TT pushing truck

[Bandit7]

When going downhill it seems the TT is pushing the truck, getting high rpm's. Sounds like the truck is screaming. No problem uphill
2009 Ford F150
Rockwood 2703ss

[Dave_Monica]

If you're using the tow/haul feature and cruise control, the transmission will downshift (higher rpm) to try to reduce the speed when going downhill. Disengage the tow/haul or cruise control if don't you want to downshift, or apply the brakes to slow to 5 mph less than you want to go, release the brakes and allow speed to increase, then repeat the process. Do not constantly apply the brakes as they will overheat. On steeper grades I select 3rd gear on the trans to help control downhill speed.

Dave

[ironj]

yup....the truck is "compression braking"....ie using compression from the engine to slow the vehicle/trailer so you dont have to ride the brakes to slow possibly overheating them on long decents....as each stroke of the piston creates a small braking effect, the more rpm the more braking effect you will get. So it is more effective at higer rpm....


its works smilar on a diesel, but not quite exactly

[pwrstroke2012]

I had a 09' F150 pulling a similiar camper and never had any issues like that and it was always in tow haul as it should be.I did feel it slow the truck down but with very little increase in RPM. You do tow in drive and not a lower gear like 3rd? (that is not meant to be insulting) I am not sure ironj but I think the F150's uses the transmission to brake and not compression.

[Bandit7]

Truck is in drive & tow haul on, no cruise control on
3.55 ratio

[MtnGuy]

If you can, manually shift the transmission to the same gear used to get up the other side. That used to be the rule for truckers before the advent of the Jake Brake.

Dave_Monica has some good advice.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Bandit7

Truck is in drive & tow haul on, no cruise control on
3.55 ratio

That is a "high" rear end ratio, it is possible your engine is working hard trying to slow down your rig because of a mismatch between camper and truck.

Have you checked out whether your truck is actually rated to carry your camper's weight? That is an over 7500 pound camper being towed by an F150 with "middle gears". Depending on your other options your truck may not be rated for that load.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Bandit7

Truck is in drive & tow haul on, no cruise control on
3.55 ratio

Take it out of tow mode. If you're like most of us, we have what we have and have to make the most of it without trading or upgrading trucks regardless of what the books, manuals say. We may have made an error in matching the trailer to the truck, but we're stuck and have to live with it and find "work arounds".