Overdrive or not?

[bd100]

With the 3.6L, 6-speed manual, towing a 2000lb folding trailer (less cross section), at highway speeds I keep it out of the highest gear. 5th gear, the first overdrive, across country still gets us around 16-17 MPG on average while towing at typical highway speeds.

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[Janster]

Put it in drive and let it do its thing…..

Granted…..sometimes, the thing will downshift and the rpm’s will be screaming excessively - I’ll back off on the throttle and let it upshift.

 

[Stan H]

With the 3.6L, 6-speed manual, towing a 2000lb folding trailer (less cross section), at highway speeds I keep it out of the highest gear. 5th gear, the first overdrive, across country still gets us around 16-17 MPG on average while towing at typical highway speeds.

The first Overdrive is 7th. 5th is the last "under drive" 6th is 1:1 or direct drive for every one revolution of the driveshaft the wheels turn one time.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Seems like I said that.............with a chart, even.

 

[JTdiRtyD]

I put it in drive and let it be. No gear hunting, but I also have the diesel so it doesn't even care my trailer is back there.

I had this same transmission in my BMW X5 diesel and was surprised that the manual for both states to just leave it in drive while towing. The X5 had paddle shifters so I would run in M mode while in the mountains, the paddles were great because I didn't have to take my hands off the wheel. I need to do the 392 wheel swap so I can get paddles in the Jeep.

 

[Stan H]

I put it in drive and let it be. No gear hunting, but I also have the diesel so it doesn't even care my trailer is back there.

I had this same transmission in my BMW X5 diesel and was surprised that the manual for both states to just leave it in drive while towing. The X5 had paddle shifters so I would run in M mode while in the mountains, the paddles were great because I didn't have to take my hands off the wheel. I need to do the 392 wheel swap so I can get paddles in the Jeep.

The paddle kits are cheap , they sell them on one of the jeep parts places . Let me see....

https://www.extremeterrain.com/info...el-paddle-shifter-upgrade-c-bdlshft-18jl.html

 

[JTdiRtyD]

The paddle kits are cheap , they sell them on one of the jeep parts places . Let me see....

https://www.extremeterrain.com/info...el-paddle-shifter-upgrade-c-bdlshft-18jl.html

Looks like they've taken OEM Mopar ones, included a security device to enable paddle shifting, and doubled the price. I wasn't aware the OEM ones would fit the standard wheel? If so, I'll just order an OEM kit and use Tazer to enable.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Anything over 2000 lbs or so, mine doesn't want 7th in manual or auto anyway lol.

 

[kb5zcr]

The first Overdrive is 7th. 5th is the last "under drive" 6th is 1:1 or direct drive for every one revolution of the driveshaft the wheels turn one time.

The message you quoted mentioned he keeps it in 5th because he has a manual transmission.

 

[JTGuy]

The 6th is 1:1 so no gearing to heat up the trans and it's also strong . It will get you to any towing speed you need. I would just lock it in 6th.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The 6th is 1:1 so no gearing to heat up the trans and it's also strong . It will get you to any towing speed you need. I would just lock it in 6th.

Can't do that here. You'd never stay above 50 on the hills, and then on the flats, it's screaming unnecessarily.
Why would you do that?
It won't run hot unless you let it hunt.
There's reasons you have 8 gears

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