Need advice on towing 1,000 pound total weight boat & trailor from NJ to Florida

The problem with overdrive is that, on hills, the engine will be downshifting into 3rd, then back to 4th. It's doing this because you're using too much throttle (in it's estimation) to maintain your speed in 4th. This hunting back and forth is what's bad for the transmission. I-95 is pretty flat, so I wouldn't worry about pulling with overdrive on (especially with only 1,000lbs. Ever have the van full of people and cargo, and run in overdrive? Same deal...). If you notice the transmission downshifting into

No - but the constant shifting, combined with the torque converter unlocking, will raise the temperature of the transmission. That's why you want to lock out OD if that starts happening.

You're being prudent, but there's a bit of paranoia starting to creep in. Just hook it up, drive it, and be mindful of the transmission. You'll be fine.

Tom, Thankds for the info, and reality check. I really appreciate you taking the time to fill me in. Mike

I"d sure look into a trans. temp cooler.

It's got to be less expensive than a new transmission.

J.

"" wrote: > Tom, > Thankds for the info, and reality check. I really appreciate > you > taking the time to fill me in. > Mike > > > "Tom Lawrence" wrote in > message > news:%FsPe.2007$ snipped-for-privacy@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net... > >> One guy posted here recently that the transmissons in > Caravans aren't all > >> that great, and if you tow with one, don't use overdrive, > which mine has. > >

if your really worried about it just change the tranny fluid when your done. but 1000lbs might as well be 4 big guys in your van.