2005 Auto, V6, 4spd, Leave in 3rd for hills???

Live44MX · #1 09-08-2005, 03:25 PM

My Truck is a new 2005 Dodge 1500 single cab, short bed, with a 3.7 V6 Engine, 4 Speed Auto Transmision. I tow a small trailer less than 2000 lbs. I bought the truck for gas mileage and it is great. Without the trailer I get 20mpg... With the trailer 15 to 16 mpg. I only see a problem on very hilly freeways, were the road constantly goes up and down. The tranny down-shifts late & I already lost momentum and it then has to shift to 2nd! This is in the Tow/Haul mode. Leaving it in 3rd would work much better.. I do not like the tranny shifting back and forth at the wrong times on hilly roads... I was very surprised to see a 4 speed tranny without the capability to leave it in 3rd. I would appreciate it if a Tranny man would be able to have a way they could modify the tranny to be able to select and leave it in 3rd. I would be willing to pay the dealer for the modification. I called Dodge and they said sorry. I called the dealer and they also that I should be able to leave it in third... O'well I love the Truck! Mileage is great, Looks are great.... This is my third dodge truck...! ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED!!!

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eltupac · #2 09-08-2005, 03:57 PM

You know something, I was reading today about getting higher gears. I have the 3.21 stock, but it says that I can upgrade all the way to the 3.90's. The rpms go up, but so does the power to haul/tow. Maybe you can look into it. I am. Maybe I'll just go to 3.55. I dont know how much that would be.

2002ramon24s · #3 09-08-2005, 05:19 PM

i got a ram with a auto trans and a V6 it did great on hills before i put my 24 inch wheels on it now it downshifts all the time. i started puttin performance parts on it hoping it would help but i stopped with a chip and intake. it helped a little though. newayz im typing this to say i have the 3.55 gears and i was told that my truck down shifts a lot less then my buddys who has the 3.21 gears. so it would be something to look into if the price is right

eltupac · #4 09-08-2005, 06:41 PM

Got a call from the local dealer. The part alone is $657. He was gonna call me back with the labor amount, but I am guessing total will be in the 4 digits.

Live44MX · #5 09-08-2005, 07:00 PM

I have stock tires on it so the gear ratio did not change from stock.. Yes I thought of lower gears.. They would work but I would like to keep the same mileage for when I am not towing the trailer... running it in 3rd would be the same... Truck works Great without the trailer on hilly freeways...[sm=groupwave.gif]

NDW13 · #6 09-08-2005, 09:08 PM

There's an overdrive button on the end of the shifter that you need to push. You never want to tow in overdrive because it will ROYALLY cook the overdrive unit so be careful.

Live44MX · #7 09-08-2005, 09:17 PM

Button on the side of the shifter is now a Tow/Haul button.. When pushed it will still go into 4th overdrive... Bummer.. I thought it would keep out of overdrive also! But the manual and Dodge confirm that it will still go into OD.. it just changes the shifting pattern...

derricksmash · #8 09-08-2008, 09:41 AM

my button, when pushed once is a tow/haul button...and push it again, it's an OD off button...do u now have that? if u wanna stay in third, push the button twice...?