Tow mode on 03 3500

[Mechanic1994]

So I have an 03 3500 ram dually, are these built stock with tow mode? Because when I hit button on column shifter it only goes to O/D off. My buddy has 06 2500 and his column shifter button has 2 modes, 1)”tow /haul” and 2) O/D off. His has 3:73 and mine is a 4:10. So do I not have the tow package?? And is overdrive ok to use if hauling my 8k-LBS camper?

 

[petersonj]

The '03 truck does not have the tow-haul mode feature. Not a big deal if you know how to operate the transmission shift lever - the tow-haul mode doesn't do anything that you can't do. When you are pulling grades that require lots of power, lock out overdrive (4th gear) and use third gear to pull the grade. Using overdrive towing on flat ground will not harm the transmission and it will be quieter in the cab.

Going down grades, use the gears to hold you back.

- John

 

[Mechanic1994]

The '03 truck does not have the tow-mode feature. Not a big deal if you know how to operate the transmission shift lever - the tow-mode does do anything that you can't do. When you are pulling grades that require lots of power, lock out overdrive (4th gear) and use third gear to pull the grade. Using overdrive towing on flat ground will not harm the transmission and it will be quieter in the cab.

Going down grades, use the gears to hold you back.

- John

Hey thanks man I appreciate the response and that makes sense.

 

[Sidewayzz1969]

The '03 truck does not have the tow-haul mode feature. Not a big deal if you know how to operate the transmission shift lever - the tow-haul mode doesn't do anything that you can't do. When you are pulling grades that require lots of power, lock out overdrive (4th gear) and use third gear to pull the grade. Using overdrive towing on flat ground will not harm the transmission and it will be quieter in the cab.

Going down grades, use the gears to hold you back.

- John

Whats your thoughts on my 06. 373 gears. When i am pulling my 7500lb travel trailer. Tow haul mode or OD off. Thanks

 

[Ozymandias]

I'm not sure about the 47RE, but the 48 locks up the converter if manually shifted to 2nd.

Otherwise on those old Trucks the T/H is in real only a OD Off, new labeled. That changes around 2005MY i think were the Computer gets smarter.

 

[petersonj]

Whats your thoughts on my 06. 373 gears. When i am pulling my 7500lb travel trailer. Tow haul mode or OD off. Thanks

I think it is a matter of preference. You can use the tow-haul mode and let a computer do all of the decision making for you, or you can take control and select the gear you want for a particular driving condition. Personally. I would want to be the one making the decision of which gear the truck is in, especially when it comes to towing up and down grades.

In my opinion the problem with the 4sp automatic transmission when towing is: first it only has 4 gears, and second if left in "Drive" (tow-haul mode or not) the transmission will not necessarily select the best gear on its own, especially in hilly country or winding roads, or both. This can cause unnecessary gear "hunting" as well. If you are pulling a grade and you can tell a downshift is coming, you can be proactive and ease up on the throttle, make the downshift manually, and step back into the throttle. Very smooth and will not be followed gear "hunting".

Having a 6 spd manual transmission in my truck makes the best of all of the above-mentioned situations and gives me "lockup" in every gear. It doesn't get any better than that.

- John

 

[Sidewayzz1969]

Thanks