200-4R any good for towing?

[Bonnewagon]

I'm really tired of towing a small boat with a manual transmission, at the ramp it's murder on my clutch. I have several automatics to swap but I would like to use a 200-4R if I could for the overdrive. Is it any good for towing? Why I ask is because I used to have a '95 Buick LeSabre with overdrive and I was always told to NEVER tow in OD mode. I would think OD mode would be better since less heat would build up. Maybe someone with an owner's manual could answer this.

 

[drogg1]

I think the reason they say to not use OD is because there is less torque and so the transmission will generally shift back and forth between third and fourth gear as the load shifts.

 

[Bonnewagon]

I looked in a buddy's '86 Pontiac manual and for the 700-4R it says OD is for normal driving and D or 3 is for city, hills, and towing. Both use converter lockup but OD has the overdrive while D/3 does not, only high 3rd gear. Nothing for the 200-4R.

 

[axisg]

I don't see why not. Add a trans cooler of course. Back when new(er) we would take the trailer, small boat, whatever you could hook up to the hitch up to a friends cottage every summer weekend with building supplies using the Bu or Elco or my cutty. I don't see how it could hurt them. Just like towing with any vehicle, OD should probably only be used on flat or downhill grade. Trans will lug in OD / lockup and build heat when you strain it. Even pulling the 3000 lbs boat with my van I use tow mode and knock it down to 3rd gear on an uphill grade. Over 150k miles on the orig drivetrain doing this so I cant be too far off. 2wd cant be too much fun on a greasy boat launch though

 

[pontiacgp]

.Mark, you'll be ok going but coming back it may be a problem with the weight of all the fish you caught.. I came across this on another forum...

"sales brochure for the 1984 El Camino says ... "And properly equipped, El Camino can tow up to 5000 lbs. including trailer, cargo and equipment." The sales brochure for the 1987 i currently have says "6000 lbs of towing capacity when properly equipped with optional items. (includes passengers, cargo, and trailer.)"
By optional equipment they are refering to the, V8, 3.08 minimum axle ratio, the 200R4 transmission, heavy duty radiator, etc."

 

[Longroof79]

Mark,
I would think keeping it in 4th would be the way to go while in tow mode, but keeping the trans from locking up using a manual switch...and occasionally dropping down to 3rd gear.
Also, adding a trans cooler would be beneficial for towing.

 

[oldsmobile joe]

when you say "small", how small is it? under 2000 lbs, you should be ok. if over 2k, i would drive in 3rd gear, with or without lock up. and the reason is because the constant unlocking, locking of the torque converter and the down shifting and upshifting will wear the trans out over time.
never drive in od with out lock up. i say that because if your using stock gearing, the torque converter builds up to much heat and combined with the slow eng speed, there is not enough flow through the trans cooler to properly cool the fluid. now its ok to operate in od without lockup if say, you are climbing a slight incline and the trans unlocks for a brief time, this is normal.
when it comes to towing, you are best off with an automatic, you can't lug an automatic trans. it will down shift if properly set up. and please get an auxiliary trans cooler.

all the above info is based on a stock car with stock equipment. if not stock, we will need to know eng size and power, rear axle gear ratio, and weight of boat and trailer.

 

[pontiacgp]

that's a false rumor about driving in OD without lockup will cause the transmission to overheat.

 

[Lazarus]

2nd on the 2WD on boat ramp. Our summer camp 5 mins from a very large lake here in the PA mountains. You get stuck in a G-Body on the boat ramp during a holiday weekend. 1. They will shove you out to sea. 2. Remove you from the vehicle and beat you to death with fishing poles. Or 3. Find out where you live and eat your dog. It's pretty brutal trying to launch. Then you get an idiot in a god dam 2wd ranger with no tires stuck for 45 minutes pegging the governor going nowhere. Then comes the hero with floor mats. Tempers flare total sh*t storm then . Finally 5 hrs later finally the tow truck arrives. Please don't be that guy! Lol I deal with this every hot Saturday.

 

[pontiacgp]

2nd on the 2WD on boat ramp. Our summer camp 5 mins from a very large lake here in the PA mountains. You get stuck in a G-Body on the boat ramp during a holiday weekend. 1. They will shove you out to sea. 2. Remove you from the vehicle and beat you to death with fishing poles. Or 3. Find out where you live and eat your dog. It's pretty brutal trying to launch. Then you get an idiot in a god dam 2wd ranger with no tires stuck for 45 minutes pegging the governor going nowhere. Then comes the hero with floor mats. Tempers flare total sh*t storm then . Finally 5 hrs later finally the tow truck arrives. Please don't be that guy! Lol I deal with this every hot Saturday.

I take it that you don't know bonnewagon very well or read his post. He has used his waqon many years to haul his boat to the water and is just tired of the manual transmission.