First time towing and impressed .

[Aaron67]

What year Duramax? My LML gets 15mpg towing 6-7k lbs. I still get over 20mpg on the highway when not towing. I used to get 23 but I'm guessing my intake is a bit clogged at 170k.

18 3500 and a 21 5500 both get 9.5 to 10.5 mpg with a trailer empty or loaded.

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[metalry101]

That's what I was afraid you were going to say.
You know this has tow mode, right? And it goes into that mode when you connect trailer lights and it detects a load - higher torque requirements from the engine, and it self-adjusts.



For those towing the first time with an automatic, especially these Jeeps - let 'er rip.
It's made to wind up, higher RPM. Even a Chevy guy told me the same thing with the LS in a Silverado - LET IT.
The only time you "need" manual mode is if it's hunting, shifting up and down too frequently - which generates heat. Otherwise, the higher RPM is needed for power. Holding low RPM is harmful.

I've towed with all sorts of trucks for a long time, V8s and I6s, old and new, light loads to 10,000 or so. It's only harmful with an automatic if it "hunts" or tries to stay in a higher gear with low RPM.
These are made to wind up, let them.
It's extremely hilly here - so I do hit manual mode (exactly like the book - ya know, that owners manual? says - if the transmission shifts too frequently.
RPM in the 3000s or 4000s is not harmful, but trying to keep it in the 2000s can be.
The oil pump volume is lower below 3,000 RPM and the PCM may find it necessary to kick into high lift valve mode more often at lower RPM to generate some power.

This matches my experience. I'm towing out here in the mountains and primarily use the manual shift for braking and downhill speed management. The truck knows better than I do what gear it needs to be in to accomplish what I'm asking it to do going uphill or on flat ground.

That's not to say I never manually shift, but I've found that the programming is pretty spot on 98% of the time.

 

[Blade1668]

I keep my trailer weight under 4500 lbs in general. I've been over that on some short towing possibly. Any distance probably 3500 lbs. I known on one trip I definitely was way more due to ice.
New cellphone so no photos from it on this one.

 

[Lost1wing]

18 3500 and a 21 5500 both get 9.5 to 10.5 mpg with a trailer empty or loaded.

My coworker had a 2013 that he had deleted and he was getting 15mpg towing his 5th wheel camper/ toy hauler.

 

[JeepNightHawk]

I didnt see any mention of a trailer brake controller. Hopefully, you installed one.

I see people talking about the Red Arc. Which one is best for the Gladiator ? Thanks

 

[GeneralMaximus]

I see people talking about the Red Arc. Which one is best for the Gladiator ? Thanks

I got the Mopar one. Plug and play install. It replaces the cigarette lighter and looks stock.

 

[imallcrawl]

I tow a 3500 lb tear drop trailer and have never had a problem. Going over the mountain passes in the Tetons made it work hard, but never lacked for power. I use Air Lift 1000 HD air bags to keep it level, and switched to 75w-140 gear oil in the rear end. I do not use a WDH, but may consider doing so in the future. Overall, no complaints.

On a separate note, seeing that classical sitting position, what piece are you playing?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I see people talking about the Red Arc. Which one is best for the Gladiator ? Thanks

I've had both the MOPAR trailer brake controller and the Redarc (Australian company) controllers.
The MOPAR control knob looks more "factory" but the Redarc one can look great, too.
Both are basically plug and play.


Redarc controller knob appearance ->

MOPAR brake controller knob appearance ->

 

[JaysZJeep]

I'm actually quite impressed with the towing of this vehicle.
Last week i towed my 23 Challenger on a rented U-Haul trailer for a gross load of about 6400#
I have a 24 Mojave with pretty much stock everything and a MBRP exhaust.
Handled it no problem and got avg. 10MPG.
Set the cruise on 62 MPH and just let it do its thing,
It dropped to 3rd on a few heavy hills,

 

[Sandman 4x4]

Next time try to not use the cruise control, because it causes early a multiple downshifts. Try to just feather the gas pedal just enough to maintain your speed.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Next time try to not use the cruise control, because it causes early a multiple downshifts. Try to just feather the gas pedal just enough to maintain your speed.

I used cruise except when I hit the worst of the hills between Newton and Iowa City on I80.
What I discovered - cruise got about the same mpg as me running the whole show.
In the hills, cruise isn't good with a load and I suspect even "the book" says not to use cruise them.
Hills - I do what the big guys do - gain a bit going down and try to use that momentum to get back up the next hill - and loose a bit of speed (oh, well)

To your point - Manually running the pedal can also prevent "hunting" where it wants to constantly shift. That generates heat.

In the worst hills, I move the lever left to manual mode and run it until things settle, then put it back in automatic mode.

 

[Sandman 4x4]

I used cruise except when I hit the worst of the hills between Newton and Iowa City on I80.
What I discovered - cruise got about the same mpg as me running the whole show.
In the hills, cruise isn't good with a load and I suspect even "the book" says not to use cruise them.
Hills - I do what the big guys do - gain a bit going down and try to use that momentum to get back up the next hill - and loose a bit of speed (oh, well)

To your point - Manually running the pedal can also prevent "hunting" where it wants to constantly shift. That generates heat.

In the worst hills, I move the lever left to manual mode and run it until things settle, then put it back in automatic mode.

I must add I used CC on every downhill I encountered when tow. Then the truck sees what’s called grade engine braking. That will actually downshift to help control gaining speed.

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