Kurt R

Not an Allison, but the newer 6L80 in the 1500 or 6L90 in the 2500 and 3500. Does it use all 6 gears in tow/haul mode, or not? Does it constantly shift up and down, or will it pick a gear and stay in it? How about in manual mode?

I test drove a 2500HD last night and I liked how it ran, but of course I wasn't towing anything.

Veloce Raptor

I have this transmission in my 2011 Yukon XL 2500, and I tow with it. Seems to find the right gear without a problem. I only use tow/haul mode when navigating steeper terrain, especially at lower speeds and/or in traffic.

Charles A. Toupin

Agreed. I towed last weekend with a 2011 2500hd 6.0L gasser and I really liked it. Much better than my 5.3L 1500. Gearbox seems quite robust and it was not hunting gears. And in the tow mode, when going downhill, it blips the throttle and use uses compression to help slow the truck.

I use the tow mode just like VR uses it.

But it is much harsher than a 1500 to use as a daily driver. I wonder if the diesel version is as harsh as the gasser...

c.

f1rocks

My diesel is a bruiser....fortunately my commute is short enough but I prefer driving anything but the dually most days to work!

James Achard

I can't comment on the Chevy 6 speed but I do tow with a 6 speed manual Toyota and am very happy.

I never understood why so many folks buy a tow vehicle with a crazy engine only to have that engine married to a slushbox. One doesn't see 18 wheelers with slushboxes for good reason.

Get the manual 6 speed..

Veloce Raptor

Yeah, I only use tow/hauul sparingly downhill. While it does a prettty cool throttle blip on the automatic downshift, IMO it uses too much compression braking (and RPM) for the task. Perhaps if I lived in a much hillier area, it might be more useful for me...

Rceron

I have 2010 Yukon Denali (6.2L) and agree with all the comments above.

Kurt R

Thanks everyone for the comments. Headed to Minneapolis this weekend, I may look at a couple others. This won't be a daily driver, and I am having a hard time justifying the expense for a truck that will sit in the driveway approximately 330 days a year. But I've had my current truck 9 years now, I have the itch for something different.

I didn't believe it until I read the OT thread - but the only full size pickup with a manual transmission is a Dodge Ram with a Diesel. Everything else is automatic. You can still get a small truck with a manual, but that's not what I'm looking for.

IcemanG17

I tow with my 2010 Chevy 1500 2WD quite often....I have tow package on the 5.3 engine (3.42 gears)....it tows GREAT....the cylinder de-activation really saves gas!!!

Towing my racer on a double axle open trailer (say 5000lbs) I get about 15mpg on flat terrain...if I am following diesels or a friend with an enclosed trailer I get over 19mpg....all at 60-65mph

I use "tow" mode whenever I pull......it works great....it does delay the upshift into 6th gear until over 70mph....which I rarely go when towing.....so I am getting great mileage in 5th gear! Tow mode also downshifts, sometimes quite aggresively if you are braking hard.... I check the trans temps & have never seen more than about 190F....even on the hottest days

I did use tow mode during a camping trip....but 5 peoople and a bed full of gear is a bit of weight too....

allen_skillicorn

It's tough finding moderate duty trucks with manuals. Last night I searched ebay for trucks with manuals. I only found 3. 2 diesels and one dually gasser. I would love an extended cab 1500/2500 truck with a midsized v8 and a manual, but they are rare. Same with an ecoboost F150. I don't trust slushboxes much and it's unsettling feeling my trans downshift at times.

The only stick shift v8 SUV's I've ever seen are the LR Disco and the Cayenne. I would avoid one like the plague and can't justify the cost of the other...

Allen Skillicorn

993tt_hojc

I just came back from the open road race in nebraska, towing my 993 in an open trailer, total weight of about 5500lbs. I pulled it with a mercedes ML350 bluetech. I managed 16 mpg with an average speed of 75 mph over 2300 miles (calgary to arnold nebraska). Most of the time the cruise was set at 80mph. The transmission didnt have any problems in 7th gear except for really big hills where it would go to 5th gear.

mooty

2009 GMC 2500 HD duramax
using tow haul mode, 36' GN. it will not hunt for gears. stays put no prob.
not harsh. i use it as DD over my BWM and cayenne.

Doc GTO

I had an 09 Chevy 3500 Duramax an it only hunted between 5th and 6th on hilly terrain but never unlocked the TC. Allison though.

The 6L90 tranny is also used in the Caddie CTS-V so it can handle plenty of power. We have guys making 550-650 RWHP in those babies and they don't blink an eye.