Towing with an automatic transmission

[Queen]

Just realized, I've never towed anything with an auto transmission, drove semis and smaller trucks hauling huge loads, but always with a stick.  

So, kinda wondered about the overdrive button... is it always off, of just in hills and mountains?  Do you actually use the 2 & 3 gears when towing, like on hills?  

I feel like a towing rookie, a manual is so much easier to figure out!

 

[flying kurbmaster]

I think the overdrive should always be off, I base that on the fact that I read once in a manual for a manual transmission that you should not use 5th gear while towing.

 

[Almost There]

I was taught to turn off the overdrive ALWAYS when towing.

I just left it in automatic but with overdrive turned off and let the engine figure out which gear it wanted but then I never tried to do the Rockies towing anything. The hills in TN and KY were all I ever did and I tried to avoid the long, long, long (did I say long) stretch of grade north of Monteagle.

Now, we'll find out if I was doing it right....

 

[Queen]

I was taught to turn off the overdrive ALWAYS when towing.

I just left it in automatic but with overdrive turned off and let the engine figure out which gear it wanted but then I never tried to do the Rockies towing anything. The hills in TN and KY were all I ever did and I tried to avoid the long, long, long (did I say long) stretch of grade north of Monteagle.

Now, we'll find out if I was doing it right....

I have hauled more crap up and down Monteagle than you can imagine!  My folks bought 12 acres out in the wood near there and my dad wouldn't pop for a uhaul, so umpteen trips with his Ranger and a open cargo trailer for IL and FL to get the place set up. Plus the endless trips to FL when they lived there.  Fun road!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Some of the newest automatics have special settings for towing.  On the Fords, it's called Tow/Haul.  It locks out the overdrive AND changes the shift points between gears to optimize it for pulling a trailer or carrying a heavy load (like a truck camper). 

BTW, there's also a Manual setting that lets YOU do the shifting.  Electronic transmissions are wonderful!

You just bought a new truck, right?  What does the owners manual say about towing?

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

My chevy has a button with a picture of a trailer on it. I believe it's just an overdrive on/off button. Not sure if it actually changes when the truck shifts otherwise. Got me curious I gotta go check my owners manual now.

I owned a 4.0 liter Ranger auto and same year truck/engine that was standard and the standard towed the same trailer so so much better. I wish more vehicles came with the sticks. Automatics are an american thing. Heck even most of the semis are auto's in all the large fleets......werner, walmart, etc. I drove one a few times and was actually surprised with it, now anyone is going to be able to drive a semi and I don't think that's a good thing!

 

[Queen]

Some of the newest automatics have special settings for towing.  On the Fords, it's called Tow/Haul.  It locks out the overdrive AND changes the shift points between gears to optimize it for pulling a trailer or carrying a heavy load (like a truck camper). 

BTW, there's also a Manual setting that lets YOU do the shifting.  Electronic transmissions are wonderful!

You just bought a new truck, right?  What does the owners manual say about towing?

Might help if I read it.  I've only been reading the pages about that silly bluetooth thingy.

 

[Queen]

... now anyone is going to be able to drive a semi and I don't think that's a good thing!

Agree 100%.  On a recent cross country interstate blast, every one of our near misses was a semi driver who was texting or playing on a laptop and drifting out of their lane.  They (we) used to be pros.

 

[jimindenver]

Towing with the overdrive on heats up the tranny and it will be shifting in and out of it with every little hill. I leave the truck to figure it out unless we are in the steep climbs/ descents. There I control the transmission because I know what I need better than the truck.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

My chevy has a button with a picture of a trailer on it.  I believe it's just an overdrive on/off button.  Not sure if it actually changes when the truck shifts otherwise.  Got me curious I gotta go check my owners manual now. 

http://www.silveradosierra.com/transmission/haul-tow-mode-t2511.html

 

[highdesertranger]

towing with an automatic is hard on the trans. you MUST make sure you are not overheating the trans. I can not stress this enough, if you are consistently overheating your trans it will have a short life. a gauge and a auxiliary cooler is a good investment. highdesertranger

 

[ArtW]

In some vehicles turning OD off / turning tow/ haul on also increases line pressure, lessening slippage
I wouldn't be shy about downshifting manually on a downgrade, either

 

[poncho62]

I have an older pickup (1997)..It has the 4L60e trans...I tow a small 5th wheel or a car trailer with it. Never use OD, installed a temp gauge to monitor the temps. Try to keep it below 200F

 

[29chico]

I have an older pickup (1997)..It has the 4L60e trans...I tow a small 5th wheel or a car trailer with it. Never use OD, installed a temp gauge to monitor the temps. Try to keep it below 200F

You are on top of the trans issue.  The transmission shops would get a lot less work if more folks gave their trans the love that you do.  

You can get a bit better mileage by using overdrive on shallow downhills where the need for engine braking is not an issue.  No chance on overheating the trans then.

 

[wagoneer]

I use the OD button a lot 1995 Ram 2500 diesel keep the rev's under 2k she is very happy.

 

[Goshawk]

You need a transmission cooler installed on your automatic transmission. Overheating happens and will ruin the transmission. Do not try to tow without this. Also see how much electric or surge brakes on the trailer will cost. Best to get that to reduce the strain on the towing truck. Good luck with considering these costs.


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[Queen]

You need a transmission cooler installed on your automatic transmission. Overheating happens and will ruin the transmission. Do not try to tow without this. Also see how much electric or surge brakes on the trailer will cost. Best to get that to reduce the strain on the towing truck. Good luck with considering these costs.


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Thanks!  The truck came will a full heavy duty towing package, transmission cooler, bigger alternator and battery, and prepped for a brake controller.  I'll have a separate mechanic I know take a look at the tranny cooler to see if it's up for the job.

 

[Goshawk]

My starter repair replacement cost is nuts on the Toyota Tundra. It's like $500 just for labor. Some of these issues are getter so crazy expensive to fix.


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[highdesertranger]

Queen, having a gauge installed is cheap insurance. removes all doubt. highdesertranger

 

[ArtW]

When the company I drove busses for bought their fleet of new Bluebirds, we had tons of transmission issues, until the techs installed gauges and told all the drivers to keep temps below 200 (installed trans coolers at the same time)
My ranger seems to have the tow package, I think, except i can't locate the trans cooler
I do see a plug under the dash that MIGHT be for a brake controller