Y’all have been a blessing and thank you for all the info you have provided so far!
So I’m towing a small trailer. We plan to upgrade next year to something much larger but for right now it’s sitting at about 6800lbs.
I have a 2018 3500 HD (yes it’s overkill!) and I’ve been using tow mode. I’ve read that it’s good to use it when going up and down hills, keeps the tranny cool, but what about on long stretches on somewhat flat highways?
I ask only due to fuel consumption and wonder if it’s needed for such a small TT? Thank you for any insight you can give!
The manual says tow mode is for when you’re towing a significant load. For both my camper and horse trailer, I always leave it off on the highway so the truck can shift into overdrive, but I sometimes find it useful on hilly back roads when it holds the lower gear going downhill. It also does fine if I leave it off.
If the truck isn’t gear hunting then I would leave it off
If the truck is a Duramax, it’s more than fine not in tow mode. You have plenty of power for it to be in the highest gear.
Tow mode with exhaust brake active for me. Tow mode will keep you in gear longer and not have you shifting non stop
I have the same setup and I use tow haul around town and normal on the highway as it saves about 2500 rpms.
Sorry I meant 500 rpms.
I just sold my 3rd 1500-5.3, have never used tow mode
Source: Tow Mode?
