Friday I am going on a 4x4 trip and I will be using my father's 04.5 2500...BONE STOCK, he doesnt believe in mods to make more power or tow easier.

With the new 600 motor and a stock atuomatic tranny pulling a 18.5'x7' trailer with 5 ATV's weighing in at roughyl 5,000lbs, should I use the Tow/Haul mode or leave in it OD and let her pull. I will be pulling some decent hills in the Pa mountains, and the trip is about 150miles.

Tow/haul mode, or let her pull in OD

 

let it ride in overdrive.

 

Let her ride in OD - she will downshift to 3rd if need be......if it starts hunting between 3rd and OD, I would down shift to 3rd. I have no experience with the CTD tow/haul option so I can't give you my opinion. A 04.5 600 shouldn't hardly break a sweat with only 5000 lbs - even in those PA hills!

 

I tow an enclosed trailer (lots of wind resistance) that weighs at least 5000# in OD mode and it never hunts. I suggest you do not use the Tow/Haul mode.

 

i tow a 33 foot toyhauler, its wieghts like 10k lbs and is not very aerodynamic, i have a 6 speed and always tow in 6th gear unless im going less then 55 up a hill or something, and it has no problems...

 

thats what i figured...i pulled a 16' open trailer with about 3K of weight on it and i kept my 02 in 6th and we rolled up the highway


of course my dad is old school, he says i need to take that OD off or else it will heat the tranny up and make it not last as long, because the owner manual from his 95 CTD said you should NEVER tow with the OD on. he also doesnt believe in any modifications which nets more HP, he only adds lights, mudflaps, and vent visors to his vehicles.

 

I have a 05 Dodge CTD 2500 and I actually like to tow in the tow/haul mode. The tranny will hold the gears a little longer and then at about 50 to 55mph if the motor is not in a strain(accelerating or going up hill) the tranny will shift into OD anyway. I actually think the truck gets better milage.

I just towed a 8.5' x 28' enclosed car hauler with a small car inside about 1000 miles round trip. Got between 11.5 and 12.9 mpg depending on speed and terrain. The 11.5 was running over 75mph and 12.9 was running 65 in traffic.

I do need to get some type of aero aid for the trailer as it is a brick.