PPV Tow/Haul setting?

[stratos934]

I know this is a dead horse and has been beaten by everyone here before. But I can't seem to locate a specific answer. I have found all the install and how to threads, which are all very informative by the way so thanks to all the guys that contributed to them. But one thing I cannot find a definitive answer on is the actual tow/haul setting for the transmission. Has anyone messed with the tuning and added an aftermarket tow/haul setting to their transmission? I haven't had the time to go into my laptop and see if I can copy a tow/haul file from let's say a civilian LT with a factory towing package and flash it to my Tahoe. Just curious if anyone here has done this, heard of it being done, or know someone who might? I know the tow/haul mode on most civilian trucks and SUVs raise the shift points and line pressures, but would simply copying that file over to a PPV and wiring in some kind of switch work? Don't feel like burning up my 4L60E in the Texas heat while pulling a 21' boat along the highway.

 

[swathdiver]

Your shifter doesn't have the tow/haul button? Some features are activated by just plugging in the right parts; like the DIC switches.

 

[stratos934]

Your shifter doesn't have the tow/haul button? Some features are activated by just plugging in the right parts; like the DIC switches.

Nope, no tow haul button on my shifter. I guess it would be worth a shot, my shifter does have a little more play than I would like it to have so I guess an upgrade wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[swathdiver]

Verify with the PPV and SSV guys before taking my word for it.

@LanceD @CrashTestDummy @rbrt43 @D_WEST @14PPVHOE @domoarigato @Cmiller @Canadrian @Lightning 95 @jmm121783 @badandyturbo @MD Tahoe 13 @Ron C @jkssv08tahoe

 

[LanceD]

I don't have a button either.

 

[domoarigato]

I believe most PPV tahoes do not have the tow package / tow hitch from the factory unless optioned in. The switch / stalk itself you can buy and wire in but you will need to have the BCM flashed for how / haul (shift line pressures are increased as well as higher revs in each gear). I am not aware of any aftermarket tunes just for towing, but there are lots of tuners (diablosport, blackbear etc) that will tune the trans for different shift line pressures.

 

[2011SSVHOE]

I might be a little rude here today, perhaps it may be the beer, but PPV's from the factory are not set up to Tow, they are strictly pursuit vehicles . They can be modified but you need a different shifter and a flash of the computer.
The tow/haul mode is a great feature I use mine on my SSV and when I tow a trailer when slowing down and hitting the brakes just right the vehicle downshifts by itself. If it don't have it and you want it buy it new. just my 2 cents

 

[swathdiver]

I might be a little rude here today, perhaps it may be the beer, but PPV's from the factory are not set up to Tow, they are strictly pursuit vehicles . They can be modified but you need a different shifter and a flash of the computer.
The tow/haul mode is a great feature I use mine on my SSV and when I tow a trailer when slowing down and hitting the brakes just right the vehicle downshifts by itself. If it don't have it and you want it buy it new. just my 2 cents

I'm surprised the programming for Tow/Haul does not already exist. Poking around the shop manual it seems everything is controlled through the BCM and not the TCM.

 

[jmm121783]

Only the six speed transmissions come with the +- button on the shifter, from what I understand this is on 2009+

 

[dmad1]

For what it's worth, I think you may be better off without the tow haul mode. A transmission guy told me that myTahoe (mine was a '12) had small tranny lines and didn't push enough fluid when towing. He said you should keep the rpms at or above 2000 and use 5 gear or lower if needed on my 6 speed tranny. That ended up being a lot easier said than done. I had to run above 65/70 mph to be at 2000 rpm while pulling my camper. I did as he said and never lost the tranny and had over 100k on it. Hoping the '17 will do the same.

 

[gpracer1]

Anything can be done. My 99 with 4L60E had no tow/haul. I upgraded to a 0411 pcm from a Chevy express van and added a momentary ground push button switch to the appropriate wire on the pcm. I have no indicator light but tow haul works. I even modified it in EFI Live to lock up the TC in second at over a certain speed along with other shift points, etc in the tow haul trans section of the tune file.

 

[CrashTestDummy]

I believe most PPV tahoes do not have the tow package / tow hitch from the factory unless optioned in. The switch / stalk itself you can buy and wire in but you will need to have the BCM flashed for how / haul (shift line pressures are increased as well as higher revs in each gear). I am not aware of any aftermarket tunes just for towing, but there are lots of tuners (diablosport, blackbear etc) that will tune the trans for different shift line pressures.

Our '10 PPV came with the factory receiver but no Tow/Haul button on the shifter. That might be something to have a look at, though, not that we tow with it. The upshift/downshift buttons (+/-) on the stalk works fine, though, especially when autocrossing.

 

[Ron C]

Hello,

don't know if this thread is 'done' but thinking of getting a new trailer for towing my Jeep. My SSV has a switch between the steering column and door, that seems to be for towing and also has the trailer switch/symbols on the shifter.

So is my SSV set up for towing a trailer with electrical brakes? and if so, how does the "trailer stuff" work on an SSV?

thanks,

Ron

 

[swathdiver]

Hello,

don't know if this thread is 'done' but thinking of getting a new trailer for towing my Jeep. My SSV has a switch between the steering column and door, that seems to be for towing and also has the trailer switch/symbols on the shifter.

So is my SSV set up for towing a trailer with electrical brakes? and if so, how does the "trailer stuff" work on an SSV?

thanks,

Ron

You mean a switch on the knee bolster below the dial for the lights? I would check your RPO sheet for JL1 and even then make sure it is connected. It has it's own module and if someone added it, had to have it programmed in the BCM.

 

[Ron C]

You mean a switch on the knee bolster below the dial for the lights? I would check your RPO sheet for JL1 and even then make sure it is connected. It has it's own module and if someone added it, had to have it programmed in the BCM.

Yes that one, near the knee bolster below the lights.

This is what my RPO sticker says.

JL1: CONTROL,INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE
VR4: TRAILER HITCH(WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING PLATFORM)
Z82: TRAILERING PACKAGE(SPECIAL)(REESE TYPE HITCH)

I doubt it was added later, also the DIC shown some things like "trailer gain" etc.

thanks,

Ron

 

[swathdiver]

Yes that one, near the knee bolster below the lights.

This is what my RPO sticker says.

JL1: CONTROL,INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE
VR4: TRAILER HITCH(WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING PLATFORM)
Z82: TRAILERING PACKAGE(SPECIAL)(REESE TYPE HITCH)

I doubt it was added later, also the DIC shown some things like "trailer gain" etc.

thanks,

Ron

You're right, all the goodies are there from the factory! Pretty cool. If you want to provide hotel power to the trailer, there is a coiled wire under your master cylinder that needs to be hooked up still to the fuse box. Otherwise it will hook up as normal and power the brakes. You can download the instructions for that in the 2013 C/K Upfitter's Guide.

 

[Ron C]

You're right, all the goodies are there from the factory! Pretty cool. If you want to provide hotel power to the trailer, there is a coiled wire under your master cylinder that needs to be hooked up still to the fuse box. Otherwise it will hook up as normal and power the brakes. You can download the instructions for that in the 2013 C/K Upfitter's Guide.

I have no idea what hotel power is. (is that for lights in covered trailer or so?)

I just want to use electric brakes, and of course brake lights etc. so that should all be working, factory.

Ron

 

[swathdiver]

I have no idea what hotel power is. (is that for lights in covered trailer or so?)

I just want to use electric brakes, and of course brake lights etc. so that should all be working, factory.

Ron

Sorry, nautical term. Hotel power is powering the interior lights, fridge, tvs and such in the trailer. You wouldn't directly power them but recharge the trailer's battery while driving in certain conditions with that additional wire hooked up. Nice to have feature. Works a little different if you have the 2nd battery wired up in the Tahoe too. Or should I say, it can work a little differently if you choose to. It's all in the Upfitter's Guide.

 

[PG01]

Also, if there is a trailer battery and you hook up the ‘hotel’ wire make sure you start run the hoe or disconnect the trailer plug from the tahoe when your parked at your final destination...it will drain your trailer battery AND the tahoe battery. That wire not only charges the trailer battery as you run the tahoe but also will drain it and the tahoe battery if the truck is not running.

 

[Ron C]

Sorry, nautical term. Hotel power is powering the interior lights, fridge, tvs and such in the trailer. You wouldn't directly power them but recharge the trailer's battery while driving in certain conditions with that additional wire hooked up. Nice to have feature. Works a little different if you have the 2nd battery wired up in the Tahoe too. Or should I say, it can work a little differently if you choose to. It's all in the Upfitter's Guide.

Ah, I kind of figured that, for running lights etc in the trailer. I am going to start using the Tahoe to pull a fairly good size trailer, to tow my 79 CJ5 around with. (looking at an 18ft dual axle trailer with brakes). So I don't really need a dual battery setup. Also, the Jeep has a dual battery setup, more abou that later.