am towing the trailer. I locks out 6th gear and also locks up the torque converter to help the tranny run cooler. As part of this transmission fluid is also circulated faster which is also easier on the transmission.

Cruise or no cruise doesn't matter.

That feature is there for good reasons.