Tow mode or not ?

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ian MacKinnon

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Hi,

I have a '22 3500 w/the aisin trans w/tow package. I pull a 12K 5th wheel.

Hauled my 5th on a 10 hour trip last week. Cannot decide if I should be using tow mode or not. It seems to rev about 500 rpm higher in tow mode but I don't see or feel much of a difference other than that.

My sales rep was non comitial.

I am heading off for a 11k mile trip in November..

Any thought ? Would appreciate input.

Thanks, ian.
 

John Jensen

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I always tow in the Tow Haul mode. And whenever traffic permits I run with "Cruise Control".
Tow Haul merely keeps the truck in the proper gear, longer than not being in Tow Haul, before shifting to a higher gear. It should not be increasing the RPM. Maybe the increase you are seeing is because it's staying in gear longer. A lot of owners run in Tow Hul 100% of the time, they especially like it for local, in-town, driving.
 
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PolarisCobra

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Not sure if it is different in the 3500, but the manual for my 1500 says that one of the things that happens in tow mode is that 8th gear is locked out. That would account for the 500 RPMs I think. The extra RPMs, and lower gear requires less torque from the engine. My guess is they put in the mode for a reason, so I use it when towing.
 

John Jensen

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Not sure if it is different in the 3500, but the manual for my 1500 says that one of the things that happens in tow mode is that 8th gear is locked out. That would account for the 500 RPMs I think. The extra RPMs, and lower gear requires less torque from the engine. My guess is they put in the mode for a reason, so I use it when towing.
I have an HO with the Aisin.
FYI - no gear is locked out while in tow haul.
 
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ian MacKinnon

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Thanks all.

I should mention that i downsized from a cat 3126b with a lot less torque / hp and a much heavier truck.

My initial thought was tow mode in the hills and normal otherwise but lower rpm does not necessarily mean better mileage.

Still adjusting to all this new tech.. :)
 

SniperDroid

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Verified this weekend No Gear is Locked Out in Tow/Haul mode. Saw my 2500 6.4L go into 8th gear on the Ohio Turnpike, downhill, towing the camper this weekend. I learned the hard way about towing and the Tow/Haul mode with an F250. Transmissions are expensive things. ALWAYS use Tow/Haul Mode when carrying or towing more than 1000lbs. It changed the shift points for heavier loads, introduces engine braking on NON CTD engines. I won't tow without it...!
 

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Not sure if it is different in the 3500, but the manual for my 1500 says that one of the things that happens in tow mode is that 8th gear is locked out.
An Aisin transmission is only a 6 spd.
The ZF 8spd doesn't lock out gears it's just the speed/torque demand doesn't allow the transmission to shift up to eighth gear in a lot of situations behind a gasser.
 

Irishthreeper

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Always use tow/haul, and use cruise if you’re not on a long, steep climb or descent.
 

John Jensen

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Always use tow/haul, and use cruise if you’re not on a long, steep climb or descent.
I use cruise up grades. The longest is 8 miles with 6 & 8% grades. Put it in cruise at 60 or 65 and let her rip. Works perfect, never lugs. Descents the same where the exhaust brake on auto keeps it from running away.

I have an Aisin, are you talking no cruise for the SO?
 

Irishthreeper

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I have a 6.4 2500 with 4.10’s It pulls very well on cruise, flat road at 65 and 2200 rpm. On bigger climbs it will run 2800 or 3500 rpm and I love the sound of the Hemi at that rpm. But on cruise if it’s really steep up or down it’ll crank the rpm higher than I like, to keep up speed or slow me down. Sounds like you’re running a Cummins and they will climb better, for sure. But I love my Hemi :)
 

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My self will never use CC when towing going up a long grade ( I'm old school) I want full control of my engine's RPM's so I can keep it in the power band when climbing a 6-8% grades, but then I have always had a SO not HO engine...
 

PolarisCobra

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Looks like you are right about Tow/Haul not locking out a gear. I was sure that I had read that someplace (maybe here), but I can't find anything about it in the manual, or anyplace else.
 

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In my SO's owner manual, it says not to use tow/haul unless the tranny is doing a lot of hunting. But for big descents, engine braking works better with it on.
 

06 Dodge

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From my 2022 Owners Manual:

When to Use TOW/HAUL Mode
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying
a heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission
shifting occurs, push the TOW/HAUL switch to
activate TOW/HAUL mode. This will improve
performance and reduce the potential for
transmission overheating or failure due to
excessive shifting.
TOW/HAUL
 

John Jensen

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From my 2022 Owners Manual:

When to Use TOW/HAUL Mode
When driving in hilly areas, towing a trailer, carrying
a heavy load, etc., and frequent transmission
shifting occurs, push the TOW/HAUL switch to
activate TOW/HAUL mode. This will improve
performance and reduce the potential for
transmission overheating or failure due to
excessive shifting.
TOW/HAUL
Yup! That's what everyone has been saying
 
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I just went to fill up with gas and get some groceries ... I drove in Tow mode and it didn't lock up 8th at all ... I drive in tow haul mode a lot in town mostly not on the highways mostly to hear the Carven Competitor series say to everyone "I'm here" .....lol
 

crash68

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Always use tow/haul, and use cruise if you’re not on a long, steep climb or descent.
On the climb, no
On the descent using the cruise can help the transmission maintain a controlled speed. You can lower the speed by using the (Set -) button.
Pick a speed you want to descend the hill at and set the cruise at or 5 mph below that number at the crest of the hill, adjust as necessary.
 
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