Tow/Haul mode
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 686
Why do you say this? It is not necessary, or better, to be at a stop light or coasting when engaging tow/haul or to avoid engaging it when under heavy load. Tow/haul changes the transmission programming. There is no mechanical aspect that suggests engaging it under load will cause damage.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,049
Likes: 1,607
Why do you say this? It is not necessary, or better, to be at a stop light or coasting when engaging tow/haul or to avoid engaging it when under heavy load. Tow/haul changes the transmission programming. There is no mechanical aspect that suggests engaging it under load will cause damage.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,271
Likes: 229
From: Gulf Coast, FL
Do what you want. It's your transmission. When I hauling/towing I drive in NORMAL MODE, if it seems I need to change I'll wait to change to TOW/HAUL as I described. There's NO GAIN to shifting in and out of different drive modes every few minutes.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 342
From: PG, BC, Canada
Programming changes the reference points, thus creating a possible entry point to make mechanical changes. IE You are in one gear, select TOW HAUL, the transmission then recognizes the change noting it needs to change gears. It changes gear causing a potential increase in RPMs that the driver hasn't experienced.
Do what you want. It's your transmission. When I hauling/towing I drive in NORMAL MODE, if it seems I need to change I'll wait to change to TOW/HAUL as I described. There's NO GAIN to shifting in and out of different drive modes every few minutes.
Do what you want. It's your transmission. When I hauling/towing I drive in NORMAL MODE, if it seems I need to change I'll wait to change to TOW/HAUL as I described. There's NO GAIN to shifting in and out of different drive modes every few minutes.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 686
Programming changes the reference points, thus creating a possible entry point to make mechanical changes. IE You are in one gear, select TOW HAUL, the transmission then recognizes the change noting it needs to change gears. It changes gear causing a potential increase in RPMs that the driver hasn't experienced.
Do what you want. It's your transmission. When I hauling/towing I drive in NORMAL MODE, if it seems I need to change I'll wait to change to TOW/HAUL as I described. There's NO GAIN to shifting in and out of different drive modes every few minutes.
Do what you want. It's your transmission. When I hauling/towing I drive in NORMAL MODE, if it seems I need to change I'll wait to change to TOW/HAUL as I described. There's NO GAIN to shifting in and out of different drive modes every few minutes.
When I read your comment "DO NOT do this with the truck under heavy load", I thought you were referring to the load placed on the engine/transmission when starting off or when climbing a grade. In this case, engaging tow/haul mode will just delay shifting to the next higher gear. There will be no sudden increase in RPMs. In the scenario you describe in the post above, an increase in RPMs would come from a downshift. This could occur if the truck was not under load when tow/haul was engaged (such as coasting) and tow/haul mode caused a down shift to aid braking. This could occur more suddenly than the driver expects.
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Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,695
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From: SE Florida
There is no reason for this. You can switch in and out of each mode under any condition with no worries of damaging something.
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