should I tow with OD engaged or not?

[Soot4Life]

My 99' auto, 3. 54 has trailer tow & camper package. I normally tow my horse trailer with my 23' Winnebago but will soon change to the truck. The trailer with horses weighs in around 7,000lbs. I tow frequently in the mountains with grades running 6% @ 95F air temp. Manual says to lock out OD. I am considering an extra deep Mag-Tech pan, amsoil lube +4, and trans. temp. gauge. Can't afford a nice ATS unit so I need advice on how to extend the life on the stock transmission.

Any opinions?

 

[BLee]

Stay in direct drive (3rd gear), and start saving for transmission upgrades.

 

[Blakers]

Bill, your weakest link is your torque converter. You might want to just replace that right away while your transmission is still in good shape. Get one of the triple disc units from ATS or Georend Brothers as they don't require a high line pressure. I think they'll work with your valve body.



If you don't upgrade the converter, I would lockout OD while going up and down hills. Your trailer is not very heavy, so in level towing I think I'd use OD.



Blake

 

[Snow man]

Bill,do as you mentioned. If you keep the truck stock,you will have no trouble with 7K lbs of trailer. Your torque convertor will not slip unless you tow over the rated weight,and/or add power. Keep it stock,get the dd pan,the guage,and the amsoil if you want. If it pulls OD fine,and you can keep her above 1750-1800,stay in OD,but if its straining,laboring on hills,or the trans cant make up its mind between 3rd,and 4th,press OD off,and let it rev. The only downside to running it at high RPM in drive is fuel economy,it is better for the engine trans to wind it out when its loaded. The key to long life with the transmission (maintance and temps aside)is keeping stock power levels if your trans is stock,and not towing over 9K with 3. 54's,especially with a stock trans.

 

[Vic]

Bill, I've run some 260,000 on my stock '91 with at least 100,000 of it pulling a 7K lb 5th wheel without any transmission problems. And I run in OD all the time. I watch the transmission temp carefully, keeping it within safe parameters (your configuration is different of course since your torque converter locks up, the '91s slip forever and heat more). I also have always followed the Dodge recommendation to change the transmission filter annually when used for towing. Good luck.