Tow Haul Button - does it matter?

[rucos]

I use mine always when the trailer is connected.....2010 Tundra limited

[Squairstream]

I use it any time that I am towing. It is most noticeable when in the mountain on down grades.

[crispyboy]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

MY 2013 Ram 2500 Cummins will not go into 7th gear in Tow Haul resulting in slightly less fuel economy which, in my mind, is more than offset by the advantages mentioned by the others. I always (unless I forget at a fuel stop) use tow haul when towing.


Al

None of the Ram 2500's go into 7th gear because they only have 6 gears..... Only the late model 1500's have 8 speeds.
You can use all 6 gears in the T/H mode on a 2500.

If your towing use the T/H all the time. It also affects how the torque convertor locks up.

[gypsydad]

Tow Haul mode while towing or going up/down steep hills...yes, I recommend you engage. It works in conjunction with the engine computer and will regulate gearing along with engine speed when in cruise control mode to keep your rig running optimal for speed selected and adjust transmission and engine speed as necessary for the terrain/up/down around while at highway speed selected...trust your new technology electronics on the new vehicles; they typically help take the stress out of driving while pulling your AS. You can read about this in your manual if in doubt...some folks on the Forum may not agree..."old school" types, but trust the manual when in doubt. Crispyboy post above has it right also!

[BobnGayl]

We tow with a 2007 Escalade. I bought it because my kids refused to go out west in the summer heat in our '93 3/4 ton, 454 cu.in. GMC Suburban. I loved that truck and it towed our 6,000# boat like a dream and our trailer as well as it could. However repairing the AC plus other problems convinced me to try out a new truck. At the time the highest horsepower I could get in a SUV was the Escalade. I wanted to replace my 3/4 ton truck with another 3/4 ton Yukon or Denali but neither of these had decent engines in terms of torque or HP. Things have probably changed now but then it was a problem.

The Escalade is only rated at 1/2 ton, so I never dreamed it would be adequate. My TT at the time was a 27' Starcraft Bunkhouse that towed like a cement block - terrible. I leased the Escalade and kept the Suburban because I doubted we would keep the Escalade after the lease expired. It's now 13 years later and the Escalade continues to do the job - we love that truck. I was a convert while in Utah on that first trip and we came to a pass that had 20 mph switchbacks. I thought "oh-oh", we probably won't make it. We did, the Escalade powered up that mountain better than my Suburban ever had. It may have bling, but it also has serious power.

Anyway, back to the tow mode issue - again on that same trip, I discovered that while in Tow mode, the engine would automatically downshift. This was a very pleasant surprise - we were coming down a pass and I went to shift into manual (only options are Drive and Manual. Manual then has + or - to switch gears.) I was a bit concerned in how this would work in the heat of battle, coming down a mountain. As it turned out, no problem, it shifted for me. The owner's manual for the truck didn't say a word about that feature - it was a complete surprise. Another neat little feature is the automatic turn signal for changing lanes. In normal use it flashes 3 times. In Tow mode it flashes 5 times.

We use tow mode exclusively when towing our trailer or boat. It's awesome.

[NWRVR]

On the Ford SD it engages the transmission to hold the truck back with engine compression when going down grade rather than letting it coast. I keep the tow/haul engaged whether towing or not, less wear on brakes, but some mpg sacrifice. Also, can’t imagine trying to tow without it as it would feel very underpowered.

[CWSWine]

My 2019 Ram 2500 has an 8-speed transmission with the Hemi.

Originally Posted by crispyboy

None of the Ram 2500s go into 7th gear because they only have 6 gears..... Only the late model 1500's have 8 speeds.
You can use all 6 gears in the T/H mode on a 2500.

If your towing use the T/H all the time. It also affects how the torque convertor locks up.

[bibbs]

Chevy express 3500. It will shift down automatically when you start to ride your breaks going down the mountains. I love it. Saves your breaks!

[Minno]

We call it "Toy Haul" since it's hauling our toy, and yes, we use it always on our 1500 Ram.

Kay

[dkdouglas]

I tow with a 2008 Chevy 2500 with the 6.0L gas engine. When we first got the 28' FC I tried the Tow Mode and found it kept the rpms too high and have never used it since. Seems the Tow Mode is only needed when towing 10,000# or more (13,300# is the max on my truck). We have gone over most of the high passes in Colorado several times and never used Tow Mode. On descent, I switch to Manual mode and control my gearing as I see fit. Tranny temp and brakes have never over heated, going up or down these 11,000+ passes.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by dkdouglas

I tow with a 2008 Chevy 2500 with the 6.0L gas engine. When we first got the 28' FC I tried the Tow Mode and found it kept the rpms too high and have never used it since. Seems the Tow Mode is only needed when towing 10,000# or more (13,300# is the max on my truck). We have gone over most of the high passes in Colorado several times and never used Tow Mode. On descent, I switch to Manual mode and control my gearing as I see fit. Tranny temp and brakes have never over heated, going up or down these 11,000+ passes.

Your comment above is not true:
Seems the Tow Mode is only needed when towing 10,000# or more
Not accurate in todays vehicles. The computer's in the newer models will control the engine speed and gearing when Tow/Haul mode is selected, regardless of the size load you have. If you think your 2008 is not working properly, it typically can be adjusted. If you read a few threads here on this post, you will note a few folks commenting how it controls shifting and in turn also controlling engine speeds/RPM. I have always found it to be a value with my older Ford vans, 2008 and 2011Tahoe's, my 2012 F150 EB, and now on my F250, where it helps going up and down mountains at highway speeds...especially when towing and using cruise control with my diesel. I use it many times without towing also, going up steep mountains here in Lincoln MT to help keep steady speed without working the transmission shifting. YMMV

[J. Morgan]

Sometimes I use tow mode, sometimes I don't.......

Sometimes I find the higher shift points annoying and un necessary, especially in stop and go city driving.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Sometimes I use tow mode, sometimes I don't.......

Sometimes I find the higher shift points annoying and un necessary, especially in stop and go city driving.

10-4, in town when acceleration loads are not great, I too turn it off. Normal 30 - 45 mph limit streets or creap and stop, rinse. repeat.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Acheron2010

For me in my gas Silverado 2500, unless I am in the mountains, I leave it off, and enjoy another mile per gallon.

On GM 1500 trucks at least since 2007, Tow/Haul also increases the generator minimum charging voltage in an attempt to better charge the trailer batteries. With Tow/Haul off, the generator output may drop as low as 12.8V when the truck senses that the truck battery is fully charged . . . to increase fuel economy . . . but this voltage won't effectively charge a discharged trailer battery. With Tow/Haul on the minimum charge voltage about 13.5V.

As far as I know, this is not the case in GM 2500 and 3500 HD trucks (I think their minimum charging voltage is about 13.5V), at least thru 2019. Not sure about the new 2020 HDs.

[lsbrodsky]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

On GM 1500 trucks at least since 2007, Tow/Haul also increases the generator minimum charging voltage in an attempt to better charge the trailer batteries. With Tow/Haul off, the generator output may drop as low as 12.8V when the truck senses that the truck battery is fully charged . . . to increase fuel economy . . . but this voltage won't effectively charge a discharged trailer battery. With Tow/Haul on the minimum charge voltage about 13.5V.

As far as I know, this is not the case in GM 2500 and 3500 HD trucks (I think their minimum charging voltage is about 13.5V), at least thru 2019. Not sure about the new 2020 HDs.

No, I have observed the exact same behavior from my 2017 2500 as I did on my Silverado 1500. If not in T/H the voltmeter drops way down when the truck battery is charged. It stays above the mid-mark in T/H
Larry

[Daquenzer]

I have a F150 2017 Ecoboost with 10 speed transmission. When going up grades it is down at 7th. This helps if I have to accelerate for some reason. On level areas it will be in 8th to 9th gear depending upon my speed. But the big key is that if I put on the breaks the transmission automatically shifts down and helps in fast breaking to slow the trailer down. Also even when just coming up to a stop sign. On flat terrain you never know when you need it. My manual also says it is better for the transmission while towing. Otherwise the transmission may over heat. It took me awhile to get used to it because sometimes it really revs the engine up. But these engines do just fine at high rpms. And it is clearly makes things perform better when accelerating and stopping.

[Shacksman]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Do some research for your brand, but for GM, it not only raises shift points, activates decel down shifting, but also raises line pressure to keep more clutch application force. GM recommends using it when gcw is at or above 75% of rated gcwr.

Local transmission teck says this the most important reason to keep TH on when pulling away, or stop and go traffic. Also says keep it on always when towing if I don't want to have to visit him.

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by Shacksman

Local transmission teck says this the most important reason to keep TH on when pulling away, or stop and go traffic. Also says keep it on always when towing if I don't want to have to visit him.

And still my first transmission lasted 250,000 miles before I rebuilt it.

It failed not because of towing, but because a BB sized check ball worked its way into its seat on the valve body divider plate, depriving the overdrive clutch of sufficient pressure to keep the OD (and 2nd gear to a lesser degree) clutch plates from slipping.

[Halford1]

yes it does matter for my Explorer. ALWAYS press tow button before towing.

[dznf0g]

Guys, all of the above could apply. For those of us who are techy types and know/feel their machinery and understand where they are with the robustness of their specs relative to their load can appropriately use or not use the th button. For the rest, leave it on while towing. To give advice otherwise or recommendations to novices wouldn't be prudent and would take a text book and tutoring to learn. Cant be done in a forum post.