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| I have had this conversation many times and have gotten many different answers.
Do you tow your boat in overdrive or not in over drive???
Now I know, if you are in Kentucky, Tennessee, ect.... take it out of over drive, I am not that dumb.
I am also not talking about trying to pull a 20 foot boat with a 4 or 6 cylinder either.
Full size truck, transmission cooler, 18 foot alum. boat.
But what about towing your boat to the lake, where you can drive anywhere from 55-70 mph. Do you take it out of overdrive???
I have had people tell me to take it out of overdrive if you are towing at speeds less than 50 or if you are starting and stopping all the time. I have also been told to NEVER tow in overdrive, I have also been told it is perfectly fine to pull in over drive. As you can see this is why I am confused.
Also what about pulling your boat to Canada, or on a 8-10 hour trip? Overdrive or not?
I would think that pulling your boat at 70 at close to 3000 RPM's couldn't be good.
Please tell what you think, as I am sure there will be plenty of different answers.
MuskyMagic
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | My trans repair shop told me take it out of OD whenever I am towing regardless of the weight.. Did as he said and got about 15,000-20,000 miles extra out of the trans before the rebuild(1st truck went at 96000 miles, the 2nd one was around110,000-115,000). Ironically it was specifically the OD that went out on the second truck which never towed a mile in OD. 1st truck was a ford ranger with a 3 liter v6 and never towed a boat over 1000lbs more then a couple times but smaller boats quite a bit, second truck was a dodge dakota with 5.2 v8 equipped with a trans cooler, did quite a bit of towing with a boat/trailer combo around 2100lbs.. I would say if you can feel the boat behind the truck take it out... The Dakota got same highway mileage while towing boat with OD off as it did sometimes without the boat on the back and od on, you would think it would be a lot less with the load.. |
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| I lost a transmission pulling my boat in OD and now ONLY tow with it "out of OD". The only annoying thing about this that I have found is that at 70 the motor winds up a bit higher than you really want it too for fuel effeciency. I think having the trans cooler and running out of OD is your safest option.
RM |
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Posts: 1438
| Talk to your mechanic/dealership and see what they say. There was a huge discussion about this a while back and there a bunch of factors that go into the decision. Probably the most notable is whether you have a lockup OD or not. I was told to tow out of OD but talked to my mechanic and he said I was better off in OD with my setup.
The mechanic/dealership will know what kind of engine tranny combo you have and all you should have to do is tell him the weight of you towed setup. Don't forget to add in the weight of anything you throw in the boat for the trip as well (suitcases, bikes, firewood etc)
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Posts: 114
Location: Tomahawk, Wi | I work for badger rebuild . Pulling anything with your truck overdrive on is one of quickest ways to blow your trans. Always pull with overdrive off.  |
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| Always tow out of overdrive????? Going 70 down the highway to Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Canada, ect... at 70 and 3000 RPM's can't be good can it?
Like I said, I am not talking about a pulling a boat with a Ford Ranger, FULL SIZED TRUCK.
Chevy 1500-2001 V-8
Lund Mr. Pike 1800
MuskyMagic
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | good question, as I have always wondered this as well.
I have a Dodge Ram 1500 with a 1775 Lund Pro-V, and I tow my boat in overdrive.
I agree with you that 3000 rpm's on long trips can't be good either.
I would like to hear some more answers. I am also pulling my boat several times a week so I don't know if that makes a difference or not???
I will be heading to Wisconsin for the summer soon, and would sure like to know if I should be pulling in or out of overdrive... 9 hours at 3000 rpm in my Dodge. I just don't see how that is good either!!!
More responses please! |
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Posts: 114
Location: Tomahawk, Wi | We tell everybody to be on the safe side always turn your trucks overdrive off when towing. If its not that heavy of a load you can get away with having it on,as long as its not chugging or switching gears and your on a straight road not hilly. When you here it switching gears all the time thats not good. |
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Location: Hayward WI | I've always thought the way BSchaeffer answered above. The problem arises when the tranny in constantly shifting up and down, causing early meltdown. As long as the load doesn't cause the truck to shift up/down there isn't a problem with towing in OD. Am I wrong? |
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | I have heard (from an Ex tranny mechanic) that even if you are towing moderate loads and maybe are on a big flat straight away where there is no shifting that you should have overdrive OFF.
Overdrive transfers the extra weigth through gears and the load will strain those gears, when over drive off is more of a direct transfer of power,bypassing some of that gearing and less overall strain.
I cant see how 3,000 rpm's can hurt.........wouldnt that make the engine pumps run faster ,i.e better cooling for the radiator and oil cooler? Isnt overdrive just used for gas mileage?
a 4-stroke outboard runs at 6,000 RPMS's.
a GM V-6 or V-8 inboard/ourboard ina runabout boat spins at 4500 RPMS's............that a car engine.
i dont think 3K on your truck will do anything bad.
my thoughts...certainly am not qualified in mechanics at all.........but ti makes sense to me to NEVER haul in overdrive..........even if towing a 16' alum through the flatlands of Illinois(or wherever) |
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| I have a Suburban 2500 and it has the tow package, I tow a 1800 Pro-V. I believe the owners manual says it's OK to tow in OD. I make long trips with it 1400 miles and so far no problems. |
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Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | No matter what kind of truck I've had ....Ranger, Ram 1500, Tahoe and Dakota 4.7, I've always been told to take the tranny out of OD.
I've been making 4.5 hour trips to northern Wisconsin pulling rigs for 15 years now and have never had a problem with a tranny (knock on wood). My Dakota pulls the boat at 3000 at 70.......I'm not in a race here....I keep it at 65-70 (NOT 80-85 like I see some idiots doing) and change my oil after every trip. I'm sure that helps.
I suggest doing a Tranny fluid purge and change at least once a year if you're towing. If you've never seen what your tranny fluid looks like after a year...you'll be amazed. |
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Posts: 202
Location: Angola, IN | I have a 1999 Chevy Silverado with 5.3L with towing package. There is a "Tow Mode" on the gear selector. My owner's manual says to keep it in OD, but to activate the "Tow Mode". It changes all the shift points, makes it shift "harder"....which means at a higher RPM. I have 94,000 miles on my truck and it rides like it's brand new.
I've pulled boats for 24 straight hours in my truck with no problems. Have your tranny flushed every 30,000 miles, and you'll be fine. Flush it.....don't just drop the pan, change out 4 quarts, and put a new filter in....but have a flush done.....it exchanges 100% of the fluid. There is a huge difference.
Running your truck at 3000 RPM isn't going to hurt it. It's probably better for it when towing heavier loads. When I'm going 75MPH down the road, my truck only tachs at 2050RPM. So I don't have that problem.
Not specific answers, but this is what I know.
Edited by SteveHulbert 5/18/2004 9:02 AM
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | As far as the RPM's go I would think as long as you don't really exceed the 3000-3500 range it should be fine, especially with a V-8 or a straight 6. I might worry a bit if the engine was a V-6.. I did a lot of towing with my dakota before selling it, always had rpm pegged around that range, never had a single engine problem. I did go through a trans around 110,000-115,000 miles and a rear end at about 145,000 miles, but feel a lot of that wear and tear came from the stop and go traffic around chicago going to work every day. |
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Posts: 925
| I have a 2002 Ford F150 5.2L V8.
In town obviously up to 50 MPH, I leave the OD off. But when chugging down the highway over 50 MPH and there are no hills, I put OD on.
My RPMs are only at 2000 when going 65 MPH in overdrive. |
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| It depends on the entire package. The Motor,Trans,weight being towed, hilly,windy, long trip, short trip etc.. Just because you have a 1500 series or F150 doesnt mean you can tow in OD. The bigger trucks 2500 series or F250 and bigger tend to have bigger motors, which are geared for the bigger trans where you may get away with towing in OD more. Depending on the weight of your boat, the bigger stronger vehicle pulling it the better.
You do not want your trans slipping/changing gears constantly. Highway miles with auto trans can be damaging without proper cooling which may mean getting extra cooling when towing. If you are slipping/changing gears which means it is causing extra heat which in turn shortens the life of your trans.
OD is just another gear. It is geared for higher speeds and not some magic gear that was ever intended for towing a heavy load.
My answer is: If it slips or unable to maintain a speed without flooring the gas pedal, drop it down a gear. That also goes for your drive gear, under slower conditions if it is slipping back and forth, drop it down to 2nd. If you are slipping a lot in and out of drive, you probable don't want this as a tow vehicle. On straight stretches you can also maintain a speed that is not switching gears. That means you may not be able to drive at 70+mph
Manual trans is the best trans for towing especially in hilly areas.
If you are going to buy a new truck or new boat you should make sure that you have the proper 'other' vehicle that you are using with it, as they are a team.
Edited by esox-dan 5/18/2004 9:41 AM
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | There is definate different answers!
I guess here is what I have learned so far:
I have a Dodge Ram 1500. Towing Package, Heavy Duty Transmission, Heavy Duty Transmisssion cooler. I am pulling a 1775 Lund. Towing in overdrive is fine on flat land.
It never shifts or tries to "find" the right gear to pull in, bouncing from OD to D, so I should be fine pulling in OD.
Also change your fluids reguarly, and complete flush once a year. |
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Location: Woodstock, IL | I have a 1500 Suburban and pull a Crestliner 1850 that grosses about 3,000 pounds on the trailer. The Suburban owners manual states that you should only use the Tow/Haul mode, which disengages OD, when your load is at least 75% of the trucks towing capacity. 75% would be 5,400 pounds, so I don't use it. Most of my hauling is done on relatively flat roads, so there isn't a lot of shifting up and down. In fact, most of my cruising is done with cruise control on. |
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Posts: 202
Location: Angola, IN | dpratt:
Depending on the year of your Suburban.....the tow/haul mode may or may not disengage OD. If your truck is 1999 or newer, it does NOT disengage over-drive....it simply changes the shift points, thus shifter harder into OD when it's in tow/haul mode.
If your truck is 1998 or older, the tow/haul mode simply disengages OD. Two completely different things. |
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Posts: 285
| Hi All,
I am not an expert but I have noticed that many people are abusive with their transmissions whether they are towing or not.
I always tow out of OD, and at 70ish MPH my Jeep Grand Cherokee is around 3000 RPM. Nothing wrong with that IMHO.
A while back, very few vehicles were intended to run at the very low RPMs that current vehicles do when at highway speed. Running at lower RPM does add longevity to the engine. However, the big issue with running in OD is that there tends to be a hard slam into the lower D gear when you need to accelerate quickly. You can avoid this by switching OD off when you need to pass or go up a steep hill.
I am able to use OD on a flat freeway, but I keep an eye on the RPMs and make sure I can maintain at least around 2300 or so. I think if you get much below 2000 RPM you're asking for transmission damage, because the first time you hit the gas you will slam the tranny into passing gear hard.
Unfortunately your question will have different answers for every motor/transmission and rear axle ratio. I think the key is to be aware of how your vehicle is handling the extra load.
Most people will hook up anything to their car and drive as if there is now way the vehicle will break, even if they allow the tranny to slam in and out of gears, never flush & fill, and basically they deserve the huge transmission repair bills.
Later,
papa joe |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | The manufacturers have documented in detail operating procedures supported under their warranty plans on all vehicles they ship with tow packages installed. The document is called Owners Manual. If you want to avoid an ugly debate with your dealer about whether or not your failed tranny is covered under warranty.....RTFM! |
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Posts: 736
Location: Hartford, WI | Never had a trany problem in my life, Oh wait I drive only manual trany's. I just like the feeling for towing, and landings that a stick/standard/manual trany is just so much better. I like the idea, of being in complete control of my shifting and vehical, and I never have had a problem of pulling anything. Somtimes old school technology is just better.
Jim |
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Posts: 1294
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | Ironically, while taking a break at work today, from overhauling a toasted transmission, I came across this post. Since I have been paid to repair cars for the past 40+ years, I thought I'd put my 2 cents in this. Like Jim K., I have never had a single transmission failure, but I have had auto trans for most of my driving life. I have been towing boats for over 35 years. Several good points have been made. READ THE OWNERS MANUAL and follow it.The single biggest cause of trans. failure is excessive heat(above 180degrees)Private testing showed a 10 degree increase dropped the expected life in half , a 20 degree increase dropped it to 1/4. Due to an auto trans. design, heat is unavoidable, the clutches that make shifting relatively smooth and sealess have to slip and this equates to heat, very similar to the way your brakes work. The trick is to control the heat to a manageable level. Obviously, an auxilliary cooler is paramount, either with a towing package or as an add on. Also, keep those fins cleaned out. It's amazing the amount of bugs and other debris that plug up the front of a vehile. Now as to the question of in or out of OD. It depends on a number of variables. Engine size, rear axle ratio, the type of terrain, the weight of the trailer and load being pulled are all factors. Almost all vehicals in the past 20 years have had lockup torque convertors to prevent slippage and thus cut down on heat generated. Again cooler running = longer life. I can't say for sure on all makes and models, but they should have the potential to lock in 3rd as well as 4th. The purpose of running in 3rd while towing is to prevent an unusual amount of torque convertor locking and unlocking when climbing grades. This is especially prevalent when using cruise control. If all you ever rode on were table flat roads, towing in 4th would present little problem. The increase in RPM's aren't any cause for concern and the difference in fuel economy is insignificant. One more tip, have your fluid and filter changed at least every 15K miles. To borrow a phrase, pay me now or pay me later. It's usually a lot more later. |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | words of wisdom from ghoti.
Heat is definatly the main killer on automatic transmissions. If you want more insurance..add a trans cooler, if you have one..swap it for a larger one. If the trans gets too hot it will puke trans fluid out the vent hole on top. You will be alerted by the smoke from it dripping all over your exaust and the big puddle that forms when you stop to investigate. By the way at this point your boat and trailer is covered in tranny fluid as well. If your tow capacity and boat/gear/trailer weight are close, drive slower and you will be fine. If you are not towing much weight vs the vehicles capacity, put her to the wood. |
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| I drive an older Suburban 1500, V-8 350. Had the trans rebuilt at 150,000 miles, not due to problems but for peace of mind. The trans shop and I discussed my towing habits (24 hour plus trips, 21 ft Fiberglas 225HP) and was advised to "beef-up" the transmission using a higher capacity pump and Kevlar discs and bands. Origional pump I think was a 6 vane pump, they installed a 10 vane pump. Bigger pump, more fluid moved. Now have 110,000 miles on rebuild and not the 1st trany problem...AND I ALWAYS PULL IN OVERDRIVE, except long or steep grades.
Would be glad to share tech or mechanic info if anyone is interested.  |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | I'd be interested to know where your trans shop is located Dan, getting ready to take mine in before warranty expires..... As for your truck..suburbans are towing machines, doesn't suprise me about it pulling in OD... I think the smaller trucks like 1500/150 series pickups(all makes) on down and smaller suv's(smaller then suburban) would be the main ones to be concerned about.. Suburbans(all sizes) and pickups that are 2500/250 series and up are usually built expressly with hauling and towing in mind. |
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Posts: 910
Location: Hastings, mn, 55033 | what is the difference between a 1/2 ton suburban and a 1/2 ton pick-up? same motor, same drivetrain, why would the suburban tow any better? i can see where a 3/4 ton suburbnan would tow better than a 1/2 ton truck, but size being equal, i dont see were a suburban is any better than a pick-up. |
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Posts: 1462
Location: Davenport, IA | I'm wondering what size boats you are all towing. I tow a 16' mod-v w/ a Jeep Cherokee 4.0 I-6 and auto trans. On flat land towing in overdrive it doesn't shift much at all. So i tow in O/D on flat land. Going up hills I don't drive it in overdrive because it shifts too much. It runs at most 3,000 RPM's in 3rd gear at 65-75 mph. I assume this is ok to do? |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | For standard towing a 1500 5.3 v8 suburban is rated for 7400, two 1500 Pickups I found were rated 3900 and 4100. One pickup had a 4.8, the other a 5.3, I think both were long beds. Standard towing I think is with NO stabiler bars on the hitch, whereas Max Towing for a vehicle would be with them, which for these three was 8400 suburban, 8500 5.3 pickup, 8300 4.8 pickup.. We usually don't have the stabilizers on our boats, thus why the suburban is considered higher..
Zach, I also have a cherokee with a 4.0 and get around same rpms.. Shouldn't hurt the motor to my knowledge running it at that rpm..
Edited by kevin 5/20/2004 11:43 PM
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