When should I use the tow/haul?

[ThePap]

I have a Ram 1500 and I'm new to towing trailers. Im towing an 16ft top hat tandem axle with my Yamaha Rhino. Im running the 5.7Hemi. This is a tough engine and this thing pulls like a dream but I want to ask yall if its overkill to tow it with the Tow/Haul button engaged. This kills the gas milage. So I want to ask any trailer towing vets if I can tow this load with the overdrive on? Thanks for your help green screen!
Trailer=1800lbs
Rhino=1000lbs

[Sleepy]

never

[91cavgt]

DO NOT tow anything with overdrive on. It will over heat the transmission and you will end up causing damage. Your gas mileage will drop when towing, get used to it as it's normal.

[Hookem84]

From what I understand your supposed to put tow haul on anytime you hook up. I'd rather spend more money on gas than a transmission. I could be completely wrong though I'm sure the experts will comment shortly.

[bowhunterchris]

From what I understand your supposed to put tow haul on anytime you hook up. I'd rather spend more money on gas than a transmission. I could be completely wrong though I'm sure the experts will comment shortly.

Yepp

[BigThicketBoy]

In a dodge anytime you have a trailer hooked up.
A Ford can handle anything.

[super_dave]

You really only NEED to use tow/haul or overdrive off whenever it is kicking in and out of overdrive. If it pulls the trailer without having to repeatedly downshift, then you're good.

[Scubasteveo]

Tow haul helps more when you are in hilly terrain. Helps to keep the transmission from shifting in and out of overdrive, which is what causes transmissions to get too hot. It also moves the shift points to help give a firmer shift. If you can cruise without it jumping in and out, I take it out of two haul mode.

[Skinny]

When should I use the tow/haul?

Anytime you are towing or hauling a load. Keeps tranny from going into overdrive.

Edit: use when towing at higher speeds. If just pulling a load at slow speeds, you are fine without it. Gotta love it when mr. Know it all jumps all over me for not putting the tow haul button on when hauling a load of cattle across the ranch at 5 miles per hour. I just laugh.

[lodgepole]

I drop mine from D to 3. I Never use the tow haul personally.

[Mike D]

Tow/haul mode is apparently quite misunderstood.

Any time you pull you should use it unless you are just running around town at slower speeds. Any time you need to accelerate quicker or run at highways speeds you should have it engaged.

Not only does it raise the rpm shift points and firm up the shifts to help with slip between gears, but when you are on the highway it keeps your torque converter locked longer to help keep slip in the converter/transmission under control.

Heat and slippage (which in turn causes heat) is the death of a transmission.

[cmh2007]

Tow haul does not keep it or of overdrive. On the 545re transmission on the dodge, it lengthens the shift points and holds gear much longer. It also makes for a much more firm shift by commanding more line pressure thus giving a harder faster shift. Lastly it holds gear under breaking to help engine breaking

[wsteffen]

Don't have a Dodge, but I have never used it in my F150. I tow a 4700 lb trailer with no problems.

[systemnt]

I like the little light that looks like a box on two circles on the dash so I run it 24/7. Sometimes I hit the button when I'm feeling fast-n-furious and pretend it's a triple stage nitrous button ... or when I'm feeling lone-wolf-mcquade-ey and pretend it's some sorta clutch driven super charger.. but mostly I just use it when I'm towing anything on the highway to keep the Trans from going in and out of overdrive

[ThePap]

thanks for the input everybody, I used it this past weekend but thank god the gas prices are down. took me a full tank from deer park to Livingston and back!