Old fellow

[Old Fellow]

In November I pulled a 29 foot Prowler TT from central Indiana to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.The tongue wight was 850 pounds as measured with my Sherline scale.The truck with full load of fuel and my wife and I with 2 bicycles weighed just over 6500 pounds.Trailer weigt was 6980 pounds,My 05 Le pulled it well until I reached the big hills in western Arkansas and the hill country of northern Texas.I pulled in 4th with tow mode but it seemed to be more than it could handle.White knuckle 70 down hill and down to 50's at the top of the next hill.The transmission was constantly locking and unlocking.When I shifted back to third it pulled like a tractor but was turning over 3200 rpm and I was lucky to get 7 mpg on fuel.My question is will it hurt the transmisson to have it lock and unlock the torque converter that mxuch.

[Helinut1970]

Originally Posted by Old Fellow

In November I pulled a 29 foot Prowler TT from central Indiana to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.The tongue wight was 850 pounds as measured with my Sherline scale.The truck with full load of fuel and my wife and I with 2 bicycles weighed just over 6500 pounds.Trailer weigt was 6980 pounds,My 05 Le pulled it well until I reached the big hills in western Arkansas and the hill country of northern Texas.I pulled in 4th with tow mode but it seemed to be more than it could handle.White knuckle 70 down hill and down to 50's at the top of the next hill.The transmission was constantly locking and unlocking.When I shifted back to third it pulled like a tractor but was turning over 3200 rpm and I was lucky to get 7 mpg on fuel.My question is will it hurt the transmisson to have it lock and unlock the torque converter that mxuch.

Do you have Big tow package?

[Old Fellow]

Originally Posted by Helinut1970

Do you have Big tow package?

Yes,as a matter of fact I think I have every option available.Have the navigation system which was really helpful as my wife can not read a map.I forgot to mention that the transmission temperature stayed normal the whole time.I wonder what will happen on the return trip next spring when the temperatures leaving the valley can be in the 90's.I bought this truck new in July of 06.Wonder if the options ran the price tag up so high nobody wanted it.

[Learjet]

In the situation you described, did you try leaving it in 3rd for power up the hill and engine braking on the downhill? 3200 rpm sounds like a lot, but the engine can easy handle it.

I use 3rd on big hills and It pulls like a champ.

[Helinut1970]

Originally Posted by Learjet

In the situation you described, did you try leaving it in 3rd for power up the hill and engine braking on the downhill? 3200 rpm sounds like a lot, but the engine can easy handle it.

I use 3rd on big hills and It pulls like a champ.

Stole my thunder! If it was me I would just keep it around 45 in the MT and leave it in 3rd. It should have no probs doing that.

[adamsrk]

yep, what they said and sometimes down hill in a tight 20mph corner i will shift to 2nd.