towing with '94 grand caravan

[rolmops]

Hello<br />I tow a 1200 pound rig with a '94 grand caravan.<br />It seemed common sense to me to only tow in third gear and never in overdrive.<br />Just the other day I opened my owners manual and there it said in the trailering section not to tow in third gear but in overdrive on moderate or steep grades to avoid transaxle overheating.<br />Can somebody please explain this to me?

 

[louc]

Re: towing with '94 grand caravan

Usually the overdrive is a light duty gear not meant for pulling loads. In addition, you'd notice that if you towed in overdrive it would cause the trans to downshift more, and unlock the converter more often (that is what causes the increase in heat). So it is best to tow in 3rd, locking out OD. The statement in the owners manual does not make sense to me. For my Jeep with the Chrysler 42RE trans, it says not to tow in overdrive. <br />BTW, use only the Chrysler spec trans fluid (ATF+3) in that trans, using anything else will cause a premature failure. See www.allpar.com for more info on these trannies. If it says on the dipstick that Dexron is ok, IGNORE that, it is not true.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: towing with '94 grand caravan

Always turn off odrive to tow or you will overheat,GUARANTEED!!The motor needs to keep the rpms up and odrive keeps them down.Charlie

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: towing with '94 grand caravan

I have an 1998 Grand Caravan and only tow in 3rd gear...unless I'm going down a hill...then you can put it in overdrive to cruise down a slope.

 

[rolmops]

Re: towing with '94 grand caravan

Hello.<br />Thanks for all your comments.<br />It seems to me that there are 2 parts of the car that can be put under too much strain and then they overheat.One is the engine and the other is the transmission.When the engine is in overdrive,it works harder but the tranny has it a bit easier.On the other hand though,when I run in third gear, there is less strain on the engine,but the tranny has to run at a higher rpm and thereby is put under more strain.It is almost like "stealing from Jack to pay Peter"or of course the other way around.Question is:which is weaker,the engine or the tranny?<br />I added a transmission fluid radiator too keep <br />the tranny fluid temperature down.How much does that really help?<br />Thanks again,rolmops.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: towing with '94 grand caravan

I have a 95 Ford F150 4x4 with 351 and automatic, and my manual also states to tow or carry heavy loads with overdrive turned OFF. It is better for the engine AND the transmission to pull loads with od turned off. Heat is the enemy of trannys, and pulling loads with OD on creates huge amounts of heat, and the engine is also working out of its optimal torque band, which will just waste fuel and put unneeded stress on the drivetrain.

 

[Mucka29]

Re: towing with '94 grand caravan

ALL 97 and newer cars says to haul in overdrive, when u haul in 3rd gear the rpm's are higher and cause the tranny to overheat, trucks on the other hand have a tranny cooler and don't have to worry about it.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: towing with '94 grand caravan

The owner manual in my 1998 GMC surburban 1/2 ton say to use overdrive when towing unless you are in a hilly are then use 3 to aviod constant up and down shifting.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: towing with '94 grand caravan

These transmisions in the caravan are notorious for going bad just with the weight of the van!! If you must tow with this vehicle, install a trasmision cooler and use synthetic trans fluid! Sythetic trans fluid protects past the 300 degree limit of regular trans fluids! Up to 500 degrees!<br />I wouldnt put it in overdrive at all while towing!<br /><br />LubeDude