Maybe one of you guys can educate me a little. I have recently bought a used 2001 Dodge 3500 w/200K miles. runs great! Don't know much history on vehicle, but it has been used for towing. Now, I plan to tow some RVs with it, and wonder about tranny operation. Should I tow in Drive, with OD locked out? Will the tranny still 'lock up'? I want to be as sparing on the tranny as possible, but will sometimes be maxed out on load, as far as GCW goes. an y ideas will be appreciated. I realize I could get a bulletproof tranny and TC built but the cost is prohibitive right now. Thanks so much.

 

You can tow in O/D. But you have to be start about it. As soon as you start pulling hard or lugging, turn the O/D off. The torque converter locks after the tranny shifts into 3rd gear. So it will lock when you have the O/D off.

 

Just keep the motor at 1800 or better, ant it will be fine.

 

thanks so much to both of you.

 

If it locks when in 3rd, sure don't get the 500 rpm drop on tach as it does its thing. is this normal. maybe 200 rpm drop at the most.

 

Mine only drops maybe 300 rpm. Mine will start in 1st, it'll shift into 2nd, then 3rd., then the torque converter locks. Then at the appropriate time the torque converter unlocks shifts into o/d and relock, real fast like.

EDIT: Well, that's the way mine shifted before I installed a "mystery switch".