GDE towing tune looking for comments

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 19, 2013 10:28 pm

I have been talking with Keith on a tow tune. Look for some comment on the tow tune. I'm towing a 3000 pound dry weight travel trailer. This is my last edit for my tune before buying. Looking of input thanks

I need a little help before I buy the tow tune. I wanting 1-3 factory tow tune. 4th would hold till 73 before shifting to 5th. back to 4th at 63 miles per hour. Can i get it do drop from 5th to 4th if I floor it at 75 . I not wanting it to drop to third if I floor the truck. Accept for speed drops below 50 miles per hour. I not sure of all this comments please. Not real concerned with fuel milage

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 20, 2013 12:49 pm

IF the Jeep downshifts (I am not sure it will at 75, you will have to see) from 5th, it WILL go to 3rd. Confirm with Keith, but I do not believe that there is any way to get it to go to 4rth because BOTH 4rth and 5th are OD gears. I believe the only downshift option is to shift into direct drive, which would be 3rd.

However, we have had the "Tow Tune" since the prototype phase and would not be without it. We tow a 5000 lb horse trailer.

What you would need to do is let off, hit the "OD off" button, then hit it again a moment later and you will have 4rth.

Also, if you plan to cruise at 65 in 5th, you need to momentarily exceed 70 to get 5th.

DOC

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 20, 2013 1:06 pm

I will have to check again with Keith. He didn't act like it was a problem to down shift to 4th. I don't like it to rev up that high. I picked 73 to up shift for 5th to give a little more rpms to climb hills. Most highways in OKLA is 75 miles per hour. I normal tow at 70 but will let speed climb to start a big hill. Thanks for you comments not many have the tow tunes . Thanks for all the help.

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 20, 2013 1:19 pm

I just emailed Keith to check on down shift to 4th. I try to keep the rpm under the
3000rpm mark. Lot of people blow up at the higher rpms passing and hammering the little diesel. Not sure it helps in towing at the higher rpms

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 20, 2013 1:35 pm

The only problem with higher revs now and then (under redline, of course) is lower fuel economy, which you said you are not worried about.

DOC

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 20, 2013 8:11 pm

It so much better than my truck the mileage really isn't a issue. My old truck got 12 mile per gallon unloaded.

arengant · **Posted:** Sun Apr 21, 2013 2:04 am

jlgail4309 wrote:

I just emailed Keith to check on down shift to 4th. I try to keep the rpm under the
3000rpm mark. Lot of people blow up at the higher rpms passing and hammering the little diesel. Not sure it helps in towing at the higher rpms

So no 4th down shift when floored?

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:21 pm

Keith said he could down shift from 5th to 4th. That's great !! Not a real fan of the high rpms when it down shift to 3rd.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 21, 2013 3:32 pm

Apparently this is a new tweek he is working on. However, he has not confirmed it with testing, yet.

DOC

arengant · **Posted:** Sun Apr 21, 2013 4:47 pm

Very interesting, I will have to e-mail him sometime and see what he can do for me!

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 21, 2013 8:10 pm

Not sure he's had anyone ask for shift from 5 to 4.

Email to Keith

Will it down shift from 5th to 4th at 75 if I floor the truck. I'm not wanting it to shift to 3rd at the high of speed. Sorry for all the ????. Thanks for the help. I'm going to order next week. If I sent my tran controler how long will I be out.

His return email

I can control the downshift thresholds to do what you are asking. I am out of the office until next Wednesday. I would assume a day of two to turn around your TCM as there is some custom tuning involved with what you are asking and it may take some time to dial in.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:00 pm

I have one of the earlier GDE trans tunes. At that time they weren't selling a specific tow tune. I just tested it today going up a grade at 53mph and I goosed it a bit, maybe halfway to the floor, and it unlocked, downshifted to 4th, and locked back up.

arengant · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:29 am

Must be nice with those tiny tires :goink:

J/k... so with your earlier TCM tunes, does it lock up in 3rd? Keith said he got rid of that because some people complained of vibrations and lugging... if I delayed shift points to higher RPM, I would think 3rd lock up would still help me.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:33 pm

arengant wrote:

Must be nice with those tiny tires :goink:

J/k... so with your earlier TCM tunes, does it lock up in 3rd? Keith said he got rid of that because some people complained of vibrations and lugging... if I delayed shift points to higher RPM, I would think 3rd lock up would still help me.

Not sure what you mean, they are pizza cutters, but they're almost 31".

Yes it does always lock in third and it is annoying when climbing hills between 30 and 45 mph. Thinking about getting it changed.

arengant · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 2:36 am

CATCRD wrote:

arengant wrote:

Must be nice with those tiny tires :goink:

J/k... so with your earlier TCM tunes, does it lock up in 3rd? Keith said he got rid of that because some people complained of vibrations and lugging... if I delayed shift points to higher RPM, I would think 3rd lock up would still help me.

Not sure what you mean, they are pizza cutters, but they're almost 31".

Yes it does always lock in third and it is annoying when climbing hills between 30 and 45 mph. Thinking about getting it changed.

I was joking about the pizza cutters, I find my 255 to be almost too wide actually. I will definitely work with keith and get my TCM tune nailed down for my set up, and other's who tow that are NOT stock should talk to GDE before purchasing to see what changes to the TCM they can do for yoU!

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:46 pm

After some more thought . I thinking just take the GDE tow tune and move everything up 7 miles per hour. But 4th gear shift to 5th at 73. Back to 4th at 63 miles per hour. If floored in 5th drop to 4th .

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 8:47 pm

jlgail4309 wrote:

After some more thought . I thinking just take the GDE tow tune and move everything up 7 miles per hour. But 4th gear shift to 5th at 73. Back to 4th at 63 miles per hour. If floored in 5th drop to 4th .

Then be safe and tow under 65...

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 9:14 pm

ChooChooman74 wrote:

jlgail4309 wrote:

After some more thought . I thinking just take the GDE tow tune and move everything up 7 miles per hour. But 4th gear shift to 5th at 73. Back to 4th at 63 miles per hour. If floored in 5th drop to 4th .

Then be safe and tow under 65...

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

Right now it shifts into 4th at 63. Makes it hard to hold that fine line on 4th gear. If you drop to slow I get shudder in 4th. If I go to fast it shifts to 5th and I get shudder. Or put in 3rd and run 2600 rpms and get 12 miles per gallon.
I have upgraded to the best hitch I could find. I'm researching tires for the trailer so 70 is safe. The little tractor makes the rules a little bit on the towing speed. It's need a little speed to hold 4th without shudder. New torque converter will help with the shudder but the tractor don't have the power to hold the speed at lower rpms. So either a little more speed or a GDE turbo and new torque converter to hold the power at the lower rpms.

Maybe a lower gear would help?? I'm not sure but the turbo and torque converter in a lot of green!!

Thanks for the help please more comments and thoughts. I'm looking for advice thanks

ChooChooman74 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 9:40 pm

Your TC is far worst than mine. I only get shudder when pulling hard below 1900 RPMs. If I see a hill, I hit the OD button and climb it in 3rd at 2700.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

arengant · **Posted:** Sat Apr 27, 2013 10:32 pm

At what RPM do both of you first lock into 4th? Right now, it shifts into 4th on mine at 45mph(= ~1550 RPM)

Do your tow tunes change the initial 4th gear and 5th gear?

GDE towing tune looking for comments

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