Tow haul mode
I am sure this has been discussed before, but who uses it and how? I have a 1 ton diesel dually and will be towing a 5500 lb (dry) trailer. I am assuming it will lower fuel economy? Am I correct in as...
Forum Discussion
KD4UPL wrote:
I don't understand all the reluctance to use a feature like T/H. It's there specifically to help the vehicle perform better under towing conditions. Why try and second guess the engineers and the manufacturer.
There's no logical reason that using T/H would lower your fuel mileage. It doesn't change your weight, wind resistance, vehicle speed, or gear ration. It just changes how the trans. shifts. Even if that did lower your mileage something like .01% it would be well worth if for the increased vehicle control and transmission longevity to me.
As for T/H and engine braking burning up a trans. I have never heard that one and yes, I used to be a truck driver. Engine braking by downshifting a transmission is practically required in any truck driving situation I ever encountered. That's why the T/H function (with grade braking as Chevy calls it) was created.
My '05 Chevy has 181,000 miles on it, I've owned it since new. I use T/H 80% of the time, often to slow down even when I'm not towing. The truck still has the original brake pads. I get my Allison transmission serviced every 25,000 miles. The tech said he couldn't believe how clean it was with so many miles on it.
Tow/haul holds each gear longer so you should use more fuel. In other words instead of shifting into 6th at 1800rpm it might do it at 2000rpm. Th higher the rpm, the more fuel is used. I leave it off unless the truck is frequently hunting gears or if I need it for engine braking.
