Trailer Towing Advice

[WWalters]

This post is meant for truck owners who have standard transmissions in their trucks. I need some advice on towing within the city - I am a complete novice. It seems rather easy to tow in a straight line even in traffic but my concern is going around corners. I know that it's important to keep the rpms in the plus 1600 range to avoid lugging the engine and drive train. I would assume this means downshifting, at least into second gear, prior to entering the turn. It's not necessary to be in first gear as long as the engine rpms are above 1600 and the vehicle is not standing still. Does this sound reasonable? I know the owners manual indicates that when pulling a load you should be in first gear to start the vehicle moving. One other question - is it safe to coast to a stop at a red light when pulling a load as opposed to downshifting for braking purposes.



Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Joe G.]

The answer to most of your questions is "it depends on the situation". Experience will answer most of them. The big deal about towing in town is makeing wide turns to avoid running over the curb and other vehicles. That takes a bit of practice so until you get some experience "wider is better".

 

[Happy Camper]

I agree with Joe. Experience is the best teacher. Coasting to a stop? Sure, if you have plenty of time and have good brakes on your towed rig. But different situations call for different things. Myself, I almost always down shift and let the exhaust brake bring me to an almost stop. As far a lugging, I try to be in a gear that will allow me to move out when I push the go pedal, if it does not then you are in the incorrect gear. LOL

 

[klenger]

When making right turns, try to get in the habit of watching the trailer tires in the right mirror to make sure you don't cut the corner too close. Of course, you need to do this while watching where you are going too. As to shifing, common sense and listening to the engine will be your best guide. How much weight are you towing? Anything under 6000 lbs is light work.

 

[dmurdock]

Just pay attention to what gear you are in when you turn empty... without the trailer you will get some stress-less practice. You want to try to have the rpms around 1800 when you start to get back on the juice... so just practice turning and find out what gear puts you down to around 1800 at the slowest speed during the turn. Also, if you find you are lugging, then downshift. Don't worry about the people behind you... they can wait!

 

[C Schomer]

2nd gear is just right for right turns on city streets unless there's a really big radiused curb. You have to nearly stop to get into 1st. I coast all the time when I expect to stop. The brakes are for stopping, not the gears!

 

[baby.driver]

From my trucking days...

only downshift when it is time to go faster.

Being as my trailer is light <>5000 lbs. it is absolutely no problem pulling from 1000rpm, just be easy on the pedal. Grades are another story.



Jay

 

[boonsur]

Did not see it mentioned:

Downshifting to de-cellerate will not work for a diesel engine, unless you have an exhaust brake. There is no restriction in the flow through the engine (in-and-out are always wide open). An exhaust brake works by putting backpressure in the cylinders to slow the spinning.

 

[WWalters]

"Downshifting to de-cellerate will not work for a diesel engine, unless you have an exhaust brake. There is no restriction in the flow through the engine ( in-and-out are always open). "



Boonsur,



I'm not quite sure what you are referring to with your statement. I don't have a problem slowing down my truck by downshifting. Generally I try to bring the engine rpm's up with the transmission speed to minimize sychronizer wear and u-joint shock. Normally I just use the brakes and don't downshift ( trying to save the clutch ).

 

[DiTrani]

Engine Braking

I don't doubt that without an exhaust brake engine braking isn't going to do much with a big trailer, but empty or with my small trailer (< 3000#) engine braking on my new, and perhaps still tight truck is significant.





Aside: Is it really true that the VP44 isn't getting any lube fuel on decel? If you're engine braking down a mountain is that poor thing spinning at 2000+ rpm with no lube? I realize it's doing a lot less work when it's not pumping, but it's still spinning.