I've read my manual from cover to cover and don't see anything prohibiting towing in overdrive. Yet, I see folks posting over on TDR that the manual says not to tow in overdrive. Can I tow in OD or not?

I've basically bought a $33,000 paperweight if I can't tow in OD. My Ford F-350 got 9.5MPG towing in OD. I can imagine the Ram 3500 will do much worse if I can't use overdrive.

Yes, I had a real tranny temp gauge in the F-350.

Brian Elfert

 

not sure about what to tell you about overdrive, i don't tow with it. my first tow with about 10k trailer and only 1500 miles on the engine, locking out overdrive, i got just a hair under 11 mpg. that is through a lot of hills.

 

As long as its not hunting in and out of OD, and you're not lugging it, I see no reason not to tow in OD.

Just keep an eye on fluid temps.

May help if you include weight of trailer, gears, etc????

 

[quote author=bulabula link=board=11;threadid=22531;start=0#msg210600 date=1069097653]
May help if you include weight of trailer, gears, etc????
[/quote]

I have an '03 3500 DRW with 3.73 gears. My travel trailer is around 8,000 lbs.

Brian Elfert

 

Hook it up,and if it searches for OD or another gear, turn it off,My 94 with 47rh will search in the steep hills,but it also has the 3:54 gear,so my opinion is try it, It does not say in your signature what you got or what your pulling, goodluck Rick Came in after your last post, With that size trailer,I would say Hook it up and you will be surprised!!! It should make you smile

 

[quote author=WestGuy link=board=11;threadid=22531;start=0#msg210597 date=1069096415]
not sure about what to tell you about overdrive, i don't tow with it. my first tow with about 10k trailer and only 1500 miles on the engine, locking out overdrive, i got just a hair under 11 mpg. that is through a lot of hills.
[/quote]

I will be very happy if my truck gets that kind of mileage towing my 8,000lb trailer. I suspect I will be a little lower due to 4WD and DRW.

Brian Elfert

 

I use the OD. As soon as it starts to hunt or even downshift, OD get locked out until I hit somewhat flat land again.

Towing about 10,000 I get a little over 12.5MPG.

 

I tow with OD all the time.
As many have stated, if it starts to hunt or statrrs lugging down the engine, then you need to knock OD off until you reach a point that the engine is triing shift back into OD then put it back on. I tow a 11k 5vr and have o problem towing with it. There are lots of hill here in Oregon & up in Washington where I go alot.
Took it accreoss country in OD and it just loved it ;D Averaged 11.5 mpg in OD at about 70-75 mph pulling about 5klb Travel Trailer.
Just my .01 worth

 

Do a search about towing with a 48re and OD there should be alot of info I asked about the same thing before.

 

Now i have a 1st gen, so of course, not the 48re, but what kills autos is heat.

I wouldn't tow in OD without a tranny temp guage. If you;ve got one. have at it. If you don't, I say get one and have at it.

 

I have a 2000 3500 and just went on a trip on the East Coast with a 8500 lb 5th wheel, was in overdrive most of the time. The trany will heat up in stop and go traffic but on the highway in od it did great. I was getting 11.7 mpg. Before that I had a 96 2500 and traded it in with 130000 miles that pulled the same trailer for about 2 years useing od. The tranny was stock and still pulled good.
I agree with the above statement get gauges you also want to know what your exhaust temps are doing.

 

[quote author=billg link=board=11;threadid=22531;start=0#msg210936 date=1069165495]
I agree with the above statement get gauges you also want to know what your exhaust temps are doing.
[/quote]

Why would exhaust temps matter on a stock truck used within the parameters Dodge specifies? Dodge should have the engine and computer designed so customers can't overheat the engine.

Brian Elfert

 

I tow with OD all the time. As many have stated, if it starts to hunt or statrrs lugging down the engine, then you need to knock OD off until you reach a point that the engine is trying to shift back into OD then put it back on. I tow a 6k TT and have no problem towing with it here in Florida and lower GA. Averaged 11.8 mpg in OD at about 70-75 mph pulling about Just my .01 worth

 

Mine approached 200 + in stop and go and on long overpasses in OD and when backing into camp sight. Reverse can really heat up a tranny when backing up a trailer. You want to idle it in neutral (pump doesn’t pump while in park) to let temps come down.
The exhaust should be below 300 at shutdown so I have been told (see some of the post about the turbo cool-down timer). Dodge computers won’t stop you from turning it off before that. It’s like smoking, it won’t kill you today but it will shorten your life in the long run. Then Dodge gets your money to fix tranny and replace your turbo. :-X

 

I've gotten around 13.5 to 14 mpg towing in OD w/ 4:10 gears. My trailer only weighed in at about 4500 lb empty and it had around 2000 lb in it on this particular trip. I stayed around 60 to 65 mph and if I got to a hilly area where the trans was going in and out of OD then I locked it out until I was back to more level roads. I started out the trip going around 70 mph but the mileage was only 11 mpg.