Can I tow a light boat in overdrive?

[Bass Runner]

Re: Can I tow a light boat in overdrive?

Gen. Motors says in every manual DO NOT TOW OR HAUL HEAVY LOADS IN OVERDRIVE a frind of mine ignored this and has since replaced 3 transmisions if you are going to play you have to pay in gas mileage, a little gas is a lot cheaper that a transmision

 

[Butch Ammon]

Re: Can I tow a light boat in overdrive?

I have a 2000 Chevy Silverado 1500LS, 2WD, shortbed (4.8L V8, 5 speed manual tranny).<br /><br />

<br /><br />This very same truck hauls my old 1975 Sea Star 17' trihull I/O (2100lb boat/trailer combo) without any problem at all, even with a 5 speed tranny.<br /><br />

<br /><br />It's about an hour to the lake, half on interstate, half on regular highway roads. When on the interstate (I-64 in VA), I will put the tranny in 5th gear and hit 65mph without worry. When on the normal two lane highways, I will NOT use 5th and will take it easy.<br /><br />Retrieving the boat from the marina ramp with a manual tranny is a challenge, but it's not hard to do.<br /><br />Butch A.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Can I tow a light boat in overdrive?

Check your truck's owner's manual. Two of my cars recommend using overdrive, one doesn't. The difference is the two that DO are newer cars and I believe the tranny is computer controlled and therefore probably adapts to what it needs to do. In fact, the newest one (02 'Burb) has a push button tow/haul mode. What I feel is a quicker, crisper (jerkier) shift in T/H mode. The one that DOESN'T is an 86 Chevy 5.0L pickup. I also want to ditto the advice given to make sure you have a tranny cooler. They really aren't expensive and are essential.

 

[Mercury140-I6]

Re: Can I tow a light boat in overdrive?

I tow a 16ft Glastron (pictured)<br /><br /> http://www.myfishingpictures.com/showphoto.php?photo=13003&sort=7&thecat=500&password= <br /><br />With a '93 Mustang (302) overdrive. My car runs cooler and better in overdrive (1500 RPM's @ 60 mph) than if I drop it into 3rd and bring the Rpm's up to 2100 - 2200 @ 60. In 3rd the temp guage runs in the high end of "Normal" in 4th, it runs right in the middle of the guage. Funny thing is even going down a steep grade, the car (When towing the boat) will not go any faster than 65 even if I put her in neutral, without the boat I have a hard time keeping the car below 80 in 3rd going down the same grade. I guess the boat is pushing enough wind to keep the speed down.<br /><br />Craig

 

[PeteHarris]

Re: Can I tow a light boat in overdrive?

700R4's and Towing ... since I've burnt up a few.<br /><br />First the practical.<br />(1) Install a cooler if you don't already have one (should be a small radiator looking thingy mounted on the very front of your all of your "radiators"). See Dwain B's post. I've seen folks use their A/C condensor as a Tranny Cooler.<br />(2) Install a Temp Gauge ... $20 and a few hours of work are well worth the warm and fuzzy feeling you get knowing for sure that you are not frying your tranny (towing in OD or Not).<br />(3) Adjust your TV cable ... this tells the tranny how hard you are pushing on the gas pedal and how firm it should shift.<br /><br />And for the Theory ...<br /><br />700R4's (and most production automatics) blend their shifts so that it feels smooth to you. For example, when it shifts from 2nd to 3rd the tranny eases into 3rd as it's easing out of 2nd. This transition creates a lot of friction (heat), but makes the car feel smoother. When you stand on the gas, the TV cable (or Equivalent) tells the tranny to shift quicker (since you obviously want to go) which feels firmer. 700R4's err a little on the too smooth side and the hunting between 3rd and 4th (OD) while towing creates a lot of heat. Add to that that 4th gear circulates fluid significantly less than lower gears (just kind of the way OD and a locking torque converter works) means that heat can't be disipated through your cooler. Cooked tranny. That shift kit Dwain B was talking about fixes that.<br /><br />On a side note, the new "700"'s (4L60E I think) are electronically shifted vice shifted by pressures, etc. So the "Tow/Haul" button on your new GM truck takes the normally smooth 700 and changes all of the shifts to be as firm as possible. It also tells it to shift "later" than normal (higher RPM) to improve fluid flow (to the cooler). <br /><br />Turn "Tow/Haul" off and you're right back to the "original" shift schedule ... smooth and happy.<br /><br />Congratulations, you can now check off GM AUTO TRANNY THEORY 101 on your way to your ASC certification.<br /><br />--HOSS