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

[ssobol]

Even if you have a light trailer and a big tow rig, there is still the issue of what happens if these separate while you are cruising down the highway. Something weighing 1000# and moving at 70mph can do a lot of damage. Trailers with brakes have some means of automatically activating the brakes if the trailer breaks away. My state says 2000# and up require brakes. Also, any trailer that has brakes must also have an annual safety inspection to make sure that the brakes (among other things) actually work and are in good condition.

 

[SilverSS07]

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.

^^^this. The 46 RE/RH in the Dodge's aren't known for their durability- especially towing in O/D. Most people recommend turning o/d off when towing more than 1000 lbs. Having said that I have 176k on my 98 Ram with no issues. It's been one of the most reliable vehicles I've owned (and Dodge V8's sound amazing with exhaust ). Look over on Dodgeforum.com to find out anything you want to know about it. Also check out the plenum gasket and make sure it's not blown.

 

[H20Rat]

On the Silverado(This is the way mine works) it only changes the shift points. It still goes into all the gears.

That is highly unusual behavior... Are you SURE it is still going into the top gear(s)? I've got personal experience with both a 2010 and 2013 silverado's, and I absolutely know those lock out a gear or two, depending on the transmission.

Easy way to test. Sometime when you aren't towing but driving down the interstate at 75 mph, hit the tow button. If your RPM's change at all, it locked out a gear.

 

[oldjeep]

Even if you have a light trailer and a big tow rig, there is still the issue of what happens if these separate while you are cruising down the highway. Something weighing 1000# and moving at 70mph can do a lot of damage. Trailers with brakes have some means of automatically activating the brakes if the trailer breaks away. My state says 2000# and up require brakes. Also, any trailer that has brakes must also have an annual safety inspection to make sure that the brakes (among other things) actually work and are in good condition.

So make sure your trailer doesn't come loose. I'm trying to imagine the chaos if they tried to inspect every trailer in my state annually.

 

[oldjeep]

That is highly unusual behavior... Are you SURE it is still going into the top gear(s)? I've got personal experience with both a 2010 and 2013 silverado's, and I absolutely know those lock out a gear or two, depending on the transmission.

Easy way to test. Sometime when you aren't towing but driving down the interstate at 75 mph, hit the tow button. If your RPM's change at all, it locked out a gear.

Locked out a gear or disabled the TC lockup - which is another thing that tow mode will sometimes do.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Why do people simply not listen to me? Is it because I know what I am talking about? LOL To clarify--A direct quote on tow/haul from the owner's manual: Tow/haul is designed to be most effective when the combined tow vehicle and trailer is at least 75% of the vehicle Gross Combined Weight Rating. Operating the vehicle in tow/haul when lightly loaded or with no trailer will not cause damage. However, there is NO BENEFIT to the selection when the vehicle is unloaded. Such a selection may result in unpleasant engine and transmission driving characteristics and reduced fuel economy. TOW/HAUL IS RECOMMENDED ONLY WHEN PULLING A HEAVY TRAILER OR A LARGE OR HEAVY LOAD.

 

[NYBo]

I'm sorry. Did Frank say something?

 

[kenhall230]

lol I'm trying to figure out who frank is talking to??????

 

[Frank Acampora]

Myself! I talk to myself all the time. Comes with old age and a shrinking brain. Although on the positive side, I always win my arguments.

 

[bassman284]

Myself! I talk to myself all the time. Comes with old age and a shrinking brain. Although on the positive side, I always win my arguments.

I talk to myself from time to time because every now and then, I like talking to somebody who knows something.

 

[bruceb58]

That is highly unusual behavior... Are you SURE it is still going into the top gear(s)? I've got personal experience with both a 2010 and 2013 silverado's, and I absolutely know those lock out a gear or two, depending on the transmission.

Easy way to test. Sometime when you aren't towing but driving down the interstate at 75 mph, hit the tow button. If your RPM's change at all, it locked out a gear.

It is on mine which is a 1999. Does 2010 have an addition top gear that mine doesn't have?

By the way, I have done your test. No change in RPM and no gear shifts at highway 65 and over speeds.

EDIT: Looked up specs. Yours is also a 4spd if its a 1/2T. Looks like all the GM truck forums also state it os just a shift point difference. There may also be a torque converter locking out differently under different conditions as well.

 

[ssobol]

So make sure your trailer doesn't come loose. I'm trying to imagine the chaos if they tried to inspect every trailer in my state annually.

That's like saying "make sure you never get a flat" or "make sure you never have engine trouble". You can try all you want to minimize the odds of these happening, but it is unlikely that you can eliminate them entirely. If you could guarantee that the trailer will never come loose you wouldn't be required to have safety chains.

Only have to inspect the trailers that have brakes. In VA they inspect every personal vehicle every year already.

 

[oldjeep]

That's like saying "make sure you never get a flat" or "make sure you never have engine trouble". You can try all you want to minimize the odds of these happening, but it is unlikely that you can eliminate them entirely. If you could guarantee that the trailer will never come loose you wouldn't be required to have safety chains.

Only have to inspect the trailers that have brakes. In VA they inspect every personal vehicle every year already.

Also like saying that having some monkey do a 5 minute inspection on a trailer does anything to help safety. Since you cannot do a non destructive test on a surge breakaway brake, how exactly is this making you safer?

 

[gtochris]

^^^this. The 46 RE/RH in the Dodge's aren't known for their durability- especially towing in O/D. Most people recommend turning o/d off when towing more than 1000 lbs. Having said that I have 176k on my 98 Ram with no issues. It's been one of the most reliable vehicles I've owned (and Dodge V8's sound amazing with exhaust ). Look over on Dodgeforum.com to find out anything you want to know about it. Also check out the plenum gasket and make sure it's not blown.

I have a boat buddy who went through 3 transmissions with his ram 5.9L despite being mindful of the OD off/ and maintaining it... Of that generation I believe the GM truck was superior... for such a light boat the OP could have just selected 3rd gear and gone about his business if he didn't like the Tow/ Haul characteristics. Not liking that feature isn't cause for buying a new old truck.

 

[jkust]

Those 5.9's got amazingly low mpg not towing anything. Wonder what the towing mpg's will be.

 

[KYsean]

I keep hearing how light the boat is. Does the Op realize that boat does not weigh anywhere near 1500lbs. Min. weight of a Targa V18 is 3300lbs.( need to include the trailer) Add gear and coolers plus whatever is put in the truck and the weight keeps going up. It is still a safe weight for the original truck though.