Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

I usually tow my td with my 98 Dodge Dakota (v6, auto)in Overdrive and shut the OD off if I notice it shifting up and down. The pickup doesn't even seem to notice that the td is behind it. Usually try to remember to switch the overdrive off when towing my car trailer and racecar(950lb trailer, 2200lb racecar). Don't have auxilary trans cooler.

s4son wrote:I would like to hear from any Honda Elements owners about their towing experiences. I don't think they have overdrive on the automatics but any stories, good or bad, would be appreciated.

Scott F.

Scott, I have towed my tear with an Element. Use of overdrive is up to you. It depends on the conditions. Most times on the freeway o/d on was fine. In the hills just turn it of, the trans will hunt for gears less and be more responsive.

My current car has six forward gears, but none are overdrive gears.

I used to have a GMC Jimmy, with 4.3 and 4-speed auto, and that truck overheated without any trailer. My S10 with the 4.3 and a five-speed manual would not tow my boat above 4th gear -- 5th was an overdrive, and the engine just couldn't do it in 5th.

If towing with an automatic, most don't lock the converter till you're in OD (the newer computer controlled will on some models) so towing in OD generates less heat in the tranny. The converter is the largest source of heat and if it stays locked you're better off. Some models lock the converter in 3rd and towing that way generates less heat. If you tow with an auto, change the fluid and filter more often.

Wow, when I replied to this post I hadn't towed the tear much. Now I have a few thousand miles on it. I use O/D when towing, only when decending long grades do I take it out.

I DO pull in "overdrive" 5th gear. Its a stick shift. And i do not have a cooler on my tranny. Should i?

asianflava wrote:Wow, when I replied to this post I hadn't towed the tear much. Now I have a few thousand miles on it. I use O/D when towing, only when decending long grades do I take it out.

Hey Rocky, Will your new tow vehicle pull a tear in O.D.?

I think it will.

I tow with a hond odyssey... my next gear down from 5th, is 3rd on the shift lever... I let the transmission decide... on level, at 65 mph, it stays in 5th, on minor hills it drops to 4th... on very steep hills, it will go to 3rd, and about 3,500 rpm... I then slow to 55, and it goes back into 4th till I get over the hill....

No transmission problems in 90k miles.. I do have a big aftermarket trans cooler (not the wimpy honda cooler)... no fluid burn.... trans still seems pretty good.. have towed about 30k miles.... I'm happy with it.

*Lurker chiming in*
I've got a 1996 S10 Blazer with 4.3 V6 and a tow package. I haul a 6x12 converted cargo trailer. As mentioned previously, when in OD the transmission will "hunt" between 3 and 4, even on mild rises. Hence, I do not use OD when towing that trailer. I also have a 4x8 Snow Bear that I use to haul an ATV. I hardly notice the thing is back there and running in OD is just about the same as without the trailer. Maintaining 75 mph speed limits uphill is just fine (unlike with the 6x12).

My owners manual does recommend not using OD when trailering.

--
Grover
*thinking of delurking now that I see the Cargo Trailer forum *

I pull all of my Trailers's with an 06 Nissan Fronteer that has a 2.5, 4 banger in it, with a 5 speed stick shift. I tow the Teardrops in 5th gear almost all the time. But on a big hill the truck has let me know it wants a lower gear.



Now the Shasta, with the same truck gets towed most of the time in 4th gear.

Happy Trails

Len