towing question from newbie

[onthedole]

I've got an '07 classic w/ the LBZ / auto transmission. I added an AFE sage 2 intake, Bully dog PMT and turbo back exhaust. I tow a 31' toy hauler that weighs almost 12000 when loaded. When I have it in drive w/ the tow mode selected it always seems to find itself in the gear that I think is too high that holds about 1500-1800 rpm but with EGT's around 1150. When I put it in the manual mode and down shift a gear the RPM's go to about 2200 but the EGTs will usually drop 200 deg and the truck it much more responsive.

So should I assume the tranny's smarter than me and leave it in drive w/ tow mode or should I continue to tow in manual. FWIW my concerns are durability and fuel economy - I usually try to stay around 65mph.

Is there any problem with extended periods of use in manual mode?

oh and i run 35" tires

Thanks

[TYREBOYZ_DEMAXIN]

welcome to the forum..when towing heavy with my LBZ i put it in manual mode into the 5th gear to keep EGT's down(higher RPM's+higher boost=lower EGT's)and fuel economy is about the same and i have towed like that for hours at a time and never hurt nothing..when you have it in 5TH gear you can leave it there and your tranny will down shift if necessary but it won't shift higher then that.

[railbird]

I believe what the tranny is trying to tell you is that the best torque is at the lower RPM's. I forget what the torque range is on the LBZ but the Allison knows and tries to keep it in the range of the highest torque for pulling.

[TYREBOYZ_DEMAXIN]

i had 15K behind my LBZ and was pulling hills in 6TH gear but my EGT's where higher then i wanted them so i down shifted..