A little background...

As some of you may know, we are having a little get together in Ohio. As you are probably aware of the gas prices, and the impact of towing a trailer on fuel economy, I have a question for those who tow with an automatic. We will be towing a car to Erie PA, and then wil wind up towing empty to Columbus and then home. If I wait to put it in O/D until I'm at highway speed, is it o.k. to run in O/D? I know you are not supposed to tow in overdrive with a trailer, but it seems to me that being empty should make it o.k. to do on a flat road and once it's up to speed. Any thoughts will be appreciated.

In a while, Chet.

BTW, the trailer is pictured in my gallery and my Journal. It's nothing special, 2 #3500 axles and 14 foot of decking.

Thanks again, Chet.

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It's not what you take with you when you leave, it's what you leave behind you when you go.

i believe the rule is how much weight would you have in the back of the truck Vs. on the bumper how much does the trailer weigh?

sr66

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make , model , year , engine, series( 1/2 , 3/4 ton?) of the truck?

The diesel power I'd tow in O-Drive. Bigger trans

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Even tho the trl is empty it wts approx 2500#,thus do not ever use od when towing empty.

Sorry Crosley....


It's a 1997 C1500 (2wd) ex cab w/ 3rd door and the 4L60 (?? anyhow it's not the 80 series trans) Vortec 350 and 3.73 gears. If it helps, I've got a class 5 hitch and electric trailer brakes on one axle.

I don't know how much total weight will be on the truck, but I can be fairly sure that it will not exceed 500lbs over the truck weight (5100 lbs with a full tank of gas).

The trailer weighs approximatly 1800 lbs. I had it weighed a couple of years ago and that is the weight that is stuck in my mind.

Thanks again, Chet.

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It's not what you take with you when you leave, it's what you leave behind you when you go.

Schnitz, I towed a 26' enclosed 2 axle trailer to Chicago from Cincinnati with my 99 GMC Yukon (350 Vortec, 4L60E) in O.D.. It was empty on the way up and full on the way back with a 67 Impala. I didn't have a single problem. Alot of it has to do with the way you drive. No sudden starts or hard acceleration. Try to stay steady on the gas. Cruise works great here. If you take it easy and use common sense, you should be just fine.

Just for the sake of not dropping a $20 bill at every green light, I've learned to feather this thing. 2000 RPM maximum. I guess though, that if it "hunts" for drive then overdrive then back again, I'll leave it in O/D.

Thanks, Chet.

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It's not what you take with you when you leave, it's what you leave behind you when you go.

That trailer should not be a problem... With the 3.73 gears and basicly flat terrain just make sure it stays in lockup in OD also maintain it at 70mph which will put the RPM`s in a good solid torque range for the engine too...

the 1997 truck does not have the tow/haul mode with the 4L60E as I recall... ? some owners do not know the tow/haul mode is there on their trucks. The t/h mode alters shift paprameters and pressures for better performance when towing.

A friend smoked his tranny at 3800 miles in his 2000 Silverado pulling his boat. I asked him about using the tow/haul mode. His comment ; " I use it now"


As mentioned don't work the truck hard when loaded. I've pulled some heavy loads with my 2000 Silverado 1500.... the tow/haul mode kicks you out of O-D when the PCM sees the load on the power train getting too high.

I added a Sonnax billet O-drive servo to my truck when it had 2k miles on it. near 70k miles now

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Save the earth , choke a tree .... save a squirrel

Unfortunately, I don't think they have it. Mine doesn't anyway. It does however have the factory tow HD trans cooler (should help). Also, what is a Sonnax billet O-drive servo and is it difficult to install. Anything to save an automatic. I used to have a '93 Chevy (v6 w/ 5 speed) that I towed whatever I could get rolling. Little workhorse, and the stick was the difference. If I had my choice, this truck would be a stick too.

Thanks, Chet.

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It's not what you take with you when you leave, it's what you leave behind you when you go.

there would be a button at the end of the column shifter for tow/haul mode.


Soonax servo adds 40% hold power to the OD gear only . some what easy replacement in the vehicle.

A vette servo will add holding power in 2nd gear. I like mine , not too hard of a shift.

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Save the earth , choke a tree .... save a squirrel

Thanks guys, especially Crosley. Now I'll have to look into getting those servo's. Anything to keep this trans alive.

Thanks again, Chet.

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It's not what you take with you when you leave, it's what you leave behind you when you go.

I am sorry I did NOT post the link..


bulk part

Visit the site , navigate through to 700r4/4L60 parts.... They list the servos from Sonnax and bulkpart offers the vette type servo tooo. at fair prices , if you are interested

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Save the earth , choke a tree .... save a squirrel

Crosley,
I have a 700r4 in my 69 Chevy Pickup, and I would like to install this servo. I found it on bulk part, and I would like to know how involved the install is. Will the part come with instructions? It is time to drop the pan for the filter anyway, so I may as well do it now. Thanks for your help!

Subman

the servo on the passenger side of the 700 is a dual purpose/ dual stage unit.

It has the 2nd gear & over drive apply servo's in there.

It is a simple process , yet to the newbie it can be a challenge to avoid cutting seals & O-rings

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Save the earth , choke a tree .... save a squirrel