2002 Dodge Ram Overdrive Help

[kenhall230]

I have a 202 Dodge Ram with a 5.9 Liter in it. It has a button on the shifter that says Over Drive Off. When trailering my boat (2000LBS) do I need to be trailering with over drive ON or OFF? Does it even have anything to do with towing? I'm not sure how this feature works or what it does. Please advise a young man.


Ken

 

[Mi duckdown]

I guess I would read the owners manual. With that Veh. I would guess ON . your Veh and you won't even notice your are towing anything.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I wouldn't think you would have any issue towing with the OD on. When towing, if your tranny is shifting on a regular basis turn the OD off......

 

[SilverSS07]

A lot of guys on the Dodge forum recommend turning the o/d off when towing anything over 1,000 lbs. As stated above if it's downshifting up every hill or seems to be struggling to maintain speed in overdrive turn it off.

 

[jbetzelb]

Normally 2000 pounds would be pulled in overdrive no problem at all. Late 90's to around 2005 dodges were an exception. Not due to lack of power but lack of transmission. They had a ton of tranmission issues with trucks that pulled anything in overdrive. There was some weak part related to overdrive that broke regularly. Dodge finally came out and said don't pull in overdrive.

 

[Oregonbayliner]

Keep it off

 

[BrianN]

Any time I tow I turn o/d off, or, put it in tow mode. Saves the tranny.

 

[Mischief Managed]

If it is constantly downshifting from 4th to 3rd, shut the OD off. You have a 46RE transmission which is just an A727 with an overdrive tail unit bolted on. Shifting in and out of OD is much more taxing on the transmission than shifting the other 3 gears so you don't want it to be shifting often.