Towing with a 4L60E

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

rockola1971

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Posts
2,386
Reaction score
3,000
Location
Indiana (formerly IL)
Original tranny, as far as I can tell, so not quite 111k miles. The CarFax didn't have anything on it about the tranny, and I didn't get any other type of maintenance records. When I had it serviced they dropped the pan and changed the filter and fluid.
Then you are dancing with the devil towing AND messing with mountains to boot.
 
OP
OP
Fless

Fless

Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 2, 2017
Posts
10,467
Reaction score
20,796
Location
Elev 5,280
Check your Tahoe to see if in OD tow/haul mode if the RPM's match 3rd gear or 4th(OD) gear when in 4th(OD). I just do NOT recommend driving in 4th(OD) at all when towing on anything more than completely flat road and for the most part dont even recommend doing it then. A tranny with 110K will lose 2nd and 4th(OD) because the 2-4 band started slipping and burnt up while towing up and down a mountain.

I'll do that rpm test; is it valid to do it when not towing? Just using tow/haul?

So I'm just confirming that the 4th/OD gearing is working in tow/haul, right?

I'm sure I'll spend a bunch of time in 3rd gear since almost none of this trip will be on flat road.
 

rockola1971

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Posts
2,386
Reaction score
3,000
Location
Indiana (formerly IL)
I'll do that rpm test; is it valid to do it when not towing? Just using tow/haul?

So I'm just confirming that the 4th/OD gearing is working in tow/haul, right?

I'm sure I'll spend a bunch of time in 3rd gear since almost none of this trip will be on flat road.
Can do RPM test with no tow load.
Its to confirm whether your PCM is programmed to keep OUT OF 4th(OD) or it just prevents hunting back and forth between 3rd and 4th. I prefer to stay in 3rd.
Staying in 3rd will keep from burning up your 2-4 band since 3rd does not use the band.
 
OP
OP
Fless

Fless

Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 2, 2017
Posts
10,467
Reaction score
20,796
Location
Elev 5,280
Can do RPM test with no tow load.
Its to confirm whether your PCM is programmed to keep OUT OF 4th(OD) or it just prevents hunting back and forth between 3rd and 4th. I prefer to stay in 3rd.
Staying in 3rd will keep from burning up your 2-4 band since 3rd does not use the band.

Good advice; not sure if it locks it out but will find out.
 

dpollak81

Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2022
Posts
46
Reaction score
52
Location
Lincoln, CA
we towed our 5k lb apex travel trailer with our old 05 Yukon a lot with close to 200k miles on it and it never skipped a beat. We towed a lot of mountain areas too. Original transmission and the fluid had been flushed twice in its life I think. Use tow/haul and if you are going up hill don’t push it pass 55.

I would highly recommend a weight distributing hitch. Ours ran nice and level with one and towed like a champ!
 
OP
OP
Fless

Fless

Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 2, 2017
Posts
10,467
Reaction score
20,796
Location
Elev 5,280
The trailer I'm renting may or may not have the WDH. The owner has two campers that are nearly identical; one with, and one without the WDH, and I'll get what's available. I'm not too worried about the tongue weight.
 

rockola1971

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2016
Posts
2,386
Reaction score
3,000
Location
Indiana (formerly IL)
The trailer I'm renting may or may not have the WDH. The owner has two campers that are nearly identical; one with, and one without the WDH, and I'll get what's available. I'm not too worried about the tongue weight.
The weight Distribution hitch has a "special" hitch that slides into your receiver. The hitch has built in adapters that receive torsion bars that extend to the tongue of the towed vehicle. The towed vehicle tongue will have receive adapters that are a part of the WDH and come with the WDH. These adapters clamp to the the tongue over half between the tongue ball receiver and the front of the actual camper. So about 4ft behind the tongue ball receiver. The adapters attach to chains that are mounted on the end of the torsion bars. As you adjust the tension on the chains by putting a certain link of the chain on the hook of the adapters and then lock down the adapters this causes the torsion bars to take on weight and lift the tongue of the towed item up which transfers weight OFF of the towing vehicle and onto the axles of the towed item (camper). This greatly reduces swaying and chance for a jackknife situation. Attached is a picture to help it all make more sense. @Fless
 

Attachments

  • curt wdh.jpg
    curt wdh.jpg
    45.7 KB · Views: 5
Last edited:
OP
OP
Fless

Fless

Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 2, 2017
Posts
10,467
Reaction score
20,796
Location
Elev 5,280
Yes, I've used them before on larger campers. Not sure if the one I'm renting will have the WDH but if it does, I'll use it. The two campers the guy has to rent are identical (he says) except that one has the WDH and the other doesn't. I know enough to have good tongue weight and having the camper level or a little nose down to prevent sway as much as possible. EDIT I guess I already said that.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
129,220
Posts
1,812,328
Members
92,321
Latest member
rick3645
Top