I just picked up my Ram QC 1500 Hemi about a month ago. This past weekend I finally got to take my boat out fishing (150 miles round trip). When I had cruse control set at 65 the rpm would range from 2700, then drop to 2000 and at times drop to 1800. Thats with all buttons set to normal. I was averaging 12.3 mpg. So I started playing with the tow/haul button and the rpms would be the same at 65mph. I was wondering if someone could explain to me what the function is for and when to use it? Thanks for any info you may have to throw my way.

Thanks,
Robert

 

I'm pretty sure that tow/haul mode takes away the fifth gear in the transmission. That leaves you with four gears more spread out in the RPM range (so the truck isn't constantly seeking between gears). Using it is for when your truck is going between gears often, which is usually caused by towing/hauling on hilly terrain.

 

Thanks for the reply squat. The entire trip was on flat straight roads. So I should turn the tow/haul button on anytime I'm towing to eliminate the 5th gear? Also by turning on the tow/haul button does it turn off the MDS?

Thanks again!!
Robert

 

I'M PRETTY SURE TOW/HAUL CHANGES SHIFT POINTS TO A LATER POINT . BUT THERE IS STILL A 5TH GEAR. O/D OFF WILL HAVE NO 5TH GEAR. BOTH SETTINGS WILL DISENGAGE MDS. IF YOUR TOWING ON FLAT SURFACE I WOULD LET COMPUTER DO THE SHIFTING FOR BETTER MPG. YOU COULD BE FEELING THE LOCK-UP CONVERTER KICKING IN AND OUT,

 

I just brought my book out to the truck to turn off the god awful seat belt chime (page 44 06 Manual). If I remember correctly, one setting axes 5th and the other 4th and 5th ....... arrrgh hell .. let me get my flip flops on ... right back ..

See page 298 of the 06 Ram owners manual. with tow/haul selected (button pushed once) ..."5th gear (if equipped) is disabled and 2-3 and 3-4 shif patterns are modified. Pressing the "TOW/HAUL O/D OFF" button a second time" .... " will disable 4th and 5th gear completely."

Basically, both are used to eliminate excessive shifting. Install a tru-cool (2nd) tranny cooler and dont worry about overheating ...

 

hey im goin on my first road trip with the mega cab (2500 miles) tx to wa with 6000 lbs trailer and i pulled out my build sheet and it said i have aux trans cooler and heavy duty engine cooling ,would i still need to add another cooler?? from what dealer said not all megas come with aux trans cooler!!

 

You can look, it sits just in front of the Radiator. I put a trucool 40gcw in my 05 shown in the avatar just to be on the safe side. When I get the chance, I will probably do it on this one too.

 

A second transmission cooler is a good option on any auto transmision car/truck. Now back on subject. The tow/haul feature plays a dual roll. On the 06 ram it does not let the transmission shift into 5th gear, it does not allow the torque converter to lock up and it disables MDS. Pressing it a second times does all the above, plus one more, it does not let the transmission shift into 4th gear. So in short you have an an expensive back in the day 3-speed auto. This feature can be used around town in stop and go trafic were you do not want the transmission shifting all over the place. This is were i use mine the most. Now on the 02-05 it does all the above expect you only have to press it once, and there in no MDS, so it takes away fifth gear and does not allow the torgue converter to lock up, also with the tow/haul button pressed when the pedal is pressed over 1/4 of the way of travel at engine speeds below 1800 rpms it drops back to 3rd gear..nice when towing or hauling heavy loads on flat ground or in the hills.

 

so if it doesnt let the tourqe converter lock ,you tellin me it will allow it to slip all the time? slip all the time? so bad gas milage and lots of heat!!!! makes no sense unless im talking out of my fourth point of contact( WHICH HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN I WOULD LIKE!!) and why 50 mph for the first 500 mls while towing? i understand breaking things in ,but gears already heat treated and 3000 miles on it?

 

ANYONE!!!!!!!