Tow/Haul and Air suspension

Dam0007 · Sep 3, 2022

Just picked up my new truck and Having a hard time trying to find a answer.

Does tow haul cancel the truck going into aero mode? Does it still do auto leveling?

I’m coming from a GC WK2 that didn’t have tow haul and always went into aero mode automatically so I’d adjust hitch to what the height would be in that mode and it would still auto level so no sag. Towing a bass boat.

Thanks in advance!

crash68 · Sep 3, 2022

Tow/Haul is supposed to stop the truck from going into Aero mode. The auto-level still functions.

Dam0007 · Sep 3, 2022

crash68 said:
Tow/Haul is supposed to stop the truck from going into Aero mode. The auto-level still functions.

Thanks for reply! So would it be safe to go by hitch measurement based off “normal” ride height?

Just wanna know what to expect when I hook boat up. Prob don’t even need to use tow mode, towed fine on the GC.

zrock · Sep 4, 2022

From my experience with the areo mode disable it. I did a test on several different trips on different days with the exact same results i got better fuel econ with areo shut off and now that i deleted the air suspension on mine im getting better yet. Also i could not wrap my head around the truck keeping a alignment when its lowering itself on the hwy.

Dam0007 · Sep 4, 2022

zrock said:
From my experience with the areo mode disable it. I did a test on several different trips on different days with the exact same results i got better fuel econ with areo shut off and now that i deleted the air suspension on mine im getting better yet. Also i could not wrap my head around the truck keeping a alignment when its lowering itself on the hwy.

I did not know I could disable it, found the setting. Thanks! So your better fuel economy was that while towing?

So running at ‘normal’ it will still auto level the rear end with a load on it?

Frank Smith · Sep 4, 2022

I have the air suspension/air bags and auto level always on.
I pull a 7000 lb. TT and no matter if I'm in tow/haul or not, I never see the "Aero Mode" show up will towing. The truck does auto level when I'm putting the TT on the hitch and when hooking up the load bars.
Never have it a problem, it just works.

Cactusmonkey · Sep 5, 2022

I think it is a fantastic feature. Auto leveling and WDB are a great combo.

zrock · Sep 6, 2022

Auto leveling is a feature of the air suspension that is programmed in. Its not a feature that you can shut off... I had better fuel econ both towing and not... I think alot of the fuel econ was due to the fact that when it goes into areo mode your tires are now slightly out of alignment creating a bit more drag. With the suspension adjusting past the spec where it was aligned their is no way it maintains the alignment

miketx · Sep 6, 2022

I've never noticed any problems with Aero mode and alignment. But when I tow, I go into Tow/Haul mode, mainly to keep the transmission from "hunting" gears (increases fluid temp). Tow/Haul does prevent Aero mode, but the truck still auto-levels constantly, so "level" is never a problem. I love the air suspension.

Randy Grant · Sep 7, 2022

RV weight at 10000, 3000 trip. At end of trip hand calked at just under 13 mpg. Never use tow haul except on long down grades, and let truck adjust to AERO on its own, never a problem with gear hunting, and have never noticed unusual tire ware. Current mimes are about 46000.

HAL9001 · Sep 7, 2022

I don't know what some of you guys are talking about. I towed extensively with my 2021 1500 Limited 5.7 e-Torque and my travel trailer. I often used the tow/haul mode and the Aero mode together. I could switch in and out of Tow/Haul mode while in Aero mode when driving. I experimented with which mode was better for towing and mileage and selected Aero mode for the entire 3300 mile trip.

I searched the owners manual and could not find anything that said Tow/Haul mode disabled Aero mode.

Show me where it says you can't use the two together.

Roper46 · Sep 7, 2022

I love the air suspension on my 3500. Previously towed my 12k pound 5er with a 2020 Ram 2500. Had to add Sumo springs to it to handle the sag of the pin weight of 2250 pounds. Payload with the Cummins was only 2097 pounds.

Payload on current Ram is 4058 pounds. Towed the 5er for the first time about two weeks ago, what a difference. Not many hills where I live but I always use the exhaust brake and used tow/haul most of the time. The air suspension kept the truck level and I used the app on the display to lower the bed to disconnect when I got to the campground. Then the truck auto leveled itself. I also got 12 to 13 mpg with the 6.7, again, not many hills.

miketx · Sep 7, 2022

HAL9001 said:
I don't know what some of you guys are talking about. I towed extensively with my 2021 1500 Limited 5.7 e-Torque and my travel trailer. I often used the tow/haul mode and the Aero mode together. I could switch in and out of Tow/Haul mode while in Aero mode when driving. I experimented with which mode was better for towing and mileage and selected Aero mode for the entire 3300 mile trip.

I searched the owners manual and could not find anything that said Tow/Haul mode disabled Aero mode.

Show me where it says you can't use the two together.

I never found it in the owner's manual either...it was just my experience. If I was in Aero and pushed Tow/Haul, the suspension went up to normal. I just had my air suspension fixed and recalibrated, and have a towing trip next week. I'll give it a try again.

miketx · Sep 7, 2022

Randy Grant said:
View attachment 501717
RV weight at 10000, 3000 trip. At end of trip hand calked at just under 13 mpg. Never use tow haul except on long down grades, and let truck adjust to AERO on its own, never a problem with gear hunting, and have never noticed unusual tire ware. Current mimes are about 46000.

First of all, impressive towing mileage with that weight! Is your truck 4x4? What is your avg speed? I have a 4k rv trailer and I'm lucky to get 11/12 mpg, but I tow closer to 70mph. And I suspect the reason you don't have much gear hunting is the weight of your trailer....probably keeps you out of OD/8th gear most of the time. Just a guess. And maybe the E-torque helps?

Randy Grant · Sep 7, 2022

miketx said:
First of all, impressive towing mileage with that weight! Is your truck 4x4? What is your avg speed? I have a 4k rv trailer and I'm lucky to get 11/12 mpg, but I tow closer to 70mph. And I suspect the reason you don't have much gear hunting is the weight of your trailer....probably keeps you out of OD/8th gear most of the time. Just a guess. And maybe the E-torque helps?

Actually in 8th most of the time (truck really likes the 1500 rpm +/-), and I run 55/60 with the occasional 65. And no, not 4x4. But it really doesn't matter what I am towing weight wise, mpg is about the same. I think a lot of it is the wind resistance and speed.

miketx · Sep 7, 2022

Randy Grant said:
Actually in 8th most of the time (truck really likes the 1500 rpm +/-), and I run 55/60 with the occasional 65. And no, not 4x4. But it really doesn't matter what I am towing weight wise, mpg is about the same. I think a lot of it is the wind resistance and speed.

Ok, yeah....my truck is never at 1500 rpm...closer to 2k+, but I don't tow at 55/60 either. Speed/wind makes a big difference.

ramffml · Sep 7, 2022

miketx said:
Ok, yeah....my truck is never at 1500 rpm...closer to 2k+, but I don't tow at 55/60 either. Speed/wind makes a big difference.

He tows a 5w, pretty sure that makes a big improvement over a standard TT in terms of aero/mpg because the wind is deflected off the roof of his cab and then continues up his 5w roof. For a TT, the wind comes back down our cab towards the bed and then has to go back up again, some of that air hits us twice, first the truck then the trailer. Don't really know, just guessing, but I've seen it more than once that 5w is a little better for MPG.

I can tow my lighter TT at 1800 RPMs when its flat, but normally I'm doing about 2200 to 2300. Really strong head wind? 2700+.

Dam0007 · Sep 7, 2022

HAL9001 said:
I don't know what some of you guys are talking about. I towed extensively with my 2021 1500 Limited 5.7 e-Torque and my travel trailer. I often used the tow/haul mode and the Aero mode together. I could switch in and out of Tow/Haul mode while in Aero mode when driving. I experimented with which mode was better for towing and mileage and selected Aero mode for the entire 3300 mile trip.

I searched the owners manual and could not find anything that said Tow/Haul mode disabled Aero mode.

Show me where it says you can't use the two together.

The point as I understood it, at normal height when you are running the correct rise/drop on your hitch to keep your trailer level, and the vehicle goes into aero and lowers another 0.6-1.x” your trailer is no longer level. So when I had the GC, I couldn’t turn aero off so instead of doing a 4” drop I just did a 3” drop as majority of my time I’m doing 60-65 on highways but then off highway it was a inch too high. Surge brakes get finicky if trailer isn’t leveled pretty good.

I’m just commenting, sums up reason for my original post.

miketx · Sep 7, 2022

ramffml said:
He tows a 5w, pretty sure that makes a big improvement over a standard TT in terms of aero/mpg because the wind is deflected off the roof of his cab and then continues up his 5w roof. For a TT, the wind comes back down our cab towards the bed and then has to go back up again, some of that air hits us twice, first the truck then the trailer. Don't really know, just guessing, but I've seen it more than once that 5w is a little better for MPG.

I can tow my lighter TT at 1800 RPMs when its flat, but normally I'm doing about 2200 to 2300. Really strong head wind? 2700+.

Ok, yeah it does make sense. When I first bought this trailer, it was really low (too low...scraped going in/out of gas stations,etc). I put a lift on it and immediately noticed more wind resistance...it was that noticeable. But that was with a previous tow vehicle (FJ Cruiser...box on wheels).

IvoryHemi · Sep 8, 2022

HAL9001 said:
I don't know what some of you guys are talking about. I towed extensively with my 2021 1500 Limited 5.7 e-Torque and my travel trailer. I often used the tow/haul mode and the Aero mode together. I could switch in and out of Tow/Haul mode while in Aero mode when driving. I experimented with which mode was better for towing and mileage and selected Aero mode for the entire 3300 mile trip.

I searched the owners manual and could not find anything that said Tow/Haul mode disabled Aero mode.

Show me where it says you can't use the two together.

I also tow in Aero Mode.

The confusion comes from if you have Aero Mode Auto-enabled, then the suspension will stay in Normal mode when Tow/Haul is on. It will not automatically drop to Aero mode.

Tow/Haul and Air suspension

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