Towing with or without tow/haul

[Chris57ram]

Got a 16 ram 1500 5.7 st 4x4 3.21 I have an open 5x8 lawn trailer and tow one **** zero turn mower residential grade for my lawn business daily. My question is should I use tow mode? It’s definitely under 1k in weight by quite a bit. I usually turn off mds and select 7 or 8. Can I use tow mode with mds off? Truck pulls it with ease just want to put least amount of strain on trans. My 4.7 Dakota 5 speed towed it also no problem but this truck much better. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[tron67j]

According to multiple threads here using the tow mode turns off MDS. I don't think you need to use the tow mode for what you are moving, but can if you want. Tow mode helps to keep the truck from going into overdrive and hunting back and forth on heavy tows like going up a hill.

 

[rzr6-4]

Tow haul will make your trans clutch lock up sooner, which is a good thing. You could get by without but if you tow a lot then it wouldn’t hurt to do.

 

[GTyankee]

MDS , i believe will only work in Drive which is like 8th Overdrive

But like was mentioned, using Tow/Haul changes the transmissions Shift Points, so that there is never a Strain put on the Transmission

 

[04fxdwgi]

MDS , i believe will only work in Drive which is like 8th Overdrive

But like was mentioned, using Tow/Haul changes the transmissions Shift Points, so that there is never a Strain put on the Transmission

If left on, the MDS in mine works anywhere above 35 mph and very light throttle. So, no, works on lower gears, too.

I usually leave MDS off (using the shift buttons) if I am just buzzing around town, or on back roads where trans shifting a lot so I don't hear that "fart in a rain barrel" sound every time it comes out of MDS.

When towing (3.21's, too), I keep it in tow/haul, but I'm usually towing my 7k lb boat/trailer. Big diff from the couple of lawn mowers.

 

[Rlaf75]

For what you're towing its not needed but it wouldn't hurt. I've pulled this 7x11 trailer with a 900lb harley in it from CT to upstate NY through the mountains with my 21 5.7 non e-torque with 3.21 gears no problem. I experimented with tow mode on and off and I never had a problem.

 

[zrock]

I two a 28ft travel trailer and i really do not use it unless im going up a long hill or something and then usually i just downshift manually. I have owned different veh that have had the tow/haul feature and never used it.

 

[NCRaineman]

We tow a small enclosed trailer for my wife's art business. I won't use tow/haul for that as it's not heavy enough. I will use the minus button on the wheel to manually select 8th gear, which keeps the MDS disabled.

Have used tow/haul several times with truckloads of wood, it works well holding gears and increased engine braking.

 

[HemiLonestar]

Got a 16 ram 1500 5.7 st 4x4 3.21 I have an open 5x8 lawn trailer and tow one **** zero turn mower residential grade for my lawn business daily. My question is should I use tow mode? It’s definitely under 1k in weight by quite a bit. I usually turn off mds and select 7 or 8. Can I use tow mode with mds off? Truck pulls it with ease just want to put least amount of strain on trans. My 4.7 Dakota 5 speed towed it also no problem but this truck much better. Any suggestions appreciated.

Have used tow/haul several times with truckloads of wood, it works well holding gears and increased engine braking.

This^^
Did some long distance trips with the boat. It's only a 19' so the trailer doesn't have brakes. Whole setup was about 3600 lbs. T/H was great for slow downs due to the engine braking. Same with getting up to speed. I put it at 7 for all around except for extended highway driving where I knew it was gonna be steady speed for a bit, then I would move it to 8.