*Should I be in 4th gear towing this?

My pop up camper all loaded up is 1500 pounds...should I be towing it in 4th gear? Its all flat roads ovee to maryland...thanks for any info

 

How fast do you plan on driving?

 

No more then 60 mph

 

I tow my 3200 lb boat in 5th on flat roads but try to keep speed up around 70. At 60 you may get some shifting and or torque converter lock up. Just try in 5th and see how it goes.

 

Below ~50 mph I would leave it in 4th.
It's very hard to tell some what gear to be in. If the truck is constantly changing gears.
Then you drop down a gear. If the converter is locking and unlocking a lot. Drop a gear.

That being said I just towed a pop up loaded at about 2100 -2300 lbs.
I towed it on the interstate in OD but it was pretty flat.

The reason most advise to tow in 4th is because it the safest recommendation.
Better to be safe than sorry.

Again, if it's changing gears a lot. Drop down a gear and of course slow down.

Happy towing buddy.

 

So its safe to slide shifter over into 4 while moving?

 

Looks like our entire trip is only 50mph roads
1 hour of driving total

 

4th then

 

I've read to keep it in 4 while towing to avoid going into overdrive. I guess towing in overdrive can hurt your transmission.

 

You just don't want the transmission hunting. Switching from 4th to OD constantly. If it's up and down and winding roads and you are speeding up and slowing down then 4th. Wide open flat hwy then OD would be ok.

 

I'm pretty sure it's the constant shifting and seeking for a happy gear that is the problem. It'll overheat the transmission if I understand it correctly?

 

Just leave it in 4th and you won't have to worry about it. Running a few more RPM's won't hurt anything. Less than 120 miles round trip isn't going to eat into your gas budget.

 

Thanks so much...I noticed keeping it in 4th on the 50mph roads the coolant ran at 185 degrees on my force gauge
When I would put it in D the coolant temp went up to 190
If the coolant was raising in D im sure the trans temp was also.
Next time I tow Im gonna hook up the snapon scanner and watch the trans temps to see what happens
For now im going with 4th towing on 50mph or less roads

 

Ok...in my 2016 with 6 speeds would 5th be a good towing gear or should I use 4th like everyone else here.

 

Yes. This is how folks typically downshift their automatic transmissions to engage engine braking while driving downhill in the mountains. Shift at any time. If you shift to a gear that the transmission can't engage because it would over-rev the engine (say shifting into 1st at 60mph as an extreme example) then the transmission controller won't perform the shift until the truck slows sufficiently.

 

Oh is that how it works?

I also like to use this down shift to pass, it makes it a lot easier to move my tires in the 50-70mph range.

 

In this age of electronic transmission controllers, yes. I make no representation about what happens with an old-school auto. (Actually, it's because I just can't remember.)

 

I mean: it makes perfect sense. I just never knew that with any level of confidence beyond "Why would it allow you to damage it?"

 

I wouldn't think twice about towing that light of a load in drive. I towed my 3500 pound boat in overdrive on the flat roads between 60 and 65. I'm thinking your truck will barely no that a trailer that light was there. I would probably back it down and put it in 4th if you are driving up and mountain passes. Do you have the factory tow package?

 

yes I have factory tow...I noticed better engine breaking in 4th gear. But im only using 4th in slow roads.
But if im gonna be going over 55 mph...I slide it over to D