zackyboy3rs
Eastern North Carolina
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My new (used) tv has the 6.0l and the 3.73 gears. I am not an expert at all so please share with me the do's and dont's. Always use the tow/haul button? Tow in the "d" gear?
Anything else I need to consider?
I mainly do flat road towing. Will be traveling to NC mountains.
Any advantages or disadvantages of the 3.73?
* This post was
edited 02/20/12 06:52pm by zackyboy3rs *
2010 Jayco Select 29L
2009 Chevy Silverado LTZ 2500HD 6.0L, 3.73, Gas sipper
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hmknightnc
Wilmington, NC
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With your trailer put it in tow/haul and go. If hunting gears pulling mountains go to manual and select lower gear.
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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I'd put it in drive and go. If you have a transmission heating problem climbing mountains, use tow haul. If you want slightly better fuel economy leave it turned off. It (tow/haul)can also be handy for descending mountains if you don't want to down shift the tranny manually. Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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zackyboy3rs
Eastern North Carolina
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Will it hurt the trans if I do not use the tow/haul button?
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sandpiper1
Kansas
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I've always used the tow haul mode in my Fords. After over 265,000 combined miles I've had no problems. The 3.73 should be ok for what you are doing. Mine has a 4.10 and has no problems with any grade.
2004 F350 DRW PSD Crew Cab Lariat LWB FX4, B&W 5th Hitch, 2012 Montana Mountaineer 346LBQ
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MARKW8
Akron OH
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Use the tow/haul, if it won't hold OD going down the road, use 3rd. You might end up in 3rd a lot with any hills. One question, do you have the 4spd or 6speed tranny? The 6spd has much better towing gears.
Mark
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zackyboy3rs
Eastern North Carolina
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6 speed and has towing package.
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Bob/Olallawa
Kitsap Co, WA
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The book says to use the tow haul when heavy loads or towing so why not use it. 373's with the 6 speed should be fine. Yes that gas engine likes to rev, turn it loose and it will do the job for you.
Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to hide the bodies of those people I had to kill because they pissed me off.
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Seamutt
Prince George BC Canada
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Get a scan gauge so you can see your fuel consumption real time and co-ordinate the tow-haul with it. After you experiment with the two knowledge of using the tow-haul will develop. I use the tow-haul up steeper hills and downhill if needed to help control the speed using less braking. I also use tow-haul going downhill empty so I don't have to use my brakes as much.
2007 Okanagan 26 RLS Dual 6v.
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APT
SE Michigan
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I recommend using tow/haul mode and M5, manual mode 5th gear max. I doubt the truck can hold 6th gear. Consult your owners manual on the uses and benefits of each. If you do not have a paper copy, you can download a PDF from the Chevy web site. I find them easier to read and search anyway.
You can expect a lot of time in 4th and 5th gears on the highway. While the 4.10 axle ratio is rated for quite a bit higher tow rating, I think the 3.73 is artificially lower than it needs to be from a performance perspective. People are happily towing 10k pounds with that combination. While my 6.0L is fine from 1500rpm+, it really wakes up over 3500rpm. Enjoy the new truck!
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2012 VW Passat TDI
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