First Tow. Was I doing it right?

[JEgan]

I just picked up a new 5th wheel and pulled it 800 miles from Nevada to my home. My Dodge pulled the 12,000 # trailer very well but I just need to know if I was driving it right. This is the first time I have ever towed anything. Here is how I drove it. When in town, I had it in "Tow Haul" and left it there for any off-highway driving and also for entering onto the highway. As I got up to speed on the highway, I would switch off the "Tow Haul" and let it shift into high gear. Also, I would cruise in high gear at 55mph to 65mph but when the rpm fell below 1,500rpm, I would switch back to "TowHaul". This would usually be on hills. When I switched to "Tow Haul" on these hills, the engine would rev up at first and then get into a higher gear and usually stay at around 2,000rpms until I would crest the hill and then I would switch off the "Tow Haul" and let it shift into high.



the truck would cruise, no problem at 1,500rpm on the flat at 55-60. Was I "lugging" the engine? When I approached a hill and the engine rpm started to get below 1,500, should I have left it in cruise and just pressed down on the accellerator, instead of shifting to "Tow Haul"



I just want to hear how you all do it.



Thanks

 

[DSutton]

You did Great!!

You got it home in one piece (I assume). I would pull the easy flats out of tow haul, but anytime you start to pull at all I would go down. I like to keep the RPM's up to at least 1800 when pulling. In your auto your line pressures will be higher, and that helps the lockkup hold. It also keeps more air flowing through the turbo, keeping EGT;s lower, and giving you more boost.



Just my opinions though. Most CTD drivers get pretty accustomed to their own habits, right wrong or otherwise!!