[nostroke]

Well this may be a dumb question but I didn't know so I figured I would ask. I know with a auto if you tow anything significant you need to take it out of over drive...with a 6 speed is it the same way? I am heading to east texas this weekend pulling a 16ft flatbed with a 86 1 ton chevy single cab 4x4 sitting on 40 inch swampers...plus gear, spare parts, and an extra 4 40 inch swampers...what about towing with that? Should I keep it in 5th and turn like 2800 rpm the whole way? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif that would be some pretty bad gas mileage...but I wanted to know b4 I went and burned up my tranny or something...thanks all.

D

 

[b3m2w5e30]

Downshift if you feel you are lugging the engine (ie: foot to the floor, slowing down, and low RPM), otherwise leave it.

 

[DarthSurplus]

I wouldn't call it a dumb question; I'd call it a hasty question. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Do semis haul their loads in overdrive? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Heck, they try to climb hills in overdrive! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Towing with a diesel, especially a turbodiesel, is a new paradigm compared to gasoline engines. As you may know, diesel engines have a torque curve that reaches maximum value at a lower rpm. This may not be helpful until you think of torque in terms of horsepower per rpm. Then you can interpret the torque curve correctly - a diesel can have more horsepower available at lower rpm.

[ QUOTE ]
I know with a auto if you tow anything significant you need to take it out of over drive

[/ QUOTE ] This is the right thing to do with your Dodge Dakota, Chevy Astro Van, and F150.

[ QUOTE ]
with a 6 speed is it the same way?

[/ QUOTE ] No. Put it in overdrive. Put the hammer down. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif And smile and wave at those poor suckers towing with gas. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif

Don't use cruise control except on long, flat stretches. If you are climbing a hill, and your EGTs get above 1250 pre-turbo, or your rpms drop below 1800, downshift to 5th.

If you don't know what "lugging" sounds like, such that you can properly avoid it, slow down to 25 mph in overdrive, and push your accelerator past half-throttle. That's lugging. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smokin.gif Avoid it from now on. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

And good luck! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Tina]

I'm guessing you've never towed with this 6speed??? I tow a 30' travel trailer w/mine. If I'm climbing mountains, you know up then down the back side then up the next one, then I will take the cruise control off. I find I can antisipate the next up much better than the computer and give it fuel sooner. On flat land, use the cruise control!!! Unless it's stop and go or city driving, of course!! And your rpms shouldn't be no where near 2800!! If they are you're in the wrong gear.

 

[Pat Dolan]

D:

A really good question. You probably already know, the ZF6 is "direct" in 5th, so there are no gears at all in the transmission loaded, and 6th (OD) uses four gears to get the 0.72 ratio. I do nothing BUT tow with my ZF6, and once you get the clutch hub/pilot brg issues out of the way, it is an extremely reliable and strong transmission. If you ever get the chance, you need to look at the size of the gears, which tells you that this thing is quite happy working constantly in indirect ratios. The only downside is that in 6th, you are creating more heat, and running the engine at a lower power level. The trans has excellent auxiliary cooling (uses the rad just like an automatic) and I have yet to see over 260F dragging a 24k+ k trailer hard and hot in top. Ignoring the aux trans for the moment, I use OD for normal, level towing (for me, 2,250 rpm @ 65 mph) and use 5th for almost any hill or the extremely rare case of a really oversize load going up into a really stupid wind.

 

[klutz1]

Posted the same 'dumb' question! I DON'T have cruise control. whish I did! Got the same problem pulling north up Rt 17 in Az. If I can keep the RPM's around 2000 and the truck is maintaing speed I will stay in OD.I'm about 65-70 MPH at that RPM. Once I lose 2000 and start dropping down I will down shift. On straight runs with no hills You should be ok in OD. I would take it out of cruise on steep hills. Hope this helps. :vulnerable:

 

[BIG JOE]

# 1, There are NO Dumb questions.

# 2, What Pat Dolan said. To the letter.

I've pulled a 12+K FW, all over the US. I'm guna say, 90% of it in OD (6th). I never let my RPMs get lower than 2000, EGTs more than 900'ish. I've never seen the Trans Temp get above 160*. The ZF6 is a very good, strong transmission.

So hook-up yer Swamp thing'n let'r Roll. Be safe.

JOE

 

[cp5899]

I didn't read everyone responces, but the reason for not towing up hill etc in od with an auto is because it will heat up and riun the trans. You don't have to worry about that with the manual trans. I leave my manual in od all the time.

 

[nostroke]

Yes I have towed with it but not anywhere real flat just through real hilly places...I pull a 16 ft cattle trailer quite often sometimes with like 6 cows in it and these road are so hilly you couldnt use od effectively but I believe where we are headed this w/e is alot more of a strait shot. I used to tow with my 89 in the sig and ran it in 5th alot on flat ground or mild hills but I didn't know about this six speed. I just wanted to check before I went out and toasted it or something. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif Anybody got some Mpg guess that I will get? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Probably not great since I think the best I have ever since was like 15.6 on a 1200 mile trip babying it and driving like 65. We shall see though. Thanks for all of ya'lls input! I appreciate it.

D