Towing w/48RE transmission

[ray1933]

We pick up our 29 ft Alpenlite Friday.

How much towing can we expect to do with the overdrive on ?

I fully understand that in the mountains we need to tow with it turned off.



Any and all suggestions are welcome regarding towing with our rig.

 

[razrbakcrzy]

We pick up our 29 ft Alpenlite Friday.

How much towing can we expect to do with the overdrive on ?

I fully understand that in the mountains we need to tow with it turned off.



Any and all suggestions are welcome regarding towing with our rig.

I tow a 10,000lb 24' enclosed ATV race trailer with mine everywhere with the overdrive on. the only time I turn it off is if it kick out of overdrive more than once in 5 minutes. I then turn on the tow/haul switch until I get out of the general area then I turn it off.

 

[JohnCooper]

My 5ver weighs about 8000lbs, I leave the overdrive on anywhere that is close to level or downhill where I don't have to control my speed with the engine. When going up grades or through hills, I will turn it off when I feel like I have to add a lot of throttle to maintain speed. I also watch the transmission temp gauge, any sign of temp climbing I turn off the overdrive.

 

[ScottLewis]

Use your OD all the time unless it's hunting (kicking in and out) or you need lower gearing up or down a grade. Although I have 4. 10 gearing your RV is quite a bit lighter than mine and I find OD handles the load quite well.



If you're going to be towing a lot, you might consider an Exhaust brake.



Other than that, enjoy!



Dan

 

[JWChessell]

I towed my 16' dbl-axle 10,000 lb cargo trailer 22,000 miles on I-5 between NW Washington and so. California during 2006. I agree with the preceeding posts: No problems; use when level or mostly level; turn off when climbing hills or when it starts downshifting repeatedly; turn off and/or shift to 2nd when descending hills where some engine braking will help. I never had enough weight to feel the need of an exhaust brake, and I'm still on the original brakes at 85,000 miles. However, I did keep it to 60 MPH or less when descending long hills.

 

[wild4stangs]

My fiver weighs in at about 14k loaded, and I tow in OD all the time. I just don't let the motor lug too much or if the transmission seems to be hunting I will drop out of OD. My sweet spot is about 70mph, but holding 65 is no problem. On those long 5% grades, I will usually have to drop out of OD to keep the revs up. When I am out of OD, I huild heat quick, and I am running Royal Purpls fluid, and a Maghytec deep transmission pan. The torque converters in these trucks are really slushy, and seem to be designed more for normal unloaded driving than for heavy hauling, lots of TC slipage, and slippage = HEAT...

 

[Bertram65]

I only tow in OD if I can stay above 2k rpms, better for the transmission, better for the engine, I have 4. 10s so it is pretty easy to do.

 

[ray1933]

PIcked up our 5th wheel Alpenlite

For those of you that are live in the NW and travel I 84 through Oregon from Pendleton headed towards Idaho will know what I'm describing.



Our Alpenlite is 29 footer and weighs in @12500 empty. I pulled the small grade out of Pendleton with the OD off and as soon as I hit the level ground I run it up to 65 and turned the OD on and left it till I started the grade up Cabbage hill.

Turned the OD off and set the cruise at 55 and it pulled the whole grade without it hunting a lower gear and turned the OD back on up by the weigh station and pulled all the rest of the pass at 65 with the cruise on all the way to La Grande, where I got off I 84.



I was very pleased with the overall trip, even though it was just a short run.



I want to thank all of you for your replys about pulling with the 48RE, they put my mind at easy.

 

[nunya]

pullin our 14K 5er 3000 mi. so far this trip and use OD when 70mph and 2000rpm can be maintained and thats most of the time! I do pay attention to trans. temp and all the other stuff too! OD off for long pulls and I have had a few of them!