Looking at a 1500 2WD 5.7 (14,000 miles) that supposedly has tow pkg. Towing an enclosed trailer (6x14) with a max weight of 3000 loaded; will the hemi pull well over hilly/mountainous terrain (without constant shifting in and out of OD)? I know the rated tow capability with the 5.7(~8000#), but test drive of veh did not seem to be a "power experience" . Anyone have a simple explanation of the (3) trans overdrive modes..... OVERDRIVE off; TOW ON, and Overdrive ON ??
Thanks

 

OD is really only designed for level, light-load travel. It's for fuel economy, not towing. Depending on how big your hills/mountains are, I wouldn't be surprised at all if you'd want/need to pull in tow/haul or even O/D off even with the relatively light weight of the trailer. Keep in mind that stuff that you carry in your truck also contributes to how much work the engine has to do.

I've pulled almost 7,000lbs of trailer + "stuff" and about 500lbs of payload in the truck with both an 1500 and 2500 4x4 QC Hemi. On the flats, I was able to run with OD. For even mild grades I'd use tow-haul to both avoid exessive shifting and so the engine wasn't bogged down. Big hills/mountains, I've gone fully OD off and even into 2nd gear. It really is a bit disconcerting to hear the engine roar at 4,000+ RPM, but... it's designed for it.

In short, your truck will easily pull 3,000lbs. Whether it will do so with/out OD is up to terrain, gearing, tire size, etc.

My understanding of the OD system is:
OD - allows 5th gear (.67 ratio)
TH - locks out 5th gear (4th is .75 ratio) and adjusts shift points
OFF - Direct-only (1.0 ratio)

 

These trucks may not feel like sports cars, But there is a hidden beast in those Hemi's.

 

Throw it in Tow/Haul mode and you won't even know the trailer is back there - especially with only 3000 lbs. I towed a small flatbed trailer with 2 Polaris Sportsman's on it. Each of them weighs over 800lbs, and the trailer is probably another 1500lbs. I couldn't even feel it there. Most of the trip was on highway, but once I got off the highway there were some good hills. It drove great.

Tow/Haul mode simply delays the shift points so you don't shift into 2nd, 3rd, etc as soon as you normally would. Also, to my knowledge, it eliminates the top gear.

 

thanks for all the input