H3 Towing D or 3
 

I have an 07 H3 which has a towing capacity of 4500 lbs. I normally pull a 2500 lb utility trailer in D (drive) and hardly notice the trailer is back there. I recently purchased a camper weighing 3500 lbs. Add all of our camping gear and we're just under 4500 lbs. I can definitely tell its back there when towing. I noticed in D, it tends to wind higher rpm's and drop speed significantly going up hill. However, if I run it in 3, it shifts smoother, lower rpm's and feels like it has more power.

My question being is it safe to travel long distances in 3? What should top speed be in 3? Or should I just keep it in D and my foot on the gas?

Also, when towing my temp gauge jumps from just below half to close to the 3/4 mark. Is this fairly common??

3rd is recommended for towing and fine for driving up to 45mph.. check your tach in 3rd at 45mph, under 2500? if so, no problem. Highway speeds need D.

Thanks for your input. My assumption was that 3rd would be better at lower speeds.

Please read your owners manual. If you do not have one they can be pruchased from many online retailers or a local GM dealer.

Everything you asked is in the owners manual.

3rd is direct drive,no gears,probably less wear but uses more gas. 4,d is overdrive, using a stepup gear, about 1/3 higher than direct.
at around 45 the torque converter goes in and out of lockup so you see rpms change without speed change till it catches up

I use 3rd for ALL towing.
Like happythree said, uses slightly more gas but less wear and tear on your tranny and engine.

Yes, tranny! however there will be more rpms involved in 3rd at higher speeds, so no on the engine part. All in all the engine will take at least 2500rpms for a long period of time without any noticeable wear. With or without towing, if you drive around the city upto 45-50, use 3rd, save that o/d=less wear on the tranny. ;)

Yes on the RPM @ higher speeds hence the gas usage, but less on the constant shifting of the tranny, especially if your in stop & go traffic and/or climbing hwy hills.
Been pulling 10X16 V nose snowmobile trailer, landscaping trailer & 6X10 enclosed trailer constantly with my H3 and as long as your not a heavy foot, you can keep the RPM's down in 3rd with little to no wear on the engine. ;);)

DJONES
what kind of camper did you buy? We just purchased a 2013 vibe. weighs 3200 pounds. I'm curious to see how the H3 will do towing it next week.

I bought a Gulf Stream Conquest. It weights 2800 lbs as is with a GVW of 3800 lbs. We towed it this weekend with all our gear and no problems at all. I used the advice from the previous posts. Kept it in 3 while towing and rpms under 2500. I could easily do 50-55 in this condition. Whenever I got on the interstate I would put it in D whenever I picked up speed and back down to 3 going up hills. I am pleased that my engine temp stays normal when towing in 3.

Thanks for everyone's input.