Towing with Standard Trannie

[DMAYRES]

We are going to be towing our '71 Ambassador with a 1987 Suburban 2500 - 2 wheel drive, equipped with a 3 speed manual transmission.

My brother-in-law insists that when I'm towing the trailer, I should actually start in low gear, instead of first, to help overcome the weight of the trailer as I get moving. Although the low gear provides lots and lots torque, I can't psychologically get around the idea of not starting in first gear. Any comments?

The other question is how tricky is it to go into gear when you're stopped on a hill, and have gravity and a 7,000lb trailer wanting you to go backwards?

Thanks

Donald

[Steve Heywood]

Originally posted by DMAYRES
We are going to be towing our '71 Ambassador with a 1987 Suburban 2500 - 2 wheel drive, equipped with a 3 speed manual transmission.

My brother-in-law insists that when I'm towing the trailer, I should actually start in low gear, instead of first, to help overcome the weight of the trailer as I get moving. Although the low gear provides lots and lots torque, I can't psychologically get around the idea of not starting in first gear. Any comments?

The other question is how tricky is it to go into gear when you're stopped on a hill, and have gravity and a 7,000lb trailer wanting you to go backwards?

Thanks

Donald

Donald,

If your Suburban is an 87 then it actually has a 4-speed manual transmission. The knob is probably marked L-1-2-3 as 1st or L is a compound low gear and is not normally used to start out unless you are moving a lot of weight.

Your brother in-law is correct, when loaded you should start out in the gear marked L as this is actually 1st gear. This will save much wear and tear on your clutch and allow you to start out with almost no throttle. L (or 1st) is only good for about 7-10 MPH before you will need to shift up.

As for starting out on a hill, either use the trailer brakes (manually of course) or the parking brake to keep the rig from rolling backwards until you slightly engage the clutch at which time you release the brakes and pull away.

[DMAYRES]

Thanks for the advice. My suburban's clutch also thanks you.

Donald

[59toaster]

SM465 is a brute of a tranny. It is as tough as they come and the granny gear is very low. I think it's 6.5:1. Most tranny's are in the neighborhood of 3.5:1. It's the preverbial "Stump Puller". Only granny that was lower is the SM420 (7.2:1) and the NV4500 used around 93 had a 6.8:1.

Now what really surprises me is a Sub with a Manual. I have never seen one. It's pretty rare. Most 2500 burbs came with the TH400.

You Might enjoy a site I moderate. www.ck5.com I'm Grim over there.

[DMAYRES]

The Suburban was a rare find. She's had one owner, who had to special order it from the factory with the standard transmission.

I was rather shocked to find that with highway driving, and not towing, it actually gets 20 mpg.

[ipso_facto]

That's impressive for such a big vehicle, I take it you have a 350 in it (5.7L) not the big-block 454.

I have a 4500-lbs GM vehicle with 5.7, with over drive it gets 21mpg,but I bet suburb. is heavier than that by a good margin.

[59toaster]

Originally posted by DMAYRES
The Suburban was a rare find. She's had one owner, who had to special order it from the factory with the standard transmission.

I was rather shocked to find that with highway driving, and not towing, it actually gets 20 mpg.

20mpg? has to be a diesel. They will do 20mpg empty.

I bet there is only a handfull of manul burbs that were "factory". I am aware of a couple people converting them but that's something done after the fact. A contracor special (white stripper models) probably account for 99% of them.

[garry]

I had that xmission in a K5 Blazer I special ordered from the factory. 5.7 V8, 3:73 Rear end .
Put it in 4 lo and L you could "not" stall the thing out.
Best day with tail wind 17 MPG and towing 12 MPG.
I also installed aftermarket intake, headers and Detroit lockers.
The transmission was the only thing that never failed when doing very serious off road playing or a little on track mud racing.

Starting out in L with a heavy load is good advice.

Garry