Overdrive or not?

[shasta24]

I finally purchased my first three quarter ton suburban with 8.1 motor. Until now I had a half ton with 350. I always towed in third gear because I understood that towing in overdrive was a no no. Now with this huge motor and trans. does this rule still apply? It has 4.10 gears with the tow haul mode button. Should I use that button when towing and pull shifter down to 3rd? Thanks for your help. Also my trailer is a 79 Shasta that dry weight is 5250 pounds.

[3oaks]

majorgator wrote:

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Just engage the tow haul button and go the computer will select the right gear.

This is not entirely accurate. While the Tow/Haul button will change shift points and thus prevent you from advancing gears at the lower RPM's, it will not keep you out of overdrive during heavy tow modes. The best and really only useful way to determine if OD is OK is to drive and experience it yourself. If it's shifting in/out of OD frequently, then don't run there. Keep an eye on trans temps and monitor the shifting.

No one here said the Tow/Haul mode would keep a vehicle out of overdrive. But the tow/haul mode will automatically select the right gears and keep the transmission from continually hunting through the gears including overdrive.

When towing, I like others select the Tow/haul mode. Set it and forget it. That's what it's there for. Takes the guess work out of which gear to manually select or lock the transmission out of.

[wilber1]

B.O. Plenty wrote:

mr61impala wrote:

kaydeejay wrote:

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Just engage the tow haul button and go the computer will select the right gear.

X 2

X3.

In our Ram Tow/Haul locks out 6th but it will achieve 5th, the first of two overdrives, albeit at a higher engagement speed. In fact all upshifts occur later and deceleration down shifts seem to occur sooner.

In my last Ram 2010, it would go into 6th when using haul/tow but would not up shift until it hit about 64-65 mph. I would then down shift to 5th at about 58mph.

B.O.

Our 2011 does the same as your 2010.

[spoon059]

majorgator wrote:
The best and really only useful way to determine if OD is OK is to drive and experience it yourself. If it's shifting in/out of OD frequently, then don't run there. Keep an eye on trans temps and monitor the shifting.

This...

If you are constantly hunting for gears, you should turn off overdrive. Conversely, if you are able to maintain speed in overdrive without excessive shifting, you can keep it on.

[majorgator]

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Just engage the tow haul button and go the computer will select the right gear.

This is not entirely accurate. While the Tow/Haul button will change shift points and thus prevent you from advancing gears at the lower RPM's, it will not keep you out of overdrive during heavy tow modes. The best and really only useful way to determine if OD is OK is to drive and experience it yourself. If it's shifting in/out of OD frequently, then don't run there. Keep an eye on trans temps and monitor the shifting.

[samsontdog]

scbwr wrote:
Refer to the owner's manual re towing in overdrive. I use overdrive when on flat terrain as long as the transmission doesn't start searching for gears. Use the tow haul mode and let the transmission shift gears and see how it does. But, see what the manual says about towing.

I do the same

[B_O__Plenty]

mr61impala wrote:

kaydeejay wrote:

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Just engage the tow haul button and go the computer will select the right gear.

X 2

X3.

In our Ram Tow/Haul locks out 6th but it will achieve 5th, the first of two overdrives, albeit at a higher engagement speed. In fact all upshifts occur later and deceleration down shifts seem to occur sooner.

In my last Ram 2010, it would go into 6th when using haul/tow but would not up shift until it hit about 64-65 mph. I would then down shift to 5th at about 58mph.

B.O.

[mr61impala]

kaydeejay wrote:

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Just engage the tow haul button and go the computer will select the right gear.

X 2

X3.

In our Ram Tow/Haul locks out 6th but it will achieve 5th, the first of two overdrives, albeit at a higher engagement speed. In fact all upshifts occur later and deceleration down shifts seem to occur sooner.

[kaydeejay]

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Just engage the tow haul button and go the computer will select the right gear.

X 2

[Tvov]

I don't know how your auto trans works, but with my F250 "tow/haul" doesn't lock out overdrive... it just doesn't shift into it until you have been towing on flat ground for awhile.

As others posted, see what your owner's manual says.

[Dick_B]

Real men don't read manuals OR ask directions!

[dbbls]

The owners manual is a great source of information. It is based on what the manufacture recommends and not the opinion of people who may not have a clue as to the correct answer.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

Just engage the tow haul button and go the computer will select the right gear.

[scbwr]

Refer to the owner's manual re towing in overdrive. I use overdrive when on flat terrain as long as the transmission doesn't start searching for gears. Use the tow haul mode and let the transmission shift gears and see how it does. But, see what the manual says about towing.