Boat towing question

[Riverratpete]

While pulling my boat last year my truck would start to hesitate and sound like it dropped down a couple cylinders and would sound very rough, got tranny checked - no codes appears fine. When not pulling boat engine has no problems. Have pulled many boats and trailers over the years with no problems. I did have a new trailer hitch put on last year to handdle the load, is it possible that the problem could be in the electrical dept? thanks for any input.

[Macgyver55]

What kind of vehicle do you have?

[Surface Tension]

Are you taking the tranny out of overdrive.

[tyho]

Does the trailer have surge brakes? If so they may need adjusted.

[DTro]

Sounds like it's dropping out of overdrive, and then shifting back in. Make sure you take it out of overdrive. If it's shifting in and out your tranny will be toast in a matter of time.

[Riverratpete]

It's a 94 GMC 1500, no, I always pull it in D not OD. It doesn't seem to be a problem of the gears shifting as much as the motor runnning very rough.

[Sgt. Rock]

Maybe a plugged fuel filter?? Starving under load. Simple fix and cheap to try.

[JohnMickish]

I'm going to guess ignition coil/module. Everybody knows when pulling a trailor your motor has to work a little harder, making a little more heat. The coil/module also has to throw a little more spark and thus making even more heat for itself. Hot electronics breakdown. Chances are you can take it to any repair shop and unless it real bad they won't find it unless you have your trailor behind it. Your best bet is to swap it with a known good one. Way to expensive to buy and try.

A funny related story. Many years ago when I was working as Mr. Goodwrench in North Dakota, one of our customers brought their new Suburban in and complained it ran rough. Ran great for me. I later found out it would only run bad when the outside temp was -35 or colder, but then never brought it to me in those conditions. After many attempts it ended up being a plastic conector that when it got that cold it would shrink and not make good connection.

[Surface Tension]

At what speed does the problem appear? Hows it run when its wet outside?

[Riverratpete]

Seems to happen between 55-65mphs, after I slow down it starts bogging out and takes a little while for the power to come back up.

[Macgyver55]

RRP, Did you ever get this figured out?

[minneman]

I had a 93 2500 suburban that did close to the same thing, tuned out to be the distributor needed replacing.

[upnorth]

Sounds like fuel delivery problem. Weak pump or a plugged filters either fuel or air.