Do you tow with you auto transmission?

[exfuzz01]

towing with A/T

I have a 2001 Ram Quad cab... long bed... . and tow a 24 ft Komfort 5th wheel. . weighs about 8000 lbs... . I have no trouble towing in overdrive and only have to kick it out when going up a long grade. . which there are plenty of in WA State... my truck is basically stock... gauges (piller mount), line-x bedliner, delta diamond plate bed box... .

 

[cwsoules]

The only mod on my truck is a temperature monitor in the stock transmission sump. I towed a 10K 5th wheel to South Carolina and back to the San Francisco Bay Area recently on I-40. I did not tow in O/D. The transmission worked properly. My total weight was 17,400#.



In hot weather the transmission temperature when stuck in traffic reached 200 degrees. Once on a long 6% grade I was in 2nd floored maintaining 40 mph and the transmission temp reached 200 degrees.



My concern was in stopping. Going down a grade over 5% with the transmission controlled by cruise control the transmission unloaded and all I had was brakes to slow the rig.



I want an exhaust brake, when I have it done I'll add the DTT TC and VB. I'm certain I'll love the improved pulling power too.



My only problem on the trip was on three occasions my inner cooler hose blew off from the turbo charger. It pulled out from under the hose clamp.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I have some info on the thread below that you may be interested in.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19880

 

[JohnMcIntyre]

Re: Re: Smart move!

Originally posted by Wcr25

What is the "intelligent" Exhaust brake application you are referring to? What does it entail and how does it work?

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Any exhaust brake application on a truck with automatic transmission is a waste of time and money unless you can somehow lock up the torque convertor. References to the "mystery switch" elsewhere in other posts on the TDR will provide you with additional background information on how torque lock-up can be achieved in such cases.



My set-up is based around the DTT 91% VB & TC with the Pac-brake. The "intelligent" reference relates to the fact that you don't have to remember to turn a mystery switch on, to invoke the exhaust brake function. Operation is relatively simple - when it kicks in, and you go into lock-up, the exhaust brake will slow you down indpendent of the service brakes and at 30 mph it will automatically drop out of lock-up, as well as popping out of the OD.



That's it in a nutshell but I'd recommend you talk to DTT to get the official version or check it out on their website.