UPDATE Enough truck to tow my boat !! HELP!! UPDATE

[oldjeep]

Says who?
As noted before, firmer shift points are better, increased line pressure, the transmission doesn't want to shoot right into OD. I used it every time I towed unless I was pulling a PWC or something really light. Tow/ Haul cuts down on the shifts and is designed for towing.

Depends on the truck/load and gear ratio. In my Ram, anything below about 4K in my experience doesn't need tow haul (5.7 with 3.21 gears) For my new boat, and a loaded car trailer I need to turn it on. For my Ram it locks out 6th gear and modifies the shift points, the OD lockout is why I don't use it unless I need it.

 

[gtochris]

I have four years experience towing a much larger boat than yours with a 4.8L Silverado. I always used Tow/Haul mode because the owners manual said to use it. I equipped the truck with a Scanguage II that, among other things, displays transmission fluid temperature (TFT). After making a pit stop, I could always tell when I forgot to engage Tow/Hau when I got back out on the road-- the TFT was elevated. Re-engage Tow/Haul, the TFT dropped.

I didn't like how Ram combined those two together (tow haul + OD lockout) however I'm sure their is an Engineering reason behind it.
I had a 4.8L in a Tahoe 4x4 w 3.73 gears and it had ample torque to pull most anything out of the water however I didn't feel it was very good maintaining speed on the highway, as a result most times I stayed in 3rd gear and Tow/ Haul otherwise I was constantly shifting.

 

[oldjeep]

I didn't like how Ram combined those two together (tow haul + OD lockout) however I'm sure their is an Engineering reason behind it.
I had a 4.8L in a Tahoe 4x4 w 3.73 gears and it had ample torque to pull most anything out of the water however I didn't feel it was very good maintaining speed on the highway, as a result most times I stayed in 3rd gear and Tow/ Haul otherwise I was constantly shifting.

Tow/haul doesn't lock out OD completely, just 6th. 5th is also OD.

 

[Idlespeedonly]

I use the tow/haul button when I pull my lawnmower on a 6x10 trailer.
The decrease in economy is barely noticeable.
And its cheaper than a 2500 dollar transmission.

 

[bruceb58]

I use the tow/haul mode going up winding mountain grades not towing anything as well. Reduces the gear hunting.

 

[oldjeep]

I use the tow/haul mode going up winding mountain grades not towing anything as well. Reduces the gear hunting.

I just use the manual control for that.

 

[thumpar]

I knew a guy that had a 23' Formula style boat with big block and bravo drive. He would pull it with his S10 that had a 4.3l in it. We pull our boat with a Burb that has the 5.3l in it no problem. I would guess the weight of ours loaded up at about 4500lbs. We always use tow mode with it.

 

[haulnazz15]

I knew a guy that had a 23' Formula style boat with big block and bravo drive. He would pull it with his S10 that had a 4.3l in it. We pull our boat with a Burb that has the 5.3l in it no problem. I would guess the weight of ours loaded up at about 4500lbs. We always use tow mode with it.

Pulling it and stopping it are two different things. Hell, you can pull a 10Klbs cruiser with an S10, too, but stopping it becomes a bit more hair-raising.

 

[Starcraft5834]

I've got a 4.8 GMC.. you have a 1500lb rig to pull? you wont hardly know it's back there... your truck has a 7000lb tow rating.. your good........as for trailer mode. I only use that pulling my 20ft cuddy it's over 2500lbs... up hills....interstate yanks, normal mode. I putt along at 60mph,, tac at 2000 humming along nicely, engine never has got hot.....temp stays dead middle whether I'm hauling my boat or must me

 

[oldjeep]

Pulling it and stopping it are two different things. Hell, you can pull a 10Klbs cruiser with an S10, too, but stopping it becomes a bit more hair-raising.

The trailer brakes ought to be doing that for you - not that I'm recommending this setup

 

[Starcraft5834]

LOL trailer breaks on that rig should slow the truck down too.. they could not hurt, only help

 

[haulnazz15]

The trailer brakes ought to be doing that for you - not that I'm recommending this setup

The fun starts on bumps/uneven pavement when that 10K boat starts lifting the back wheels of the S10 off the pavement, lol.

 

[thumpar]

Pulling it and stopping it are two different things. Hell, you can pull a 10Klbs cruiser with an S10, too, but stopping it becomes a bit more hair-raising.

I don't remember if it is a state thing or a federal thing but over a certain weight requires trailer brakes. My trailer has brakes on each axle. It will stop itself.

 

[kjsAZ]

unfortunately it's a "State thing" and not federal. There are States where you can tow a 12k# trailer without brakes.......

 

[thumpar]

unfortunately it's a "State thing" and not federal. There are States where you can tow a 12k# trailer without brakes.......

Here in WA state anything over 3000lbs or 40% of the weight of the tow vehicle require brakes on all wheels.

 

[kjsAZ]

that's a good start, intelligent State in terms of automotive. I would make brakes mandatory for everything above 1000# if I could......

 

[oldjeep]

that's a good start, intelligent State in terms of automotive. I would make brakes mandatory for everything above 1000# if I could......

1000lbs? I can put almost double that in the bed of my truck. Has to be some common sense somewhere before we start doing silly thing like putting brakes on snowmobile trailers.

 

[haulnazz15]

1000lbs? I can put almost double that in the bed of my truck. Has to be some common sense somewhere before we start doing silly thing like putting brakes on snowmobile trailers.

No crap. I can't hardly tell when I have the jet ski in tow, much less need brakes for it. I think the 4Klbs limit that many states employ is just fine.

 

[kenhall230]

UPDATE, I purchased a Dodge Ram 1500 with a 5.9L.Problem solved. The reason I was skeptical of the 4.8L is iv been towing my boat with my dads GMC Savanna. It has a 5.3L. If you don't use tow haul on the express way it will constantly shift up and down through gears, I also am still having a problem with the motor running really hot when towing anything. But when using the tow haul at low speeds around the city my transmission will slams into the next gears. It doesn't seem good for the transmission to be doing that but Iv heard others say it is better lol. Let me know if you guys have any ideas for my towing situation with my dads van.

 

[oldjeep]

Should be a nice truck, just make sure you service the transmission. Since it has a 5.9 I'm assuming it is an older truck, and some of the older Rams used to like to eat transmissions.