Towing Tips 101

[exit395]

While towing my 7000 lb trailer to the beach this weekend, I was trying to observe the various things I do while towing with the idea of putting all of the infomation I could out there there for those with the same questions that are asked over and over again. I am no expert but have been towing RV trailers for about three years now and spend a lot of time on the RV Net forum where I have learned a bunch. So if you will bear with me, I would like to offer up these observations. BTW, I have an '05 CC 2WD with B/T and column shifter.
1. Use a weight distribution hitch to transfer some of the tongue weight to the front wheels. If properly setup, the whole rig, truck/trailer and sping bars will be parallel to the ground with the trailer nose slightly down. Ask your trailer dealer to set up if you are not sure or check out the RV Net forum where there is a sticky on how to to do this.
2. Use a good brake controller (I have a Prodigy) and get it adjusted properly. Not very difficult to do and it makes a huge difference in braking.
3. Before starting, check air pressure in all of your tires. I like to inflate trailer and the rear truck tires to just under the max listed on the side wall. I raise the front truck tires to about mid point.
4. Turn on the tow mode and put transmission in forth gear. Keep out of OD. On this trip, I paid special attention to the shifting of the transmission. Here's what I observed: Tow mode changes the shift pattern to stay in the gears longer. If I was cruising along at 60 mph (2000 RPM) and came to a hill, almost immediately, you notice what some may call a downshift. Actually, it is the torque converter unlocking. The RPM's jumped to 2500. Now, depending on the length of the hill and it's steepness, if I just left things alone, in a short time the transmission temperature will start to climb. I noticed that it would move quickly between the bottom of the little gear like symbol to the top of the symbol. Time to manually downshift to third gear. RPM's jump to 3000 and the transmission temperature starts falling almost immediately. Third gear is your friend. Heat kills transmissions.
5. Keep watching your mirrors. One time on this trip, I was overtaking a slower truck on a hill in a passing zone. We were both in the right hand lane and I was tempted to just press a little harder (man does it feel good to have horsepower under your foot again!), but when I checked the mirrors, there was a line of cars who were wanting to pass us both. Remember how it feels to be in that line of cars and what happens when you finally get to a passing zone? Everyone speeds up! So, I had to just wait my turn.
6. Finnally, take your time. It makes your whole trip nicer. And have fun when you get there, that's what it's all about.

[A1CONARD]

Sounds like good advice 395. Especially the "take your time and have fun". I don't have the tranny temp guage so I'll just have to keep it in mind to downshift to 3rd when towing up a longer grade. I don't think a few revs will hurt our Titans!

[mikehn]

thanks for sharing your experiences

[EricCartmann]

good tips!