[A/S] Re: transmissions & towing

["Richard P. Kenan" <as5368@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

     Sounds like you have your truck all sorted out; congratulations.
     I have two suburbans, at the moment.  One is a 1984 2500/454 cid 
with the 3-speed tranny, the old workhorse - no overdrive.  
     The other is a 1999 2500/454, with the 4-speed tranny.  The 
owner's manual specifically directs you to use overdrive when towing, 
unless the transmission "hunts," in which case, shift to 3-rd gear.  
They warn you that your gas mileage will suffer in 3-rd. 
     Some on this list (and on the VAC one) say, based on their own 
personal experience, that you should never tow in overdrive, 
especially with a Suburban.  Others say to follow the manufacturer's 
instructions.  Still others say not to worry, towing in O/D is ok.  
It's hard to know what to do, but I tend to follow the manufacturer's 
instructions (which change over time, of course).  
     I think one of the problems that fog this issue up is that 
different manufacturers build their transmissions differently, and 
some, as yours, should not tow in O/D (Indeed, I never heard of that 
business of having a separate O/D transmission; do they (Dodge) still 
do that?) Another problem is the vast differences in driving habits 
from one driver to another, which could be the biggest variable of 
all; so the issue tends to remain all fogged up.  I guess I'll find 
out sometime in the (hopefully far) future if I've made the right 
choice.
     
- Dick
(5368)