is it true your not suppose to tow in 5th gear because it will burn out the overdrive? i was toldthis and i am towing a trailer with 1500lbs tm. Deff wanna know so i dont damage anything! I can see this may make a little sense but if someone could inform me on this, it would be greatly appreciated!

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

As far as I know of if your towing with a manual tranny you can use 5th gear never been told otherwise. You will probably just need to down shift a lot sooner than you normally would for hills and stuff to make sure you have the right ratio to pull the hills and accelerate after curves.

haha in florida so no hills but i hear ya. i just heard it may damage your tranny but this was a new piece of info to me as well.

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

The first generation(1983-1997) trucks owners manuals use to recommend against towing in 5th, not sure the changed it for the later models. Either way I never 5th when towing my boat.

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2010 Ranger XL 2.3L 5 Spd 3.73:1 Bone Stock
2013 Scion FR-S 2.0L/H-4, 6spd, 4.11:1 Fast Enough Stock

I tow a pop up trailer that weighs about 2600 lbs dry.
The manual says to not tow in overdrive as it may "hunt" between 4th and 5th (shifting back and forth) which will cause extra heat, friction, wear and tear, etc.
I do tow in overdrive when traveling on level ground or going downhill.
Turning off the overdrive causes RPM's to go too high for long term highway travel at 60 to 65 mph. Gas consumption greatly increases at the higher RPM.
I turn off the OD when climbing any slight hill or grade and I also use it as an engine brake on long descents.
The frontal limit of a trailer is 50 square feet for my truck.
What do you mean by 1500 lbs tm?

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2006 4.0 5 spd auto 4x4 Super Cab
BF Goodrich Commercial Traction T/A's
Royal Purple Throughout
Alpine Head Unit with some Infinity Noisy Stuff
NW Oregon

the trailer and weight in the trailer combined will be around 1500lbs. i just dont want to damage anything cosidering i just rebuilt the tranny.

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

I think he means 1500 lbs tomorrow, Yea. Just don't go uphill in 5th towing because you'll never make to to the top. Lol.
The main concern is it puts more stress on the engine in 5 then 4

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2001 Mazda B-3000 CabPlus "FX2 Off Road"| 3.0 | 5 SPD | 3 In Spindle Lift | Belltech Shackles | UltraGauge |Alpine Head / 10" Kicker Setup | Air Box Mod | Add-A-Leaf| Thrush Welded B4 Rear Wheel | Kobalt Box | Cobra 19 DX IV | Custom PA Speaker | Front/Rear Tow Receiver | 2X Aux Lights | Hideaway Strobes | Back Rack Safety Rack | Amber LED Strobes | Blue LED Strobes | 265/75/R16 General Grabber AT2's

As I stated, "The manual says to not tow in overdrive as it may "hunt" between 4th and 5th (shifting back and forth) which will cause extra heat, friction, wear and tear, etc."
THAT is the real concern - burning the fluid and/or parts.

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2006 4.0 5 spd auto 4x4 Super Cab
BF Goodrich Commercial Traction T/A's
Royal Purple Throughout
Alpine Head Unit with some Infinity Noisy Stuff
NW Oregon

OD hunting is the main problem. I towed a really heavy U-Haul trailer about 400 miles and there were times it was dropping in and out of second!

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(Formerly)
FireRanger
2003 Edge 4.0 4wd

How to: Aux light wiring, relays, & fuses
Info: 300+ intake threads here on FRF
Info: HID Projectors
How To: NO HEAT Troubleshooting Guide

my truck is manual

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2004 4.0 4x4 5spd xlt with 175k 4.10 axles, extended cab, cranked t-bars (not maxed), painted black interior, 32x11.5x15 bfg a/t and procomp steel rims
60/40 mod with a shorty console

my dad always tells me to make sure overdrive is off, he would know i guess he tows 10,000+ lbs every year about 6000 miles with his personal truck. but its not worth the risk man i wouldnt use 5th

I guess we should have asked...
sure would have saved a bunch of time and effort.
You cannot burn out a gear in a manual tranny.

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2006 4.0 5 spd auto 4x4 Super Cab
BF Goodrich Commercial Traction T/A's
Royal Purple Throughout
Alpine Head Unit with some Infinity Noisy Stuff
NW Oregon

there is a reason why they tell you not to tow in 5th in a manual

and the reason is....?

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2006 4.0 5 spd auto 4x4 Super Cab
BF Goodrich Commercial Traction T/A's
Royal Purple Throughout
Alpine Head Unit with some Infinity Noisy Stuff
NW Oregon

i dunno, but it will tell you not to in your owners manual LOL, my 86 ranger says it right on the sunvisor to not tow in 5th