Using Overdrive While Towing

[TXblue]

I tow my 5th wheel trailer in overdrive when I don't have a big headwind or when I don't have a lot of steep hills. Will this hurt my transmission? I've had conflicting responses from the RV forum and thought I'd ask the experts.
Thanks,

 

[95_stroker]

I tow in OD all the time unless my transmission is hunting for OD or if trans temps are elevated. And in that rate, I generally back off 5-10 mph to fix either of those problems.

 

[powerboatr]

seeing as your running the old trany and not the worlds apart torqushift.
I would say as with my own exper.
if it is staying in OD and not lugging (building high egt temps/ with low boost)
then you should be fine, watch tranny temps and egts versus road speed, if she starts hunting (frequent) shifting up to or out of then you may want to turn OD off.
I towed with my 02 dually 4.10 gears in OD all the time till we hit mountains, then just a push of the button and we were fine, till i got a bigger fiver

there is a bit of trail and error to , play with it at different road speeds to. my 06 likes to pull at 72ish its in the power band

hmmm stroker...you type fast

 

[Maintain]

Like stated above, your ok until it hunts for gears. Also, towing in Cruise is ok contrary to popular belief, just once again as long as it's not searching for gears.

IF it starts searchin, try either going 5-10mph faster or slower and see what that does. Also make sure you're towing in the powerband which is usually >2000 rpms, differing slightly on rear gearing.

 

[WD40]

TXBlue and Maintain, Welcome to SSD. Glad you found us. Hope you come back often. Blue I think you will be just fine towing in OD if you do what the others have said. Just keep an eye on the gages. Happy camping. Come on down to Caddo Mills and camp out with this bunch. May 18-21

 

[Hoss 350]

seeing as your running the old trany and not the worlds apart torqushift.
I would say as with my own exper.
if it is staying in OD and not lugging (building high egt temps/ with low boost)
then you should be fine, watch tranny temps and egts versus road speed, if she starts hunting (frequent) shifting up to or out of then you may want to turn OD off.
I towed with my 02 dually 4.10 gears in OD all the time till we hit mountains, then just a push of the button and we were fine, till i got a bigger fiver

there is a bit of trail and error to , play with it at different road speeds to. my 06 likes to pull at 72ish its in the power band

hmmm stroker...you type fast

I second everything Robert just said. If the temps down, and it is not shifting in and out of OD all the time (ie, hunting) then you are just fine. As soon as it starts wanting to downshift into D, then manually shift it down and leave it there until the condition causing it to want drive (whether it is a headwind or a hill) goes away (ie, wind stops or you get to the top).

Also, an aftermarket tranny cooler can add some piece of mind if you are worried about it.

THis is why I went to a stick. i got sick of always being worried about my tranny. With a stick, you don't have to worry about it....