#1 I have a 2007 5.9 2500 4speed auto. Will the tow hall button act as an E-Brake? And how well will it work. I pull about 13k and plan on going up in the mountains. I don’t want to be pushed down or even feel like it going to fast. If recommended I will have the dealership install the Dodge E-Brake

#2 When towing do you recommend using the tow hall only when needed or on all the time if there is a trailer behind me.

#3 Can I tow and use the cruse control at the same time.

 

1 - not really an e brake but if you put it in cruise on a down grade and set it for 5 mph less then you want to go it will down shift and lock the TC and help hold your speed.

2 - Tow/haul 24/7

3 - yes

 

Tow/Haul mode is same as OD.....just different shift points (stays in each gear longer). I use it all the time when towing my 5th wheel (~14,000#) and I use cruise control all the time when towing except on hilly roads.......cruise control will lag ~5mph when going uphill then really pour the fuel to her, better control on hills with the ole foot. Nothing beats downhill control like an exhaust brake when towing (light or heavy). It's not about how 'much' you can tow.....it's about how 'much' can you stop/slow safely.

 

What he said...

 

OK, I have the 07 5.9 and tow a 10K 5er. That being said, I always use only the tow haul mode even without the trailer. The second setting is OD off. There is a difference. The T/H mode changes shift points and lock up occurs sooner on the converter. It will do a "Little" engine braking with T/H mode as opposed to normal but not even close to the EB option. The OD off mode is as it says, overdrive off. May alter shift some but to me not as pronunced as the T/H mode. Wish the EB had been on my truck when we bought it. Now saving pennies to get one and install it although I have had no problems thru Kentucky & Tennessee when towing to Florida from Michigan and back.

 

I agree with what has been said about exhaust brakes. If I could do it over, I would go with pac brake. I think it's a better design and should give the same results all the way until the ECM shuts off the brake.

I have the factory Jacobs brake. At low RPM, it does slow the truck a little; I think the pac-brake would be more efficient though.

Tony

 

1. Or if you lightly hold your foot on the brake for about 8-10 seconds it downshifts and holds 3rd gear locked up until you get back in the throttle. That seems like a better option for me than using the cruise control method.

 

Is that an '07 thing or will my '05 do that???

 

What gear ratio do you have? I have 4.10's and if I tried to tow with T/H on I would be around redline at 55 mph. No thanks!

 

Not sure which years do it, but I know my 06 does it. I actually found it out by accident coming home from the mountains one day. I kept wondering why it was down shifting some of the time. After a few experiments I figured out the longer I stayed on the brakes that would initiate the downshifting. I haven't timed it exactly but it's somewhere between 8-10 seconds. Been using that function ever since. It's the next best thing to not having an e-brake.

BTW it only does this while in T/H mode.

 

Fair enough but I try to stay off the brake unless I really need them. When I crest the hill I watch my speed on the down side and as soon as I get to 5 mph less then I want (say 40 when I want to go 45) I hit the set button. It tends to up shift but has 0 throttle and as soon as it gets 5 mph over set point it down shifts. I seldom ever have to hit the brake.

 

Sounds like your t/h locks out o/d. Not the case with others in the discussion!

 

I'll try it next time I haul. It'll be a couple o' weeks so we'll see if I remember!

 

Good, i'm curious if the 05's and older do this.

 

My 05 3500 will downshift from OD to D with slight braking