Drive or 3rd?

Judi · Post by **Judi** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 1:48 pm

Ok all you drivers out there......we have the 30TS and pull with 2004 2500HD 6.6L Diesel. Do you keep it in drive or 3rd going down the road? Also when at a full stop, do you start off in 1st or 2nd gear and then change to 3rd or Drive? Just want to make sure. Thanks alot.

snuffy · Post by **snuffy** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 2:05 pm

Just put it in D and push in the tow haul button. No need to use the other gears. The Allison will do the rest. IN tow haul mode it will even help gear itself down when you start slowing.

Post by **Don Wilson** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:13 pm

The advice Snuffy gave you is the way to tow your trailer! The only thing I do differently is if I am towing in town I will push the button until I get into the overdrive off mode. Once back on the highway or Freeway I go back to the tow mode!

Don

Rob & Cathy · Post by **Rob & Cathy** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:45 pm

I too agree with Snuffy. I just put mine in tow-haul mode and gear selection in drive. The transmission will actually run cooler in tow-haul because there is less slippage in the torque converter hence firmer shifting. Plus in tow-haul mode you will have engine breaking when going down hill or slowing down.

Rob

snuffy · Post by **snuffy** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:32 pm

If I'm only getting up to 50-55 mph, then I will bump the tow-haul off until the transmission changes into OD and then I put it back on. Has worked for me.

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 11:51 am

Around town I put the rig in tow/haul. On the road in the flatlands around here, I just put it in drive and roll. In hilly terrain, I'll drop into T/H going up steep inclines and use it as a brake when going down same.

campswithcritters · Post by **campswithcritters** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:19 am

The allison will do the work for you, just select tow haul and drive. The transmission is designed to learn the load and automatically adapt.

Judi · Post by **Judi** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:24 am

Thanks for all the replies. Someone said not to use the tow haul because it used for diesel, and we just returned back from trip up near Memphis without using it in those hills on I-55. Sure wish I would have used it now...

Judi · Post by **Judi** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:26 am

Sure wish I could learn to spell...I mean it "used" more diesel. I will use it next time for sure! Now if only the roads in Louisiana were good enough to stop all of the "bucking" tug of war on that hitch.

campswithcritters · Post by **campswithcritters** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:13 am

Judi wrote:Thanks for all the replies. Someone said not to use the tow haul because it used for diesel, and we just returned back from trip up near Memphis without using it in those hills on I-55. Sure wish I would have used it now...

Judi, who ever told you that was thinking of the old GM 4 speed automatic which could not be used for towing in overdrive. The allison is designed for heavy duty use and will perform much better when towing using the tow/haul function. You will notice the engine will rev higher before shifting when accelerating using tow haul, and it will downshift automatically when slowing. Those are normal functions and nothing to worry about. Just put it in drive and activate the tow/haul when towing and watch the road and scenery, the truck will do the rest.

Judi · Post by **Judi** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:19 am

Thanks Bruce! I will do exactly that! I hope we didnt hurt the truck too much by keeping it in drive and NOT using the tow/haul mode going 500 miles to Memphis....live and learn and boy have I learned something today!

campswithcritters · Post by **campswithcritters** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:31 am

Judi wrote:Thanks Bruce! I will do exactly that! I hope we didnt hurt the truck too much by keeping it in drive and NOT using the tow/haul mode going 500 miles to Memphis....live and learn and boy have I learned something today!

I'm sure a mere 500 miles would have done no damage to one of the toughest transmissions on the market, no worries.

Future Fulltimers · Post by **Future Fulltimers** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:54 pm

Judi wrote:Thanks Bruce! I will do exactly that! I hope we didnt hurt the truck too much by keeping it in drive and NOT using the tow/haul mode going 500 miles to Memphis....live and learn and boy have I learned something today!

Not the truck, just your wallet

dmitchem · Post by **dmitchem** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:19 am

Running in drive with tow/haul mode should not have hurt anything.

As stated before the Allison is differnet from other atoumatic tranmissions. Tow/haul does not lock out overdrive by defaut. It changes the shift points and when the torque converter locks. This will be noticed by higher RPM shift points and downshifting when slowing down. Once in overdrive (usually at 60 mph) the final drive gear ratio is the same wheather you are in just "D" or tow/haul mode so the milage should be the same. If running at below 60 a quick off on tow mode will cause the final shift to take place and then reactivate tow mode.

Sometime on grades the transmission will downshift more than necessary causing excessive rpms. If this happens just turn tow mode off and it will usually upshift, you may have to apply some pedal preasure first, and then brake to a lower speed.

As stated it "learns" as you go but sometime it learns a little to well.

Judi · Post by **Judi** » Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:34 am

Thanks so much for all of this valuable explanation of how the tow/haul mode works. I am beginning to understand it now.