Quote:
Originally Posted by crah
I'm towing an approximate 8500 pound 5th wheel in 4th gear at about 65 mph with the RPM slightly under 3000 averaging about 10mpg. The truck will tow the trailer in 5th gear, but there is too much shifting due to hills.
Is towing at 3000 rpms for extended lenght ok? I tow like this for 5 hours at a time with 1 fuel stop. I have tried towing in 5th and get about the same mileage, but constantly have to fight the shifting with the foot pedal.
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I don't think there's anything wrong with going in S-4 mode, other than you lose the TC lock/unlock feature. YOu see, the 6-speed has 2 OD gears with TC lock/unlock in both. Once you go to S-4 you lose that, and the TC will stay locked.
It kinda feels like you have 8 gears vs. 6 in a way, cause they will give you about 200-300 more rpm's once the TC unlocks.
I don't tow in S-4 mode so i don't know for sure, but i beleive at 65 mph the TC will not unlock for you when you come to a hill and the gas pedal goes down a little. If you tow in S-5 it would, thus giving you an extra gear sorta speak with the TC.
I tow in S-5 mode on the flat, and D mode while climbing hills. I like S-5 simply due to the TC feature, as most of the time it keeps me from dropping a full gear. But i drive a little faster than you at 70 or so.
But i see nothing wrong with 4th; and you can always pick up the TC feature by putting it in S-5 when you come to an incline.
Did that help at all, or am i confusing the he!! out of ya?