Dodge shifting problem

My 96 Dodge 3500 is only mostly used to haul my mowing tractor. When I start off the trans doesn't shift out of low. It will shift if I put it in natural for a second then back to Drive. Likewise shifting to the next two higher gears. Hit natural then back to drive it shifts up into the next higher gear providing it's up to speed for that gear. Any thoughts? Stan

Have you changed the oil and filter a plug filter will cause that

That's not good.

Fresh fluid and filter, some seal conditioner might buy some time.

Governor pressure solenoid in the valve body of the transmission. Or a new valve body

Depending on engine that would be a 46RE or 47RE, either way the governor pressure is electronically controlled, and it has a T/V cable ( throttle valve). Look at both of these these things listed below,

The T/V cable and linkage. This is the cable and link arm that is on the same shaft as the shift linkage at the trans. There should be a spring on the link pulling it forward (attached to link and a bracket on bellhousing bolt. The link arm is suppose to be pulled forward and throttle input pulls it back. If the spring is broken, missing or something binding like frayed cable etc this link might get pulled back and not returning forward not allowing upshifts (simulated WOT).

The governor speed sensor is at the back of the trans on the drivers side, behind the pan or on the tailshaft. If that sensor fails it will not upshift. You can test this sensor but usually they fail by coming apart. The sensor is plastic and has a large hex to unscrew it from trans, there is a magnet on the end of sensor that usually breaks apart causing sudden failure.

Those are the only two things external that would cause upshift problems in 1-3, all other problems are internal.

Even though the governor pressure solenoid is notorious for failure, by design when they fail you will get maximum governor pressure meaning you will get 3rd starts in drive. This concern does not match the governor pressure failure symptoms. It will also give you codes if you have a way to retrieve them.

Didn't you ask this before ? and don't you have ALOT of miles on it ? Time for a rebuild.

I don't remember asking this before. The truck only gets around 400 miles a year. A clutch pack was installed by the dealer about 4 years ago, fluid is not burnt. Stan

That sounds like the trouble my 1996 2500 had. Several trans. guys told me those had a issue with a seal on a shaft that doesn't seal enough and lets pressure leak off so it can't upshift.
Mine wasn't as bad as yours sounds. I added some Lucas additive and it seemed to help ? Later on I figured I'd better sell it while it worked. Also make sure you check the oil level running in NEUTRAL. Not in PARK.