[kthrash]

How do you tow??

On a few recent trips I have experimented with Towing to see fuel mileage results..

Towing a Flat Trailer with Furniture on it in 4th with Tow Mode on I got 10-11 MPG

Towing a Flat Trailer Empty in OverDrive with Tow Mode on I got 16-17 MPG

Towing a Jeep on a Car Hauler with Tow Mode on in 4th I got 10 MPG

Is there any detriment to towing in OverDrive with Tow Mode on with a heavy load 6000-6500 lbs?

 

[Armadaof1]

You should be good to tow in Overdrive. Since overdrive is just a gear with less than 1:1 ratio, it shouldn't make a difference unless you are lugging the engine. And I haven't seen any warnings about this.

The tow mode is some advanced logic to delay shift points to avoid too many shifts and lugging the engine. Unless you are in the hills/mountains, should be fine.

Pretty impressive difference using fourth versus fifth.

 

[scr38]

How do you tow??

On a few recent trips I have experimented with Towing to see fuel mileage results..

Towing a Flat Trailer with Furniture on it in 4th with Tow Mode on I got 10-11 MPG

Towing a Flat Trailer Empty in OverDrive with Tow Mode on I got 16-17 MPG

Towing a Jeep on a Car Hauler with Tow Mode on in 4th I got 10 MPG

Is there any detriment to towing in OverDrive with Tow Mode on with a heavy load 6000-6500 lbs?

I recently made a heavy tow with good results. I was towing a flatbed trailer with a 7 ft X 18 ft bed loaded with stone. The gross load was close to the maximum. The trailer was rated at 10,000 lbs, and it was well loaded. I towed the load 225 miles, from central Texas to the Guilf coast, about a third of the distance was in hills. The Armada, with the tow package, had no problems at all. I towed the load at 60 MPH, in ovedrive on cruise control. I was very impressed how easily my Armada handled the load. I will try to attach pictures.

 

[m4ck]

Wow I know that is a real load. My brother works for a Hardscape company they sell the pavers and pond kits to contractors to install. That stone is awfull heavy. I guarantee that was a true test for the Armada. Good job man and nice picture of the Armada looks good.
M4ck

 

[scr38]

I may go get another load this weekend. The stone was left over after my son built his house near Dripping Springs, TX (about 20 miles west of Austin) He was going to have to pay someone to haul it away. I use the stone for landscape work at my home. Since there is no stone/rock near the coast where I live it is very expensive here. I got only about 25% on the first load, so I am going back for more.
I got 10-11 MPG towing this load, with the AC on. I go to trade shows almost every weekend, with my Armada loaded with several hundred pounds of goods. I always have the AC on, drive 75 MPH, and get 15.5 MPG with regular gas.
The only engine mod is the addition of a K&N filter, but I am seriously considering the Volant filter set up and the Banks 3" exhaust system.

 

[m4ck]

You will like the Volant I have had it for about 4 days now and love it.
M4ck

 

[EightmanVT]

How do you tow??

On a few recent trips I have experimented with Towing to see fuel mileage results..

Towing a Flat Trailer with Furniture on it in 4th with Tow Mode on I got 10-11 MPG

Towing a Flat Trailer Empty in OverDrive with Tow Mode on I got 16-17 MPG

Towing a Jeep on a Car Hauler with Tow Mode on in 4th I got 10 MPG

Is there any detriment to towing in OverDrive with Tow Mode on with a heavy load 6000-6500 lbs?

The only reason you'd want to take it out of overdrive is if you start noticing excessive shifting, which ...with heavy loads...can heat up the transmission. I tow my 6500 lb boat...and keep it in overdrive....but with tow mode on...which keeps me in the lower gear longer and it tows the boat with ease....although...I think if I was in the mountains...or significant hills...I'd probably keep it in 4th...

 

[Keith]

I pull this every weekend

She weighs in at just shy 0f 6,000 lbs. I've pulled it hundreds of miles at a time with no problems at all. I DO NOT use Overdrive, it will lug the engine and will heat up the tranny too much.

 

[kthrash]

I have to disagree with this, i just got back from a 900 mile round trip towing my Jeep (pic is above) and the Armada never lugged and the tranny never got over mid level according to the guage and I ran it in OverDrive the whole way until I got in the mountains. I will admit there is no difference in the fuel milage running in OD or 4th. both times I have calculated out at 10mpg or thereabouts running 75-80Mph DOT.

 

[umytbnext]

Added a pintle to my Class IV hitch, the Tronair B-767 towbars just don't fit over a ball hitch anymore. I'm definately using overdrive, but only getting about 5 mpg. Can't get much above 55mph though....

 

[umytbnext]

Just though I'd bump this to show off my silly photo.

 

[SeanFromTX]

Added a pintle to my Class IV hitch, the Tronair B-767 towbars just don't fit over a ball hitch anymore. I'm definately using overdrive, but only getting about 5 mpg. Can't get much above 55mph though....

I see that the flaps are up which is correct, but you're getting 5mpg and unable to exceed 55mph because you forgot to take off the 767's parking brake.

 

[EightmanVT]

That's a great pic!!

 

[umytbnext]

Correct, I always tow a 767 with flaps up - less drag.

And yes, I will admit, my Armada will not pull the 767 when the parking brake is set.

 

[Ymryl]

I pulled a 22 foot camper all summer and just traded it in for a 29' trailer. I tow with overdrive off and with the tow mode on (with the bigger camper. Didn't really need to with the smaller one). The 28 RS-S weighs in at almost 6,000 lbs lightly loaded (meaning full twin 30 gallon propane tanks, a little water in the fresh water tank and the usual "stuff" packed inside) and max's out at 7,000. The Armada pulls it extremely well which really pisses off the "you have to have a dually diesel to pull anything bigger than a pop-up" guys. There are many folks out there that were forced to trade in their F150's and similar truckls because they couldn't handle the load of the 28. Gotta love the power that this engine and drive train put out. SHIFT_screw the big three...