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Old 07-16-2012, 11:23 PM   #1
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I have a 2003 F250 with a Triton V10. I've heard that running in overdrive and pulling a trailer is hard on the transmission, is this true?
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Old 07-16-2012, 11:34 PM   #2
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In my old Dodge I would run in OD as long as the transmission was not hunting for gears. If I was running in hilly areas Ilocked it out of OD. When we went to New Mexico a few years ago I had it in OD on I10 going through flat West Texas and never saw higher trans temps than not running in OD. Now this new Chevy I bought with the 6 speed Allison I will have to do some reading up on to see what is best to run in while towing.
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Old 07-16-2012, 11:44 PM   #3
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We had a MH with the V10. The owners manual should tell you what to do when towing.

Unless they have changed things on the Allison trans.-- they say use the tow haul mode.



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Old 07-16-2012, 11:59 PM   #4
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I pull in OD, unless the transmission starts to shift in and out of overdrive frequently, then I lock out the OD. With my setup I can stay in overdrive most of time without any differences in temps for the motor or trans. If either start to heat up I lock out OD. Tow haul mode only changes your shift points to a higher rpm and gives you a good thump when it shifts. I always use tow/haul mode when pulling and sometimes after a Nascar race!!!
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Old 07-17-2012, 12:15 AM   #5
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overdrive is just what it says.The engine is turning slower than the drive shaft. This really reduces your torque. When the GM 400 tranny shifts, it actually shifts down 2 gears so your RPM is higher than running in 3rd. I run in 3rd all the time when towing. I can tell no difference in mph and the temp readings stay under 200 unless I am in the mountains.
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Old 07-17-2012, 01:27 AM   #6
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As far as I know, on my Ford with the 5 speed tranny, you can't lock out OD. Tow/Haul manages the shift points and gear selection based on load requirement. The only other choice is to take it out of drive, but then you only get 3rd gear as top choice and it locks you in that gear. So I just run in tow/haul and OD most of the time.
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Old 07-17-2012, 06:43 AM   #7
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My Duramax/Allison combo recommends Tow/Haul when towing. I nevertow without being in T/H mode. In my model year it works inconjunctionwith the cruise control to help maintain downhill speed. Newer models like Keith's 2012 have an engine brake.
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Old 07-17-2012, 09:13 AM   #8
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Most tow haul modes will lock out overdrive. Mine locks out 6th gear.
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Old 07-17-2012, 10:00 AM   #9
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All chebby owners reply? HA that is funny.. (except one)

Hard on the transmission? NO !.

We don't have 6 gears in our older ford f250's.. We have, um lets see if i can remember because i just put it go gear,, 1-2-3-tc_lock,OD (with my chip, 1, 2, tc_lock, 3, od) I can't remember when i have ever hit that button to lock out OD.. I don't think i have ever or will.. Every ford car, SUV, Truck, that i have owned, I am a total (older stuff) ford guy.. For the life of me i can't figure out why they would even give us that button. I have never, ever used it..

And for the sake of conversation, A lady came up to me today, Wierd, She said her and her husband is taking in her ford explorer to get fixed.. The green "OD" light is on, What does that mean. I told her to have her husband call me, Which he did.. I told him to hit the button to turn it off.. So it appears they never used it either and accidentally bumped it... I told this lady to send me the $80 check (just kidding on that $)

I have 373 gears in my tuck, And i have pulled just about everything under the sun. Put that 03 in gear and go.. If your going up a long grade hill, Hit the button if you want to rev your motor to the moon and blast up that hill at 5mpg, but i just let it slow down and muscle up. Nice and easy.. Getting there is better than not getting there.















Edited by: danskool
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Old 07-17-2012, 12:07 PM   #10
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Are you certain the T/H mode on the Allison transmission locks out 6th gear? I do not think it does, at least on my Duramax. I still cruise at 63 in T/H with the tach on 1,700 - 1,800 and RV hitched. It is my understanding that T/H changes the shift time, i.e., higher RPMs per gear based on the load. I get all six gears (five shifts) when towing.
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Old 07-17-2012, 01:45 PM   #11
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On the Dmax, T/H does nothing once you hit 6th and stay there. It does not lock out 6th. T/H is used below 6th to improve torque and shift firmness. Once in 6th it's the same as without T/H on.

Congrats Keith on the new rig. I wish I had the exhaust brake on mine.




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Old 07-17-2012, 10:23 PM   #12
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Thanks Stan, I hope this one treats me as good as my Dodge did for 7 years.
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Old 07-17-2012, 11:24 PM   #13
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Stan has explained it pretty well.
I have always figured when I'm in T/H, it acts and sounds like a Jake brake when I slow down and it starts down shifting.




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Old 07-18-2012, 01:24 AM   #14
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If I understand correctly the variable vane turbo in the Duramax acts as a brake when decelerating. There is a new "plug and play" module out that will give three levels of braking.
Made by BD diesel performance. If anyone is interested there was a write up in August 2012 Trailer Life.
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Old 07-18-2012, 03:11 AM   #15
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While I am yet another Chevy owner...I do NOT tow in OD.

Ours is D-3-2-1, and I always tow in 3. When I had a pickup, I used tow/haul button (same as Ford's OD off button).

CAN you tow in OD, yes. Is it easier on the tranny not to? YES.
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Old 07-18-2012, 03:42 AM   #16
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I think that Allison tranny is smart enough to figure out whether or not it is being hurt when the speed gets up high enough for it to shift into O/D
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Old 07-18-2012, 06:48 AM   #17
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When I first got my truck, I always thought to NOT use OD when towing. In my case, thats gear 5 and 6. I couldn't afford to drive it 4th all the time. Sometimes I pushed it up to 5th. I went in to a local transmission shop and asked for the professionals opinion. He says OD is fine unless it starts struggling (ie: hilly terrains). So now, I just put in drive and T/H mode. Sometimes when it starts working hard I drop it down to 5, but its not usually necessary. It seems to climb alot of hills in cruise at 65mph and not even gear down.
I think some of these new transmissions are smarter than the driver anyway. Not much need for driver input anymore. Just push a few buttons go....




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Old 07-18-2012, 09:02 AM   #18
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Reading thru posts again - there is a discernable difference in the truck you have and whether or not OD matters.

As many have stated with their HD Diesels - there is little difference except shift patterns. I have not (yet) owned a diesel, and I think a point worth noting is OD would not be recommended for a "light" duty SUV or 1/2-ton pickup.

Favoring GM - the Allison tranny is designed for the abuse of towing...
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Old 07-18-2012, 11:16 PM   #19
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The Allison tranny on my2500HD is put in "D" with the T/H turned on. I set the Cruise at about 100 klicks and let the computers do the work. If the tranny downshifts from 6th to 5th, it knows when to upshift and does. I'm not going to outguess the computer programs.
As for the 1500 series trucks, locking out O/D is probably a good idea. I used to do it with the previous truck thatI had. For me, it meant that the engine was running a little closer to it's torque peak and it gave me slightly better fuel mileage, even though the engine was revving faster.
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Old 07-29-2012, 08:24 AM   #20
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With my diesel 2500HD Chevy if I am in T/H it won't go into 6th even at 65mph, not in T/H it will, but jake break only seems to work in T/H. So what I do is either leave T/H off or get to 6th at 65mph thenturn T/H on and it will stay in 6th. With the noticable drop in rpm I should be getting better mpg.
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