Tow button use

[Southfork Dually]

What is your rule of thumb on use of tow button? I'm pulling 26' empty enclosed trailer for 1,200 miles. Should it be in tow mode the whole time or just when being "strained" a bit?

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Good Morning! Welcome to the TDR.

Tow/Haul button - to each his own but I recommend using it when towing. It increases the aggressiveness of the exhaust brake, decreases the rate of upshift and increases the rate of downshift. As you play with it you will see what I mean.

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[EDankievitch]

I really like how aggressive the engine break is in the tow haul mode. I wish there was a setting between the " normal driving" mode and the "Tow Haul" mode for the engine break. In normal mode sometimes the truck will hold it's speed down hill most times it will not. In Tow / haul the truck will almost come to a stop on the same hill all the time. Engine break on smart mode that is. I so miss my manual transmission I hate the truck/ computer driving me not Me driving the truck.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Start truck, hit tow haul and exhaust brake every time.

 

[Lynx0849]

Might be my imagination but on my ‘15 3500, if I click on the manual max gear and even set it to 6th, it seems that the exhaust brake is more aggressive.


Pro

 

[Jim W]

I have a third gen truck with the 6.7L Cummins one of the first years with this feature. I have been using tow/haul mode when every I tow my trailers and or haul any load in the bed. I have been doing this since new this and the exhaust brake are some of the best features on the truck.

 

[Dieselnerd]

The only time I do not use Tow/Haul is when the truck is empty. With either my Truck Camper or towing my 5th wheel, it's always on.

I use the exhaust brake all the time, empty or loaded. Best thing that ever came with a RAM truck!

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Start truck, hit tow haul and exhaust brake every time.

Me too

 

[DHayden]

I keep EB on all the time, I like T/H mode but if I'm staying on base and always under 30mph, with the 4.10's empty it keeps it in low gears too long.

 

[mpaulson]

Start truck, hit tow haul and exhaust brake every time.

This is the way to do it. Never do a brake job again. I’m about to sell my 2014 with 155,000kms on it which half are towing/hauling in the 26,000-29,800 lb range and it still have the original brakes with 9mm average pad left.
Sold my 07.5 the in the same shape. I always am in tow haul and full e-brake mode loaded or not.

 

[Dasmoeturhead]

As soon as something is attached to my truck the TH switch gets pushed in. EB button is always on if truck is running, except in Ice and snow.

 

[Southfork Dually]

Thanks all for replies. I ended up using tow button whole return trip as trailer is 5300 lbs empty. There were plenty of stretches (flat) that I'm sure it was not necessary but one of few things manual says is switching back & forth is harder on trans. It worked out great.