[Eshoberg]

I've got a 2000 lb flats boat that I tow around florida (no hills). I've been towing in the tow/haul mode but it feels like overkill for my little boat. Should I be in tow/haul?

 

[billygoat7c]

doesnt hurt, if you are goin slower as in around 50 it iwll keep your tq converter locked and keep it from locking and unlocking your whole way up the hill. having it stay locked instead of going in and out will keep your trans temps lower, but then again they prob wont even get high with that light a load

 

[ockgator]

Don't need to, you can switch back and forth on the fly to see which way you like it best.

It's intended use is for loads that are close to or over 3/4 of the trucks tow rating, but you can use it anytime, even empty. I use it to slow down w/o hitting the brakes.

 

[Jasondt2001]

The past few days I've been towing around a 10k horse trailer. I've used tow haul mode the majority of the time. I forgot one time to put it in and go about 15 miles into town and 5 miles onto the freeway and the temps never went above 150 on tranny (all other gauges never moved from normal empty driving) and i didnt notice any adverse effects.

One thing though, in T/H it stays in 5th gear at about 55-60. I couldnt get it to shift into sixth. What i would do is after it's on cruise, i would put it in Manual, bracket sixth gear and take it out of t/h until it upshifted into 6th. Then i would put it back in T/H and just shift it into 5th when i saw a hill coming to be nice.
That boat ain't gonna hurt that truck, I doubt it'll make it sweat!
The night i brought the trailer home i wasnt thinking, left it in T/H and set the cruise on 70 through I-5 (yes, even up and down the hills, it never came out of 6th) and on 46 which has a few 6 and 7% grades, set the cruise at 60 and it never went below 60 (it did shift to 5th once or twice on those grades though. I think the combo of lower speed and a grade made it.)


I realllllly am flat out shocked at this truck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I dont drive it like that now, i only did the night i got the horse trailer, now i manually shift to 4th and climb the grades at about 40 - 45 mph to be nice to it. Although, i KNOW it could do much better if i'd let it. I just like it and want to keep it!

 

[deepsouth]

I would leave the t/h off. If you have to stop real hard, or are going down a steep grade while coasting, and the Allison senses too fast, the grade brake(auto downshift) will engage automatically. It is supposed to act that way, so do not be surprised. It will even do it empty.

 

[Quick 6 Racing]

I tow 8,200lbs in regular mode, sometimes at a big hill (up or down) I choose tow/haul for the added help...other than those times it's in regular mode.

 

[newportl2]

My 2 cents. I use it for starts and stops around town when I have the travel trailer on or I am hauling a load of firewood with a trailer. If it isn't a hill and I am over 45 MPH, I don't worry about it.

The biggest difference for me is that the upshift points are raised. You don't get an early shift while accelerating. This allows you to smoke the SUV with the luggage on the roof....up the hill....with your 28 foot camp trailer.

Your boat shouldn't give it a problem.

 

[Eshoberg]

Thanks for the advice folks. The truck is definitly skating along pulling the boat and the tranny temps were all fine, just wanted to make sure I'm not buying a suncoast anytime soon.

 

[gmcya]

I've got a 2000 lb flats boat that I tow around florida (no hills).

Your truck is just whistlin dixie and has no clue you even have it hooked up ! My 17' yamaha weighs in loaded at 1850 and I can pull it with my 4-wheeler. With only 2K lbs you will not hurt the truck by not using T/H but you will use more fuel having it on.