I just purchased the '96 listed in my signature. I bought this truck (174000 miles)with the intentions of pulling a 6,000 lb travel trailer on vacations. It is stock except for the exhaust. I am not planning on any mods to increase HP. I want to know is it safe to tow in overdrive while at interstate speeds (55-65)? I am going to add some gauges, but have not had a chance yet (I was more worried about KDP and brakes). My main concern is the torque converter and overdrive planetary. I have talked with my local trans guru and he will help me modify the valve body to increase pressure. He does not advise OD while towing, but I wanted input from those with experience. Any advise and experience any of you have with doing this with this model (stock) trans would be greatly appreciated.

 

I start out with OD off and once I get up to about 50 mph I kick on the OD when towing. If I'm towing in town I leave it off. No problems here.

 

As long as it's not hunting in and out of OD no problem towing.

 

Install a transmission temperature guage. If it's cool, you're cool. I tow a 7000# boat behind my '96 CTD with a 2500# camper in the bed in Arizona and it doesn't get hot anymore since I added a Mag Hy-Tec double deep trans pan.

 

You will be fine towing in overdrive at highway speeds with stock power. Especially if you modify the valve body for more pressure.

Eric

 

i tow around 12,000 or better quite a bit, and when i'm going to be over 50 or 55 its always in overdrive. truck has 220000 miles, with a stock trans.

 

I have a 98 12v auto, I don't have a OD on/off switch?

 

Isn't there a button on the end of your shifter?

 

my 96 5-speed has a od on/off switch where the fog light switch is..... not sure why its there....

 

The OD switch was on the dash next to the radio until '98 when it was moved to the end of the shifter.
Don't know why your 5 speed has one except it's no wonder Chrysler is bankrupt.

 

I tow 14k#'s everyday for work and my engine gets hot if I don't put it in overdrive or else drive slow. I don't see a problem with pulling in OD. I'll second on the trans temp guage. If you dont know what your tranny temp is, you don't know your destroying it. When the temp is high you can simply back off and save yourself headaches.

 

No, but that would explain it. When I bought the truck whoever had it before me put some goofy aftermarket big ugly **** on it, apparantly they didn't think it was important to have that button. I'll have to look into that. It's been towing good in OD so far, it's getting a 5 spd soon anyway!