Towing concerns. What are you towing at what max?

[ShadowsPapa]

Forget about letting the transmission shift itself. Do it yourself. Look up in this thread for my post about manual shifting. It'll make a world of difference not only in performance but possibly even fuel economy as you'll be running in between 2,000 and 2,500 RPMs crusing instead of letting the transmission drop down to 5th or 4th gear and the RPMs going over 3,500 RPMS all the time. It'll handle it quite nicely.

I actually wish it WOULD drop down and raise the RPM. Mine does the opposite - it stays in higher gears when it SHOULD drop down. Mine never sees higher RPMs (anything over about 2500) unless I force it.
The problem mine has is that it stays in high gears when it should drop down - then when it finally does, it drops 2, even 3 gears down. It should downshift before it reaches the lugging point instead of staying way under 2,000 RPM on hills.
Even with no load and no trailer, it seems to think the RPM needs to be 1400-1500 most of the time. By the time it realizes 8th won't cut it, it drops to 5th or 6th at the last minute instead of dropping a single gear - which would likely be fine.

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[xpcdoojk]

Forget about letting the transmission shift itself. Do it yourself. Look up in this thread for my post about manual shifting. It'll make a world of difference not only in performance but possibly even fuel economy as you'll be running in between 2,000 and 2,500 RPMs crusing instead of letting the transmission drop down to 5th or 4th gear and the RPMs going over 3,500 RPMS all the time. It'll handle it quite nicely.

I have been practicing since you mentioned it. Have you checked your transmission temps while pulling and compared what you are seeing? I am trying to confirm it will help the transmission long term.

 

[Labswine]

I have been practicing since you mentioned it. Have you checked your transmission temps while pulling and compared what you are seeing? I am trying to confirm it will help the transmission long term.

All temps have been in the normal ranges not noting anything unusual ???

It'll probably help everything because you won't be running over 3,500 PRMs a lot as the trans wants to downshift to 4th or 5th at every little upgrade. I noticed that slight upgrades it'll hold it's own in 7th but like I said, if the speed drops below 58mph, drop back to 6th and keep it at around 2,500 RPMs and speed will build back to around 62-63 mph then you can pop back into 7th and cruise (note: I do NOT go above 65 mph whilst towing!!!). And, if people complain about your not doing the speed limit when it's 70 mph (honking, the finger, etc.), eff 'em!!! It's your neck on the line, not theirs and also taking it a little lower and slower eases the stress of the drive

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Mine doesn't kick the RPM up that high. Wish it did.

My silverado would routinely kick down to 3,0000-4,500, a couple of times it kicked the transmission down so it was running about 5,000 RPM. I checked with other Chevy owners and the dealer - they said - "so what? These are high-RPM engines, they do their best up there"
One guy at the dealership said it was intentional to keep the engine in the better power band.

Keeping the RPM low like mine does doesn't do engines any favors - hard to imagine this 3.6 is any exception. Mine runs great with some high-RPM romps.
If mine kicked down a notch and ran in the 3,000 RPM area on hills, I'd actually be happier.
Mine only kicks down as far as 6th or 5th normally. Don't see 4th a lot.
If there was a tow button on these - my wish would be that the tow mode button would absolutely lock out 8th, perhaps even 7th, the top gears are only OD gears anyway.
Towing should generally not go below 2,000 rpm IMO.

Mine couldn't keep up at 70 mph EMPTY trailer, only towing about 1600 pounds. There's no way mine could even get up to 75 with a load behind it. I've only ever towed my car hauler empty - and was disappointed then so i'd be afraid of burning the thing up trying to even reach 75 with a load behind it.
I guess I'll find out first part of September when I load one of my cars up and take off through the grades on I80 heading to IL.

 

[MrJeep]

Trailer loaded - 5600. Tongue weight at 10% - 560. That's over half your payload.
Assuming you have nothing else in the truck with you and nothing in the back, how does it sit - or do you use a WDH with your car hauler?
I set about 500 - 550 pounds of block on one of those receiver mounted carriers and the back of mine squatted like a dog crapping in the yard. (thus my change to max tow springs in the rear - squat solved)

When I used my car hauler to go pick up some old dealership signs - 1600 pounds trailer and load - my truck couldn't get out of its own way on I80 west of Des Moines. Yeah, I was trying to keep up the speed limit, 70-75 but I was shocked at how it struggled and the transmission hunted so badly all the way home.
I keep seeing folks talk of how well their Overland did and wonder what the hell is wrong with mine?
Handling was great, stopping was great, but the transmission shifted literally 2 or 3 times a minute and it felt like the brakes were on.

It sits a little squat but not bad at all. No WDH, with a car hauler moving the car can distribute the weight. I don't get manic about payload numbers it's usually just my son and I and some camping equipment. Pic below. Like you mentioned, handling and stopping are great.
You know I have been reading this towing board for two years now and it does seem odd that some peoples trannys like to hunt more than others. Maybe have it reflashed? It does seem to be the people with big WIND resistance vs weight that have more hunting. Were the highway signs a big aero drag?

 

[Gren71]

It sits a little squat but not bad at all. No WDH, with a car hauler moving the car can distribute the weight. I don't get manic about payload numbers it's usually just my son and I and some camping equipment. Pic below. Like you mentioned, handling and stopping are great.
You know I have been reading this towing board for two years now and it does seem odd that some peoples trannys like to hunt more than others. Maybe have it reflashed? It does seem to be the people with big WIND resistance vs weight that have more hunting. Were the highway signs a big aero drag?

The more I read, and the different things that people say and find when they tow, leads me to think the same thing.

Anecdotally speaking I have a lighter trailer but because it has the off-road package it sits higher than other travel trailers creating more drag… So my JTMT likes the gear hunt on inclines. Just pulling at home from storage this morning I tried letting the truck shift on its own versus manually shifting keeping the RPMs at 2500 or less.

I personally found I actually got a smooth ride and better gas mileage just letting the truck do it’s thing and then manually shifting… Which was kind of disappointing because I was really hoping manually shifting would help a little bit. But I’ve just come to terms with getting 9 to 11 miles per gallon with my travel trailer

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It sits a little squat but not bad at all. No WDH, with a car hauler moving the car can distribute the weight. I don't get manic about payload numbers it's usually just my son and I and some camping equipment. Pic below. Like you mentioned, handling and stopping are great.
You know I have been reading this towing board for two years now and it does seem odd that some peoples trannys like to hunt more than others. Maybe have it reflashed? It does seem to be the people with big WIND resistance vs weight that have more hunting. Were the highway signs a big aero drag?

My PCM was flashed a bit over a year ago. The constant "Hunting" was better for a while, like a few weeks. Then it went back to its old ways of not staying in a given gear for more than seconds. Often I could count 2 or 3 shifts in one minute's time when driving up to Spirit Lake to make the deal on my wife's Grand Cherokee. The hills in NW Iowa are more mild and shorter than they are here where I live. I was amazed at the number of shifts in a minute. (no load in the truck, no trailer, just my wife and I driving it to Spirit Lake from Des Moines area)

On my only towing outing so far -
Everything was flat as far as the load - the trailer sits low and was unloaded going TO Omaha to pick up the signs.

Here's my empty trailer going to Omaha - trailer is 1500 pounds empty, I figure 1600 with the spare tire and aluminum tool box.

Here's what I was towing coming back - the signs are light - I can carry each one without trouble. They laid flat with 1/4" plywood strapped over them to keep the wind from whipping them to pieces. Plastic dealer signs in aluminum frames. They sit lower than the tool box on the trailer.

 

[MrJeep]

That's weird. You shouldn't have any issues at all towing that. Like it's not back there. I have a 1000# utility trailer and with a 400# mower I could barely feel it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That's weird. You shouldn't have any issues at all towing that. Like it's not back there. I have a 1000# utility trailer and with a 400# mower I could barely feel it.

My thoughts exactly. But between the transmission hunting and my having to really lean on the throttle to keep it up to speed, especially on hills - it was like towing a heavy load except it didn't feel like a heavy load. As far as "feeling it" - yeah, I knew it was back there, but not really. My Chevy towed that thing like it was not even back there. In fact, I'd keep looking in the mirrors to be sure it hadn't dropped off somehow. This truck felt it, but the biggest thing was how it acted like there was several thousands pounds back there.
I'll find out more in the first week of September when I haul my car into IL on that trailer.

It's been flashed since that tow, it's got a whole lot more miles on it (18,000 vs what was probably a couple thousand when I towed it empty) and I now have a brake controller in the truck.

 

[MrJeep]

My thoughts exactly. But between the transmission hunting and my having to really lean on the throttle to keep it up to speed, especially on hills - it was like towing a heavy load except it didn't feel like a heavy load. As far as "feeling it" - yeah, I knew it was back there, but not really. My Chevy towed that thing like it was not even back there. In fact, I'd keep looking in the mirrors to be sure it hadn't dropped off somehow. This truck felt it, but the biggest thing was how it acted like there was several thousands pounds back there.
I'll find out more in the first week of September when I haul my car into IL on that trailer.

It's been flashed since that tow, it's got a whole lot more miles on it (18,000 vs what was probably a couple thousand when I towed it empty) and I now have a brake controller in the truck.

You know, I do have a hikeit throttle controller. That may explain me not feeling at all like I have to press the pedal much. The stock pedal feel really stinks. It also may make the tranny hunt less because it is getting much more throttle input to help it decide to downshift/stay in gear? Just a thought...

 

[MrJeep]

Also
Is there any chance your brake controller is causing slight trailer brake drag? Because that would explain all of your symptoms esp the low gas mileage. I get 13 in the mountains pulling at least 5k.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Also
Is there any chance your brake controller is causing slight trailer brake drag? Because that would explain all of your symptoms esp the low gas mileage. I get 13 in the mountains pulling at least 5k.

When I towed what was in the pictures, I didn't have a controller. I figured a 1600 pound trailer on the interstate and keeping back from being too close behind other vehicles.....and it stopped like a dream.
I think I got about 11, maybe 11.5 as I recall. Shocked for towing an empty trailer as the truck with nothing hooked on was getting an easy 22+ at that time.
I had the truck roughly 2 months when I hooked up and went to Omaha.
Didn't get a brake controller until later that summer.

After I installed the controller, I went around the neighborhood with the trailer behind me to adjust things. Didn't go over about 40 mph with a lot of stops to make sure the controller worked well.

Can't wait to hook up, this time with car on trailer, and see what it does. I really need to try it out before hitting the road in September as if it won't handle it, I'll come back and put my utility trailer behind my show car.

 

[flyil]

I had good luck towing a ~4,000 lb boat/motor/trailer rig from Michigan to Florida and back. It was the first thing I did with my Gladiator after I bought it. I got about 14 mpg, made it through the Smokies great, didn't notice it too much back there. Was able to keep up at 70-75 on highway and even passed a few slowpoke truckers. I've got the High Altitude with tow pkg, about 6,500 lb capacity.

If I tried towing something with more height and wind sway like a travel trailer I would be a little nervous. Would probably want trailer brakes, weight distributing hitch, etc.

 

[flsupraguy]

My trailer is a 8.5x24'. It's 3,700 empty.

I usually hauled a UTV, ATV, and camping gear in it. That gets me to 6,000 lbs. But occasionally I haul my tractor in it. That puts me at 8,700 lbs.

I have the Timbren SES kit. I swapped it over from my Ram 1500 to the Jeep Gladiator since the rear suspension is so similar. Works great. I also use the Husky Centerline TS hitch. I love it too.

The truck handles the trailer BETTER than I expected. I've got about 26 years of towing experience pulling loads of every kind. My maiden voyage off in the Gladiator with this particular trailer made me nervous, but after being on the road for 5 minutes I knew it was going to be just fine. It feels exactly like all my full size trucks when towing. No sweat.

A trailer brake controller is a MUST. And keeping your speeds down and your distances long between you and traffic is also a must, as with any other truck on the market.

Thats a large trailer. I have a 8.5x20 enclosed trailer (3500 lbs and 7ft ceiling) and wondering if a gladiator with max tow can handle it? My race car weighs 3200 and ill need another 350 for fuel tools, ect. Any pics of your setup?

 

[WXman]

Thats a large trailer. I have a 8.5x20 enclosed trailer (3500 lbs and 7ft ceiling) and wondering if a gladiator with max tow can handle it? My race car weighs 3200 and ill need another 350 for fuel tools, ect. Any pics of your setup?

Yeah here you go.



I towed 6,300 with my old Max Tow model and it did a great job. But, it shifted a lot more which is common for a gas engine. That's why I went diesel this time. It cruises in overdrive.

I think the key to towing with any truck but especially a midsize is to load the trailer evenly and use trailer brakes, which you already know and anybody who tows should. But it's amazing how often I see people do it all wrong and then blame the truck.

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