Does anyone use Tow / Haul mode for driving in the mountains without a load?

[johnitahoe]

I'm curious if driving in the mountains warrants using Tow / Haul Mode? Additionally, at what load point would you consider using it?

I recently had problems with the vehicle bucking going up hills with what I thought was an average load.

Any negatives to driving in Tow / Haul mode other than using more fuel?

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[Tom_C]

I use tow mode in the mountains with or without a load or trailer. It saves from riding the brakes going downhill. I don't know any detriment in doing it.

 

[RangerBill]

The bucking might be caused by a bad EGR DPFE pressure sensor. It is an easy fix, as the sensor is about $20 at Rock Auto. It could also be an engine misfire.

 

[Grumpaw]

There are NO negatives to using the tow/haul mode ALL the time. I use it for everyday driving....its the first button I push when starting up.
In regular drive with a load, up hill, what you are describing is normal , depending on speed. If low speed than the trans will "hunt and search".
Tow just is a reprogram for the trans to work more efficiently, under load or towing.
Do not be afraid to use it for normal day to day operation....you won't hurt anything.

 

[Motorpsychology]

10-4 on using Tow/Haul in mountains or hilly terrain. T/H does a decent job of retarding speed going downhill, so you don't have to ride the brakes as much. I also use it in the "canyons" of urban traffic, when normal Drive wants to run 28mph in 7th gear.

You can shift into, or out from T/H at any speed.

IMHO, T/H should be the default shift protocol, and what is the standard one should be an optional "Economy" mode.

 

[mre]

I use tow/haul all the time. I didn't like the shifting protocol. I feel it just drives better and is more responsive. Another thing that I believe smoothed out the ride is premium fuel. I live in Central Florida where it gets very hot and humid. I purchased my truck in January 2022 when the weather is cooler and a little dryer. I used regulator fuel then. Once summer came around, I noticed that the engine ran a little rough and just didn't feel right. It was more noticeable going when accelerating from a stop position. I started using premium and all that went away.

 

[Spacenut]

I like the 10 speed performance way better in tow mode for most my driving.

 

[Grandaccess]

I drive in (S) mode, Sport, all the time it towing or not, does about the same thing keeping your RPMs higher between shifts
when in (S) mode it also dont start/stop at lights and I noticed the tow button dont do anything or even the light come on, all 3 ways does not seem to effect MPG

 

[Joeiconic]

I drive in mountains all the time in normal mode and have never experienced “bucking”, so I suspect you’re requiring service.

 

[Grandaccess]

mountains? of Georgia? OP is in Lake Tahoe these guys are talking 15,000 feet not 1500 the tallest we have on the east coast is Fancy Gap at 3700
ass pucker starts at 8000 when your trailer weighs 3/4s of the truck in the winter

 

[Joeiconic]

5300 ft. elevation just up the road in WNC (Hooper Bald). Brasstown Bald in Ga is almost 5000 ft. Amicalola Falls in N. Georgia is only about 2500 ft., but the road in is on a 25% grade. The road where my cabin is located climbs 1000 ft. on a 13% grade. I understand that elevation effects performance, but it doesn’t have to be 15,000 ft to be steep.

 

[Grandaccess]

I lived in GA for a decade I never thought of it as more than hilly?
even here in NY I am about 1800 (above sea level) so I am only 1000 above my valley , to me thats just a hill

 

[jflogerzi]

I drive in (S) mode, Sport, all the time it towing or not, does about the same thing keeping your RPMs higher between shifts
when in (S) mode it also dont start/stop at lights and I noticed the tow button dont do anything or even the light come on, all 3 ways does not seem to effect MPG

sport mode is a bit to aggressive for daily but tow haul is a good middle ground. normal just sucks all time

 

[Tom_C]

My only beef with normal drive mode is that it wants to hang out in 7th when it should be in 4th, but I've gotten used to taping the pedal to make it shift.

Tow mode would fix that, but I only use it when in the mountains, or, when actually towing.

 

[Joeiconic]

I lived in GA for a decade I never thought of it as more than hilly?
even here in NY I am about 1800 (above sea level) so I am only 1000 above my valley , to me thats just a hill

Georgia is mostly hilly, but north Ga is at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and The Great Smokies, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Grandfather Mtn (6000 ft.), Mt. Mitchell (6800 ft) and others are just a day trip away. Highlands NC is just across the state line and the town itself sits at about 4200 ft. When I said I was in the mountains a lot, I didn’t mean just Ga. ?

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