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Tractor Pulling Discussion Forum

Hauling question

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JD-G

05-19-2004 07:25:01

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I just bought my first truck since I've been in the hobby. It's a 1991 Dodge D250 automatic. I wanted to make sure I didn't mess anything up when hauling a load. It's got the overdrive button on the dash and I wasn't sure when to leave this turned on versus off. So far I've been told to always leave it on unless going up steep hills and I've been told to always turn it off when pulling anything. Can someone tell me how I should use this when I'm pulling an empty trailer versus loaded? I didn't want to burn up transmission. Thanks in advance for any help.

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maxpuller

05-20-2004 19:04:37

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Re: Hauling question in reply to JD-G, 05-19-2004 07:25:01

I've had several Dogde P/Us with the Cummins and auto trans, I've always used the overdrive when towing on the main roads where I can mantain a constant speed, in traffic or city I turn it off. I have always serviced the trans. in the spring and fall of the year with Amsoil synthetic auto trans oil with one bottle of friction modifier, always shifts like new with over 100,000 miles of towing never any problems and I have a big right foot.

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RoyG

05-20-2004 00:25:27

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Re: Hauling question in reply to JD-G, 05-19-2004 07:25:01

I have a 95 with CDC deisel engine. I had to go into the Transmission at 221,000 miles. Front planatary carrier busted. Replaced it witha steel one. This truck has led most of it'ts life pulling a 35ft gooseneck with three tractors and pulling weights. I always use the OD buth let up on it when it gets ready to shift and service it every 30,000 miles. Temp gauge in trans shows cooler running in OD.

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G-MAN

05-20-2004 07:49:30

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Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to RoyG, 05-20-2004 00:25:27

That unit has a lock-up converter, correct? That's probably why it runs cooler when in OD and locked up - no converter slippage, which is the main heat generator in an auto. I agree about the reliability of the Cummins autos. My cousin has a tree-shearing business, and has beat his '99 pretty much relentlessly towing a big flatbed with a Bobcat and shear on it, etc. I've never heard him complain of problems with the auto. Sure, you can tear them up if you abuse them, but you can tear out a clutch too.

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Andyt

05-19-2004 09:58:44

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Re: Hauling question in reply to JD-G, 05-19-2004 07:25:01

I have a 92 W 250 cummins with 3.55 gears. I tow bobcat and tractors constantly. I keep it in drive under 60 MPH and when in hills or wind. I change fluid and filter with ATF plus three every year,(about 20,000 miles) It has 175,000 miles on it. the only tranny problem I had was the throttle position sensor which is not related to towing,(ungodly expensive little part).

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G-MAN

05-19-2004 07:43:46

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Re: Hauling question in reply to JD-G, 05-19-2004 07:25:01

Is this a Cummins truck or a gas-burner? I pulled car trailers and the like with my '92 Dodge 250 Cummins 4x4 with the A518 auto and never had any problems in overdrive once up to speed. It never seemed to have the tendency to "hunt" gears like some overdrive autos do. The Cummins version of that tranny has a beefier overdrive planetary. Plus, that button only locks out overdrive so the trans can't go into overdrive. With it off, it won't prevent the tranny from downshifting to drive when it needs to. They improved the cooling on those autos a bunch over the earlier 3-speed autos, with a engine-coolant cooled tranny cooler AND another cooler mounted in front of the radiator. Heat is the number one enemy of an auto. If you're constantly up and down steep hills where the tranny is constantly going from drive to OD and vice-versa, I'd say lock it out. On slight hills and flat-land towing, let it go into overdrive. There's no sense spinning that engine faster than you have to, and a Cummins has more than enough torque to keep you moving right along. I would recommend a good transmission filter and oil change and band adjustment. I think Dodge recommends it every 30,000 miles or so. I had one done at the Dodge dealer back in the day when my truck was still in warranty, and I think it ran me $70. Money well spent when dealing with a very expensive automatic trans, in my opinion.

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JD-G

05-19-2004 08:12:15

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Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to G-MAN, 05-19-2004 07:43:46

Unfortunately, it's a 360 gas V8 instead of the cummins. Would you still recommend the same thing for it?

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paul

05-19-2004 08:32:58

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Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to JD-G, 05-19-2004 08:12:15

Im a service manager for a large dodge dealership,under no circumstances use the overdrive when pulling a load such as a tractor the transmissions in the dodge products are weak to say the least change the fluid and filter at least every 1500 miles and you should have no problems.Paul.

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Stroker G

05-23-2004 19:39:35

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to paul, 05-19-2004 08:32:58

Hey Paul,

I have a 97 3500 and I'm getting abs and the brake light coming on. Can you help me?

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Ken C.

05-19-2004 20:02:20

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to paul, 05-19-2004 08:32:58

These weak tranny's you are talking about, are the new dodge trucks, 03 and 04 tranny's any better, they keep making more and more horsepower in these cummins engines, something has got to give up. I have an 03, have'nt had any problems yet. Are there any mod's that can be made to them to improve the trans. Thanks Ken.

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Jason

05-20-2004 05:14:53

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to Ken C., 05-19-2004 20:02:20

Yes Ken, the new ones are a redesign of the same thing. They claim to be much better we will see in time.

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G-MAN

05-19-2004 10:40:46

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to paul, 05-19-2004 08:32:58

1500 miles? More often than you change engine oil?

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Chris

05-19-2004 16:48:51

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to G-MAN, 05-19-2004 10:40:46

Pretty sure he left off a 0 in the 1500

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Jason

05-19-2004 09:13:15

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to paul, 05-19-2004 08:32:58

I also work for a large tranny shop, doing nothing but bench building automatics. I can say this is a very weak tranny, (expensive too) when used to tow alot. That overdrive section on the back of the unit can cost over 500 in parts alone to overhaul. Even the straight cut planaterys in the diesel version are prone to failure, (not enough lube). So take it from someone who does this every day, tow in overdrive and all the tranny shops will love seeing you!

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Jerry

05-19-2004 16:37:15

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to Jason, 05-19-2004 09:13:15

I get a lot better milage with my Dodge 5.2 if I trailer with the O.D. off.

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TransMan

05-19-2004 22:28:39

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to Jerry, 05-19-2004 16:37:15

I also work in a trans shop. Chrysler corp. has
never been known to have a good transmission.
They all have their problems but Chrysler/Dodge is the worst. Don't use OD while towing. They don't live that long anyway and they need all the help they can get.

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Jerry B

05-20-2004 06:05:59

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to TransMan, 05-19-2004 22:28:39

I have to take exception that that broad statement about Mopar's and never having a good transmission. It is a well known fact that the 727 Torque Flight trans is the strongest 3 speed auto. It is even better than the the Turbo 400 Chevy used years ago. Drag racers don't like them very much because it takes a lot of money to upgrade with performance parts, but some do it and do well with them.

Even the little 904 trans was good, but because it was lighter, it was used in places to save weight. This did save weight making the vehicle lighter but, it sacrificed service life of the trans in doing so.

It is my understanding, from talking with a friend who owns and runs a transmission shop, that the OD trans in the Dodge trucks is the 904 with several modifications to make it computer controlled. The OD unit was added at the rear rather than being built into the system in order to simplify constuction and allow the continued use of pre-exsisting parts rather than have to design and build entirely new series of parts and transmissions. Perhaps they should have, but that is hind sight.

Yes Chrylser should have gone with the 747 version rather than the 904, but to say ALL their transmissions are not good is strecthing things way too far.

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G-MAN

05-20-2004 07:46:41

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Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Hauling question in reply to Jerry B, 05-20-2004 06:05:59

I agree. The TorqueFlite was one of the strongest autos ever built, right there with the TH400 and maybe a little better. The TH gets the nod for commonality and swapability, though.

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