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03-15-2017, 08:16 AM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 33
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Pre 2000 trucks
I see lots of information on new trucks but not much on older trucks. My Question is how to tow and what to expect from older trucks. Ex: I have a 1997 k2500 Chev 7.3l (454cu.in.)- I'm pulling a 2017 9000# cougar xl 5th and using a Pull-rite hitch. It pulls great, no sway, great in cross wind or when semi's pass. The tranny is 4 speed (1-3+D - overdrive I think) should I use D or 3?
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03-15-2017, 03:21 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,773
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We have a 1999 motorhome with the 454 and tow a car trailer weighting 5000 lb. Total weight around 19,000 lb. On level road, I leave the tranny in D (overdrive) use cruise control and it pulls just fine at 65 MPH. On a slight grade, when the scangauge drops below 7 MPG, I either turn the cruise off, or jog the cruise speed to slow down and stay in cruise and OD. For hills, I downshift and turn the cruise off since it will give full throttle attempting to maintain the set speed. I also added a secondary transmission cooler and monitor tranny temperature with the scangauge.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carvendive
I see lots of information on new trucks but not much on older trucks. My Question is how to tow and what to expect from older trucks. Ex: I have a 1997 k2500 Chev 7.3l (454cu.in.)- I'm pulling a 2017 9000# cougar xl 5th and using a Pull-rite hitch. It pulls great, no sway, great in cross wind or when semi's pass. The tranny is 4 speed (1-3+D - overdrive I think) should I use D or 3?
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__________________
George Schweikle Lexington, KY
2005 Safari (Monaco)Trek 28RB2, Workhorse W20, 8.1, Allison 1000 5 spd, UltraPower engine & tranny, Track bars & sway bars, KONI FSD, FMCA 190830, Safari Int'l. chapter. 1999 Safari Trek 2830, 1995 Safari Trek 2430, 1983 Winnebago Chieftain, 1976 Midas Mini
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03-15-2017, 03:33 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 26,643
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Drive in 'D'
IF transmission starts 'hunting' (downshifting then upshifting repeatedly) change to '3'
__________________
I took my Medication today. HAVE YOU?
Dodge 3500 w/Tractor Motor
US NAVY---USS Decatur DDG-31
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03-15-2017, 03:43 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit
Drive in 'D'
IF transmission starts 'hunting' (downshifting then upshifting repeatedly) change to '3'
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I agree with this, I have a 1995 that is retired from towing duty but still in use.
From the manual:
"If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow in OVERDRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions). "
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03-15-2017, 08:07 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: HillBilly country, Smokey Mtns
Posts: 4,171
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carvendive
My Question is how to tow and what to expect from older trucks.
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Same as with newer trucks.
GVWR minus the weight of the wet and loaded truck tells you the max hitch weight you can have without exceeding the payload capacity of your truck.
GCWR minus the weight of the wet and loaded truck tells you the max trailer weight you can pull without overheating anything in the drivetrain, and without being the slowpoke holding up traffic on hills and mountain passes.
Of course, those rules assume your truck has received excellent maintenance, so you don't need tires or shocks or diff lube or transmission fluid or an oil change, or air filter, or spark plugs or other parts of a "tune up".
GVWR is on the driver's doorpost. The tables for determining GCWR are in the "towing" section of the Owner's Guide. You do still have the Owner's Guide in the glovebox, right?
Divide the max hitch weight by 0.13 and the answer is the heaviest TT you can tow without exceeding the payload capacity of the old truck.
Divide the max hitch weight by 0.20 and the answer is the heaviest 5er or gooseneck trailer you an tow without exceeding the payload capacity of the truck.
__________________
Grumpy ole man with over 60 years towing experience. Now my heaviest trailer is a 7'x16' 5,000-pound flatbed utility trailer, my tow vehicle is a 2019 F-150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost SuperCab with Max Tow (1,904 pounds payload capacity).
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03-16-2017, 06:50 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 33
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Thanks! Not having pulled near a tow vehicle limit had me wondering about the transmission shifting thing.
I'm the original owner. It's only seen amsoil (including transfer case). I'm retired engineering systems analyst (aerospace) so I'm what you'd call anal. 1 month before getting the 5th I had my mechanic redo entire front end, shocks, brake lines, ALL hoses and belts. New transmission filter and all fluids. Tires are all new and all exceed factory load recommendations.
And yes I do have the original manual and it says I'm good for 10,000. (Folks here do seem to focus a bit on weight).
__________________
1997 - 7.1 Chev 3/4 ton pulling a 2017 Cougar 5th (and at times a 1983 - 13' Boston Whaler super sport).
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03-16-2017, 06:56 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: May 2012
Location: DFW, Tex-US
Posts: 6,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carvendive
... (Folks here do seem to focus a bit on weight).
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Rightfully so...
Once you have that first blowout from too much weight on the tires, you too will understand grasshopper
My wife called me the 'weight gestapo' when we were carrying around a heavy 5'er... Every shoe counted !
__________________
'11 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT RR10R pushed by a '14 Jeep Wrangler JKU. History.. 5'ers: 13 Redwood 38gk(junk!), 11 MVP Destiny, Open Range TT, Winn LeSharo, C's, popups, vans, tents...
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03-16-2017, 06:59 AM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 33
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Even though the manual says
"If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow in OVERDRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions). "
Like Smokey said above, the truck is aged and things change. Plus, part of what I was asking for was what folks actually experienced (tribal knowledge exists on everything).
Thanks again 😀
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03-17-2017, 08:00 AM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: southeastern Ky
Posts: 88
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One tip I was given years ago ,,,Use whatever gear that requires least amount of pressure on gas paddle to maintain speed you are driving.
__________________
2006 Winnebago Adventurer
2006 Ford F250
A day hemmed in prayer,seldom comes unraveled.
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03-23-2017, 09:35 PM
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#10
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Carvendive
Even though the manual says
"If you have an automatic transmission, you can tow in OVERDRIVE (D). You may want to shift the transmission to THIRD (3) or, if necessary, a lower gear selection if the transmission shifts too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly conditions). "
Like Smokey said above, the truck is aged and things change. Plus, part of what I was asking for was what folks actually experienced (tribal knowledge exists on everything).
Thanks again 😀
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I just threw that out because that is what GM recommended at the time. FYI in case you didn't have the manual. I'm at about 225k miles now, mostly retired her except for house project duty but I still take the boat up north occasionally with her. 450 miles one way. She likes 3rd for highway towing otherwise it hunts all day. That's my experience with it. Still a great truck BTW, refused to get rid of it when I got a new car. Wifey's 12 burb tows a lot better though.
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03-25-2017, 07:57 AM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 33
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Yes, mine just turned 100k. Up till 3 years ago it never saw salt and has been garaged 100% so it's cherry and I can't see replacing it quite yet. It has the 2nd transmission oil cooler and Monday it'll have a new transmission oil temperature gauge. First trip with new 5th (starting in 6 days) will log 4k miles so I'll have a better feel after that.
__________________
1997 - 7.1 Chev 3/4 ton pulling a 2017 Cougar 5th (and at times a 1983 - 13' Boston Whaler super sport).
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03-26-2017, 06:52 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Palm Coast Florida
Posts: 12,995
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Got to ask, any rust on your truck? I have seen 1997 - 1999 trucks in the salt belt that I would not tow anything as the frame was rusted.
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03-26-2017, 04:24 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 62
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tuffr2
Got to ask, any rust on your truck? I have seen 1997 - 1999 trucks in the salt belt that I would not tow anything as the frame was rusted.
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I bought mine used out of state, flew down and drove it home about 10 years ago. Still holding up but I wash it weekly in the winter with the underbody blast. I flush out the rockers and inner wheel wells on the front and bed every spring. Once the cab corners start going on these it's all over. I've seen many with rotted corners, sagging cabs, etc. but none with a frame so bad I wouldn't drive or tow with it.
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03-27-2017, 05:58 AM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: NE Wisconsin
Posts: 33
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Retired TO THE SALT BELT. My mechanic says it has no rust . Now that I'm back here I'm only using it to pull the 5th. It'll might see salt to and from snowbirding but that's it. If I do use it in salt I give it a good bath and then rinse it with Salt-away. I use to use the Salt-away on our yacht in Puget sound and it worked great.
__________________
1997 - 7.1 Chev 3/4 ton pulling a 2017 Cougar 5th (and at times a 1983 - 13' Boston Whaler super sport).
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