Tow Haul Button

[ceorear]

Just bought a new travel trailer to go camping with the family. I have a question on towing. Do you turn the tow haul off all the time you are towing the trailer or just when you are going up hills? I have 1 friend telling me 1 thing & a 2nd telling me another.

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[Kaadk]

I run in tow/haul mode anytime I'm hooked up. But then again, I'm over/under my payload depending on how many family members/dogs are with us.

I've heard of others who don't bother. To each their own but the way I look at it "The manufacturer put it there for a reason, so use it"

[jwedell]

I leave it on all the time when I tow. It reprograms the transmission to stay in gears longer for more power and locks out overdrive. Unless you're on level roads you'll probably keep going in and out of overdrive (not good). It's only a few hundred RPMs difference.

[bikendan]

ceorear, it would help if you posted what tow vehicle you're talking about.

i have my tow/haul button on almost all the time, when i'm towing.
i do occasionally turn it off, if i'm just cruising on flat freeway for a long time.
like when driving on I5 in Central California.

[wyo700]

I tow with a gas engine and have my tow/haul on all the time. The name of it should tell all you need. If your towing or hauling turn me on.

[Cajun Po-Boy]

ceorear, it would help if you posted what tow vehicle you're talking about.

X2...Why do so many FRF members don't fill out their TV & camper info on sig page???

Only helps us help others a little faster

[Oakman]

If you look at the owners manual for your truck it will tell you all about it. I run in tow/haul anytime I'm towing.

[Platokidd]

Tow haul mode on and tranny in 5th gear.

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[kerrlakelover]

Originally Posted by Oakman

If you look at the owners manual for your truck it will tell you all about it. I run in tow/haul anytime I'm towing.

Ditto Oakman...I know it's hard for us guys to read the owners manual. But, when all else fails, you have to sometimes. Whoa, just had an epiphany...that's why the RV manufacturers don't put time and effort into the owners manuals!!!

[MeepMeep]

Keep it on while I'm towing unless it's really, really flat. Keeps the tranny temp down....Ooooooohhhh, an owner's manual with an RV? We'd be lined up around the block!!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Cajun Po-Boy

ceorear, it would help if you posted what tow vehicle you're talking about.

X2...Why do so many FRF members don't fill out their TV & camper info on sig page???

Only helps us help others a little faster

Agree to a certain point, but it really makes no difference what his tow vehicle is, if it has a tow/haul button and he's towing, it should be engaged per all vehicle manuals. The mfg put it there to be used when towing/hauling period.

[indybp57]

If you don't use the tow/haul button, you will probably experience a lot of shifting in and out of overdrive. That puts a lot of extra heat and wear-and-tear on the tranny.

[pappagrif]

I use the tow haul button every time when towing. Better on engine for downhill engine speed reduction vs using brakes in full.

[ironj]

Originally Posted by kerrlakelover

Ditto Oakman...I know it's hard for us guys to read the owners manual. But, when all else fails, you have to sometimes. Whoa, just had an epiphany...that's why the RV manufacturers don't put time and effort into the owners manuals!!!

tow haul all da time......cuz it activates the exhaust brake on diesels...

and read the owners manuals?? the dang sync radio manual was an encyclopedia....LOL..dealer handed me a carton of books.....i was like is there a test?

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[ceorear]

Thanks for the help & I'm using a 2013 F150 with 3.7.

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[rockfordroo]

Here's what my 2009 Silverado's Owners Manual says:

Tow/Haul is designed to be most effective when the

vehicle and trailer combined weight is at least 75 percent

of the vehicle’s Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).

See “Weight of the Trailer” later in the section. Tow/Haul

is most useful under the following driving conditions:

•

When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load through rolling terrain.

•

When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load in stop and go traffic.

•

When pulling a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load in busy parking lots where improved low speed control of the vehicle is desired.

Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul when lightly loaded

or with no trailer at all will not cause damage. However,

there is no benefit to the selection of Tow/Haul when

the vehicle is unloaded. Such a selection when unloaded

may result in unpleasant engine and transmission

driving characteristics and reduced fuel economy.

Tow/Haul is recommended only when pulling a heavy

trailer or a large or heavy load.

So part of the answer is how heavy your trailer is with respect to you towing capability.

My 2011 Chevy Traverse's Manual says the Tow/Haul mode will also increase the alternator output to charge the trailers battery. It also increases the number of blinks the turn signals will make on a brief tap of the lever from 3 blinks to 6 blinks. This doesn't seem to apply to the Silverado, at least not my year..

[fonzie]

From 2013 Ford F150 owners manual. page 272

• If your transmission is equipped with a Grade Assist or Tow/Haul
feature, use this feature when towing. This provides engine braking
and helps eliminate excessive transmission shifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission cooling.

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo.../13f12om1e.pdf

[golfmedik]

On all the time if towing more than the utility trailer. Works very well.

[sdelam]

So just to be clear on the Chevy recommendations:
My truck has a GCWR of 16,000, so 16k x .75 = 12,000
My Curb weight is 6,200, so 12,000-6.200=5,800 So anything over 5,800 lbs. will benefit from the tow haul mode (on my truck).

Edited to fix my GVWR and actual vehicle weight confusion.

[Kaadk]

Max Tow = GCWR - the actual weight of the vehicle.
Payload = GVWR - the actual weight of the vehicle.

So, Max Tow should = GCWR - GVWR + Payload.

That means you've got about 9400-6600= 2800 payload.

(relatively speaking, since there's a lot more variables than that.)