Towing with Auto transmission

[Dave Remillard]

The factory recommends not towing anything in overdrive with an automatic. Since haveing my transmission rebuilt by DDT and a TC, should I still not allow the transmission to go into overdrive. I rarely tow anything over 8000 lbs. Is there a general rule of thumb, such as flat terrain it's ok, but mountainous it isn't? I know, call Bill K. but my curiosity got the best of me wondering what other TDR members opinion may be. Thanks

 

[Dieselnerd]

As I recall, on the '94 and '95, the OD gears did not receive enough lube and tended to burn up when towing in OD. This was changed with additional lube to the OD gears in '96 and the factory then published in the owners manual that towing in OD was OK as long as it didn't "hunt" in and out of OD. I would assume that your DTT transmission has the additional lube going to the OD gears. If you want to be sure, call up DTT and ask.

 

[Jim Fulmer]

If you got the DTT upgrade and not just a V/B and Converter then it has the oiling mods to all the clutch packs as I remember.



Jim

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I guess I shouldn't tow in OD... . oops!

I've only towed once... . probably about 5k lbs... . for about 50 miles... .



Matt

 

[Breck]

FWIW: I have an 95 auto and tow all the time with the OD on. I have over 232K and had the transmission rebuilt at 100K. At 212K I had a new torque convertor put in and while the transmission was out they checked how it was holding up; they said what ever your doing, keep doing it, it looks great!



I change the oil ever 15K and tow about 10k a year, trailers ranging from 2k-20K. Truck puts down a little over 300HP at the rear wheels.



Like I said: take it for what it worth, I guess I couldn't imagine running 70-75 with the OD off! I never heard 94's and 95's should tow with the OD off? Always learning something here on the TDR!

 

[HoleshotHolset]

My transmission has been behaving well... (knock on solid Walnut... )... so I'll keep on trying to be nice to it... .



Matt

 

[Extreme1]

Breck, your was probably already fixed. The fix is to drill a lube hole on the output shaft (?) in the right place. It the rebuilder had a clue, I'd bet it was done. The instructions are included in the Trans-go kits. Mine died at 117k miles.

 

[DavidGardner]

I towed with my transmission in OD for the first 90k miles I owned it. Trailer weighed 8000 lbs. Everything was working fine and I decided I wanted a DTT update. Drove to Abbotsford BC and Had Bill K himself do the trans rebuild. He said it was the best looking auto with 90K miles that he had ever seen. He also said what ever I was doing keep doing it. I now have 40K on the DTT rebuild and tow in OD unless my RPM drops below 1650 or I get nervous about temps. (never a problem so far). I tow a 26ft TT with slide out that grosses over 8000 lbs loaded. I live in Wash. state where we have a lot of hills and mountain passes. Answere to your question is yes it is OK to tow in OD as long as you watch your temps and keep your RPMs at 1700 or above. Just my opinion.

 

[Dave Remillard]

Thanks for the replies. It seems I need to have at least one concern, from what I understand now it's going to have to be EGT's