Should I use Tow/Haul with a "light" load?

[Bannerman]

We are heading the beach next week and I'm planning to bring the skiff. I'm guessing on the high side the whole boat and trailer weighs 1500 pounds wet. We will also probably have 800-1000 pounds of passengers and gear in the truck. Tow/haul mode or nah?

 

[KAD]

I vote Sport mode all the way

 

[Wallco1]

I don't. I only use it wtih medium and heavy loads in hilly areas, Mostly just to save braking on down grades.

 

[b-real]

I probably wouldnt go tow mode with that light of a load. It will probably result in lower mpgs since it wont skip gears when up shifting and will go to a higher rpm before shifting. Tow mode also locks out your top gears which you will want for highways with that light load. You could always try different modes and see.

 

[Bannerman]

I don't. I only use it wtih medium and heavy loads in hilly areas, Mostly just to save braking on down grades.

That was my thinking, it's pretty flat and gets flatter the closer to coast I'll get.

 

[MT_Tremor]

I frequently tow a small 16ft boat that is roughly 2k lbs and prefer tow haul mode. Feels more crisp when shifting and holds gears a tad longer which I prefer even if it is a lighter load. I'd say try regular and tow haul and see which you prefer.

My tow haul doesn't lock out the top gears automatically, I have to manually do that.

 

[Bigdiggins]

Sorry I got distracted by the boat driver and missed the question.

 

[ChsTremor]

I like the way tow/haul accelerates with a load, even a small one. On the other hand, I can't stand the way it shifts from 2nd to 1st except with a super heavy load. It seems to want to always downshift to first and hits about 4,000 RPM.
I feel like the down shifting should be directly proportional to the amount of braking applied but it's not as far as I can tell. This was the same in my 2015 as well. Sometimes I would use tow/haul when accelerating and cruising but when it was time to slow down I would turn it off just before the 2nd>1st downshift.

To answer your question, I woudn't use it on the trip you are taking especially being that the majority of it is at highway speeds. you can always manually lock out the top gears if you want by pushing the +/- on the gear shifter.

 

[FaKtor34]

We are heading the beach next week and I'm planning to bring the skiff. I'm guessing on the high side the whole boat and trailer weighs 1500 pounds wet. We will also probably have 800-1000 pounds of passengers and gear in the truck. Tow/haul mode or nah?



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Like a few others have said I only use it above about 4500 lbs, or if pulling up and down steep roads with lots of curves as it holds to lower gears to cut down on brake wear.

 

[Bannerman]

Thanks guys. You confirmed what I expected.

 

[High_Country]

You already got good responses, but I towed our small camping / off-road trailer ~ 1500-2000 lbs - through Colorado. The truck certainly didn't NEED tow haul mode to manage temps or braking or anything, but I liked the way it behaved in tow/haul on the steep inclines / declines holding gears and downshifting more aggressively to engine brake and such. Like others said, try it just to see if you like it but it's certainly not NECESSARY with that weight.

 

[Kevin]

We are heading the beach next week and I'm planning to bring the skiff. I'm guessing on the high side the whole boat and trailer weighs 1500 pounds wet. We will also probably have 800-1000 pounds of passengers and gear in the truck. Tow/haul mode or nah?



View attachment 6134

Nah, unless you’re struggling with it. Which I highly doubt you’ll even notice it.

 

[Bannerman]

Nah, unless you’re struggling with it. Which I highly doubt you’ll even notice it.

Haha thanks. Thread so old I don’t even own that boat anymore

 

[Kevin]

Haha thanks. Thread so old I don’t even own that boat anymore

Saw that after I posted

 

[BillfLang]

We are heading the beach next week and I'm planning to bring the skiff. I'm guessing on the high side the whole boat and trailer weighs 1500 pounds wet. We will also probably have 800-1000 pounds of passengers and gear in the truck. Tow/haul mode or nah?



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Nah ! Nice looking Dog , Looks somewhat like my Tank !

 

[Bannerman]

Nah ! Nice looking Dog , Looks somewhat like my Tank !

Best dog we’ve ever had. She’s a Catahoula

 

[BillfLang]

Best dog we’ve ever had. She’s a Catahoula

View attachment 40080

I had a dog come up in my yard , looks just like her about a year ago. People drop dogs off out here by me, I put him in my dog pen out backh and him about 2 weeks, ran adds for lost dog, no one even called. Ran an add for free dog with Photo some guy came by looking for a dog for his kids. Told him I didn't know much about the dog but if it didn't work out bring him back! Never heard a word from the guy, Called him about the dog a year later ! He said , Best dog he has ever owned, Sleeps with his 2 Girls every night. Dog looked like it had Curr and Pit mix about 65 LB. I had a red Nose Pit at the time about 75 to 80 LB. Life go on !!