XE Tow Mode?

TitanDriver · 12-01-2004, 11:49 AM

I have the 4X4 King Cab with tow mode. I have the column shifter. Also have the overhead console and pigtail for trailer lights, No hitch though.

Was this a custom order that the dealer chose or am I missing the Big Tow Package? The package was not listed on my window sticker. The brochure states no tow package for XE King Cab. No sure what happened? Any ideas?

Brons2 · 12-01-2004, 11:54 AM

All the trucks have tow mode whether BT or not. Tow mode is just a software routine in the transmission control module. My truck is an XE and also has the pigtail. No mistakes.

CoachBoone · 12-01-2004, 11:56 AM

I believe Brons2 is correct. The big tow gets you the different gearing, the class IV hitch and the towing mirrors......did I miss anything?

Farmer Fred · 12-01-2004, 12:02 PM

My XE has the tow mode as well. It's rated for 6500 lbs even w/o the Big Tow, so I decided not to pay extra for all the gewgaws and plastic chrome.

xsive11 · 12-01-2004, 12:21 PM

correct. i had to purchace my tow hitch from the dealer. wiring harness is tucked up behind the bumper. necessary relays come with the hitch from the dealer. 6 bolts to install it. 30 min. labor. around $200. you'll need a torque wrench set for 101 ft lbs i think.

tillery444 · 12-01-2004, 12:56 PM

I have the a CC XE 4x4, no off road, no big tow. What can I do to increase the tow capacity above the 6500 lb rating.

Brons2 · 12-01-2004, 01:06 PM

Change out your gears, add a transmission temp gauge.

jasonwabc · 12-01-2004, 07:12 PM

what are the relays on the hitch for?

mick3643 · 12-01-2004, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonwabc

what are the relays on the hitch for?

the relays make the trailer lights and brakes work. No relays, no trailer lights!

pciley · 12-01-2004, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tillery444

I have the a CC XE 4x4, no off road, no big tow. What can I do to increase the tow capacity above the 6500 lb rating.

The only differences are, as stated, the gearing and the trans temp GUAGE (providing you have installed your own hitch). You still have the trans cooler. The gearing helps keep your truck in the power band, amongst other things I'm sure someone will point out, so presumably if you had some power mods, you could tow just as much.

I have exceeded the towing rating for my XE, towed over 8k lbs several times and never had a problem. Just dropped into 4th as per the manual. I have a couple minor power mods though, so probably helped a little.

I honestly think the # ratings are more of an incentive to get the BT package. The gearing is not that different, after all. It is not significant enough to warrant a 3000# increase in towing capacity, IMO.

Out here it is mostly flat though, a few grades on the way to the desert, nothing too bad. I can see the lower gears maybe making a bigger difference towing up a mountain or something like that.

tillery444 · 12-01-2004, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pciley

The only differences are, as stated, the gearing and the trans temp GUAGE (providing you have installed your own hitch). You still have the trans temp cooler. The gearing helps keep your truck in the power band, amongst other things I'm sure someone will point out, so presumably if you had some power mods, you could tow just as much.

I have exceeded the towing rating for my XE, towed over 8k lbs several times and never had a problem. Just dropped into 4th as per the manual. I have a couple minor power mods though, so probably helped a little.

I honestly think the # ratings are more of an incentive to get the BT package. The gearing is not that different, after all. It is not significant enough to warrant a 3000# increase in towing capacity, IMO.

Out here it is mostly flat though, a few grades on the way to the desert, nothing too bad. I can see the lower gears maybe making a bigger difference towing up a mountain or something like that.

pciley,

Thanks, we have similar mods, I have the magnaflow catback & AirRaid intake so I could probably expect similar resulults!

Tillery444

pciley · 12-01-2004, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tillery444

pciley,

Thanks, we have similar mods, I have the magnaflow catback & AirRaid intake so I could probably expect similar resulults!

Tillery444

OHH, you are in SD. When we take the '8' to Glamis, there are several BBIIIIGGG grades to summit, I'm sure you're familiar.
I had to follow a friend and his 5.4L expedition wasn't making it up with his big trailer so we switched and he towed my small ATV trailer.

He had me towing his 26' Weekend Warrior toy hauler with a small 3-seater buggy, two quads, full tanks of water, full gas on board the trailer, etc etc. He was trying to tell me it weighed over 9000#, but I'm not so sure of that.. I was guessing not over 8k.
At any rate, the Titan handled the load just fine, you could DEFINITELY feel it, but it was climbing all the grades there and on the trip home, keeping at 70mph the whole time.

I remember the tranni dropping into 3rd on a couple of occasions on the steeper grades, but the trans or truck never heated up significantly. My conclusion was the truck was under rated.

RockyMtnTitan · 12-01-2004, 09:41 PM

Isn't VDC incl with the BT package? Not necessary for towing, of course, but a nice feature to have.

Steve

arkman0 · 12-01-2004, 09:43 PM

the load capacity difference is due to the rating of the tires..

Quote:

Originally Posted by pciley

The only differences are, as stated, the gearing and the trans temp GUAGE (providing you have installed your own hitch). You still have the trans cooler. The gearing helps keep your truck in the power band, amongst other things I'm sure someone will point out, so presumably if you had some power mods, you could tow just as much.

I have exceeded the towing rating for my XE, towed over 8k lbs several times and never had a problem. Just dropped into 4th as per the manual. I have a couple minor power mods though, so probably helped a little.

I honestly think the # ratings are more of an incentive to get the BT package. The gearing is not that different, after all. It is not significant enough to warrant a 3000# increase in towing capacity, IMO.

Out here it is mostly flat though, a few grades on the way to the desert, nothing too bad. I can see the lower gears maybe making a bigger difference towing up a mountain or something like that.

**CaliforniaTitan** · 12-01-2004, 09:44 PM

On the '04's VDC was indeed included...on my '05 it is not part of the BT pkg. One of the changes.

Chris