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11-28-2017, 04:43 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Tow Mode or not????
Hi all,
I am towing a new Kodiak with a 2008 Avalanche. It has under 100,000 miles and has been maintained well with synthetic oils and such.
It has the Tow Mode option. My question: Is that the way to go or is it ok/better to put transmission in 3rd and not use tow mode?
I towed the unit home 200 miles in tow mode and it would do some serious downshifts and maintain that hi rpm when ever it thought it was necessary. I understand the rationale behind that. It was a bit hilly terrain on the interstate. But screaming at 4000 plus RPM to get up a hill gets old Haha
I have heard that some people forget tow mode and just use the 3rd position, avoiding the overdrive, which is apparently inherently weak.
Thanks for any insights.
Bill
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11-28-2017, 05:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
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I use it on my 2016 Colorado(6 speed), it holds the shifts a lot longer and seems to work really well even on the big hills. If you think you can get up hills with less rpm's, I see nothing wrong with leaving it in 3rd, that's what I did in my old fullsize Chevy with the V-8. I don't think the tow/haul mode worked near as well on the older Chevy's. The best thing you can do for your transmission is put a cooler on it, if it doesn't already have one.
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__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
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11-28-2017, 05:04 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 573
California
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I think there has been some major improvement in tow mode. I use it when pulling our trailer and it seems to work very good up and downhill. Ours is a 2015 2.7 F150 eco boost.
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Mike & Emily-Sacramento, CA
Our 4th trailer (2016 Aspen Trail 1900RB)
2018 F150 STX 2.7 Eco Boost
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11-28-2017, 05:16 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwest450
I use it on my 2016 Colorado(6 speed), it holds the shifts a lot longer and seems to work really well even on the big hills. If you think you can get up hills with less rpm's, I see nothing wrong with leaving it in 3rd, that's what I did in my old fullsize Chevy with the V-8. I don't think the tow/haul mode worked near as well on the older Chevy's. The best thing you can do for your transmission is put a cooler on it, if it doesn't already have one.
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Thanks for that info. I will check to see if it has a tranny cooler. It does have a tranny temperature monitor, so maybe it has the cooler also.
I guess I will try both modes on similar terrain and see what happens. As long as it does not bog the engine down, 3rd may work ok.
Thanks again,
Bill
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11-28-2017, 05:21 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chily3
I think there has been some major improvement in tow mode. I use it when pulling our trailer and it seems to work very good up and downhill. Ours is a 2015 2.7 F150 eco boost.
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Thanks for the response.
Your F150 has a 2.7 liter engine?? Wow that is interesting.
Just googled it.....aha dual turbos!! Nice!
How is the gas mileage?
Bill
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11-28-2017, 06:39 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,086
Florida
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I find TOW MODE works good for me but occasionally I make it shift into overdrive (take tow mode off) while on flat roads. tow mode downshifts really nicely when stopping and going downhill. I drive a '16 Nissan XD PR with the cummins engine and tow 12000 pounds.
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11-28-2017, 07:48 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
I find TOW MODE works good for me but occasionally I make it shift into overdrive (take tow mode off) while on flat roads. tow mode downshifts really nicely when stopping and going downhill. I drive a '16 Nissan XD PR with the cummins engine and tow 12000 pounds.
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Thanks, I think Tow Mode does give you the advantage of engine braking. I will verify this on the next hill. I know that in normal mode, down hill, this Avalanche will keep speeding up. I guess the tranny is set up that way for economy.
Now I have to google another vehicle ..............Nissan XD PR.
Have fun
Bill
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11-28-2017, 10:05 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,086
Florida
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platinum reserve = PR
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11-29-2017, 01:04 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Sparta
Posts: 1,726
Tennessee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
platinum reserve = PR
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Platinum reserve? Is that a truck or a cheap bottle of whiskey?
__________________
2014 Aerolite 213 RBSL
2016 Chevrolet Colorado
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11-29-2017, 02:55 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
platinum reserve = PR
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Found it.......
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11-29-2017, 02:56 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwest450
Platinum reserve? Is that a truck or a cheap bottle of whiskey?
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You are going to make me go there.......LOL
Its SAKI..............
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11-29-2017, 09:34 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwest450
Platinum reserve? Is that a truck or a cheap bottle of whiskey?
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Around here that would be the name of a "Gentlemen's" Club
Aaron
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
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11-29-2017, 10:41 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,086
Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ArmyVeteran
Found it.......
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more like this one...
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11-29-2017, 10:45 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,086
Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildwest450
Platinum reserve? Is that a truck or a cheap bottle of whiskey?
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bottle yes, truck no!
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11-29-2017, 02:33 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wahoonc
Around here that would be the name of a "Gentlemen's" Club
Aaron
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"Gentleman" leaves me out..........not to mention the "war department" would probably frown on it......hahaha
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11-29-2017, 04:09 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
more like this one...
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Nice !
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11-29-2017, 07:32 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 521
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I use the mode on my truck in the mountains when going downhill and when getting off the expressway. Basically, I use it only for slowing down. Yes, the shift points change when speeding up which I don't like. Its the way I handle the tow mode
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11-29-2017, 08:13 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Aiken
Posts: 702
South Carolina
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tanman
I use the mode on my truck in the mountains when going downhill and when getting off the expressway. Basically, I use it only for slowing down. Yes, the shift points change when speeding up which I don't like. Its the way I handle the tow mode
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Gotcha, thanks.
I tend to agree that some common sense applied and based on particular circumstance. may require one or the other.
I think the Avalanche TOW MODE is a bit too aggressive in maintaining RPM.
Have fun
Bill
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11-29-2017, 08:29 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,086
Florida
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tow mode has higher shift points than the regular drive mode. It will maintain a gear until RPM reaches a comfortable level then shift. It downshifts to utilize engine braking where drive mode would not do that. it will hold 5th longer than I like so I usually take it out of tow mode so it will shift to 6th (sometimes but not always). The transmission and computer are supposed to be able to LEARN your driving habits (but I have NOT confirmed that). After an ECM reprogram I have heard that it starts all over again (learning).
https://www.yourmechanic.com/questio...rk-by-joshua-f
Here's the skinny on the transmission:
• Perpetually learning TCM logic adjusts transmission shift pressures and timing in order to provide smooth, positive shifts and compensate for differences in shift solenoid performance from transmission to transmission.
http://www.dieselhub.com/trans/aisin-a466nd.html
This is a pretty cool write-up on the engine and truck...
http://www.dieselhub.com/halfton/nissan-titan-xd.html
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11-29-2017, 10:19 PM
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#20
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
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I am not sure that the 2008 Chevy has the "adaptive" transmission module.
We use a lot of Chevy's at work (sucks to be a Ford guy ) I have never liked the Tow/Haul button on the older ones. From what I gather the newer ones are better. Currently the only thing I own with a Tow/Haul button on it is my 2016 E-450 V-10 6 speed automatic. I use it.. a lot! It provides automatic engine braking and downshifts and I have not noticed any really high RPM except on some really brutal uphills, but I figure Ford knew what they were doing with their programming so I let it do what it wants.
There is one after market tuning kit for transmissions that seems to be one of the best for towing and RV's. Do a search for Five Star Tuning. I don't have one but have heard a lot of good reports about it, especially on the older transmissions.
Aaron
__________________
__________________
There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
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