I towed with my truck for the first time this past weekend. My camper weighs around 1700 pounds. In the tow/haul mode the temperature climbs like crazy and even nearly hit the red line.

I turned off the tow/haul and the temperature decreased to a normal level almost instantly. I also noticed the same thing with the AC unit on and the tow/haul on or off.

This was all during some serious climbing up the highway with the 1700 lbs. trailer. Any idea what might be going on? Coolant was changed last weekend.

 

v6 v8? can you hear the fan clutch engaged? (loud like a semi truck)

i drive around town with tow/haul on, no load, AC, in vegas, and my temp averages a tit above half mark. so i could imagine a trailer up a grade...

 

I've been pulling with mine for 3 years now and have never even made the temp gauge move! I've got the v8 with 4.10's and we don't have major hills but I tow an enclosed sometimes in some serious wind and i've never had temp issues...?

 

Sorry for the lack of information. I have a 2005 V8 with factory installed tow package. I did hear an odd whine at one point that sounded like a fan out of whack. It sounded like a motorcycle driving at it's limit on the highway. High pitched sound of something working hard.

But my truck didn't have any lack of power or anything. Just this noise every so often and the temp climbing like crazy. I didn't see the temp climb while hauling up a pass two days later. So I don't what was going on. This is my first automatic I've driven so I'm not used to all the shifting and noises occurring when I don't tell it to.

 

i have towed that much w my v-6 and temp gauge did not move from normal.

 

You might wanna get that fan clutch checked out. I was just pulling a load of scrap lumber to the dump in 99 degrees with A/C in tow/haul mode no problem. Temp guage
stayed just under half. But I've never pulled 1700 lbs.

 

I have a V6 with out the trans cooler and have never seen the temp gauge move I tow around 1500lb-1600lb hilly area I don't even use the tow/haul most of the time,

the sound you hear kicking in and out is the fan spinning up. and is normal when the truck is working hard, you will also sometimes hear this when you first start the truck. but only for a few seconds before it gears down and isn't notice-able.

I would def get it looked at if it's getting that hot, something isn't right.
Mabye switch to a synthedic oil or change the oil weight this may also help.