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07-05-2015, 07:12 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Georgia
Posts: 647
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Tow with tow/haul mode on or off?
When I was towing my travel trailer with my F-150, I turned overdrive off. But now with the Sunseeker, I am getting ready to tow a Honda CRV. Should I have tow/haul mode on or off for towing with a class C?
Thanks.
Greg
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2021 Micro Lite 25FKBS
2021 Ford F-250 XLT CCSB 4wd w/ 6.2l and 6 sp. transmission, 3.73 locking axle
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07-05-2015, 07:17 PM
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#2
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Ret E-9 Anchor-clanker
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Genoa, ILL
Posts: 1,476
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Tow/haul switch reduces frequent transmission shifting.
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Don & Dona W/yorkies Gizmo, Master Chief, & Tali
2011 Flagstaff 8528 BHSS 2015 Ford 6.7 XLT
2010 Full Timers & Still Going
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07-05-2015, 07:19 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Seaford, De
Posts: 2,377
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not sure why a class A or C even has the tow haul button. It's always hauling, the house that was put on the chassis.
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David & Lynn 2014 Coachmen Chaparral Signature 327 RLKS 2016 Ford F350 Lariat CC Dually
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07-05-2015, 09:45 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 212
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In a GM truck when you engage tow haul mode it will also boost the voltage on the charge wire back to whatever you are towing. Don't know if a GM cab and chassis would be the same. Don't know about other brands.
You can always increase the charge voltage on any vehicle by turning on your headlights.
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Wayne in Coarsegold near Yosemite
2013 Forest River Solera 24R
2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
ATV trailer for the following toys
2008 Yamaha WR250R,2009 Honda CRF150F
2008 Polaris Scrambler 500
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07-05-2015, 10:09 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10,833
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I use Tow/Haul on always! Changes shift point providing better towing performance. I used it with F 150's, E350 and E450 Cube Chassis very similar loading to your MH and now with my F 250.
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B and B
2022 Venture RV SportTrek STT 302 VRB Travel Trailer
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Louisville 5th Wheel
2015 Heartland Bighorn 5th Wheel
2013 FR Rockwood 8289WS 5th Wheel
2012 FR Rockwood 2703 SS Travel Trailer
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07-05-2015, 11:19 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PopBeavers
In a GM truck when you engage tow haul mode it will also boost the voltage on the charge wire back to whatever you are towing. Don't know if a GM cab and chassis would be the same. Don't know about other brands.
You can always increase the charge voltage on any vehicle by turning on your headlights.
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I generally will keep it off if I am running at highway speeds on relatively flat roads. If I am in the hills, doing a lot of start and stop, or it starts hunting for the gears then I turn it on.
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07-06-2015, 10:32 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 212
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jrwalkerpa1
I generally will keep it off if I am running at highway speeds on relatively flat roads. If I am in the hills, doing a lot of start and stop, or it starts hunting for the gears then I turn it on.
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Out of curiosity, what is the advantage of turning it off. Does it save fuel or ride better or something else?
If I turned it off on a flat road I might not remember to run it back on when I hit a hill.
Also, when tow haul mode is engaged the transmission will automatically downshift when I use the brakes going down a hill. It does this very smoothly.
Unless I am traveling north or south in the central valley, I will not be on a flat road for more than an hour. But you apparently have long flat roads where you live.
__________________
Wayne in Coarsegold near Yosemite
2013 Forest River Solera 24R
2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
ATV trailer for the following toys
2008 Yamaha WR250R,2009 Honda CRF150F
2008 Polaris Scrambler 500
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07-06-2015, 10:35 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 317
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Turning it off gets you a little better fuel economy but it's not really a big difference.
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07-06-2015, 10:52 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Los Padres National Forest
Posts: 158
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I do better with my foot and the tach. My husband loves it! So, to each his own.
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2014 Sunseeker
3170ds (Suzuki Samurai 1986 toad)
Gary and Dottie, fur babies Doodle(corgi) and Beau(yellow lab)
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07-06-2015, 12:49 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,443
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You can turn it on and off as needed, if you get into a hilly area it would be wise to turn it on. One of the Tow Haul functions is to increase the amount of transmission fluid flowing through the transmission cooler keeping your transmission cooler. Yes you can make the engine work the transmission similar to the Tow Haul and on the long flat it would work but in hills your transmission gets a workout and the increase flow of transmission fluid will save on repairs.
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Think about things before you do them make life easier not harder.
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07-06-2015, 12:53 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Napa Valley, CA
Posts: 513
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Advantage of tow haul is better shifting at low speeds and helpful downshifting when braking down hills. I also lock out 6th gear (overdrive) when towing heavy.
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2015 Rockwood A128S
2010 Rockwood 2604
2014 Ford F-250 CC SB 2WD
2008 Toyota Sequoia 2WD
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07-06-2015, 12:56 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Michigan/Florida
Posts: 67
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Tow haul keeps the engine in its power curve better and helps to better slow down because the transmission down shifts more aggressively. Always use it if you are hauling that is why they put it there.
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07-06-2015, 01:32 PM
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#13
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AKA: 'tiredTeacher
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 1,045
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Many of these computerized trannies "learn" how you drive. Tow/haul off, they "think" you are going around as you usually do without the trailer so they operate as a daily driver. Once you push tow/haul, the tranny thinks "Aha! I'm pulling a trailer now, so my master will be accelerating and breaking differently."
So it's not 100% factory presets. The tranny knows how you drive in tow/haul.
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Wright and Penny
(with Fitz and Lizzie, the camping kitties)
Richmond, Va.
2010 Tundra 4X4 5.7L V8
2014 Rockwood 2604WS
Life is a cruel teacher. She gives the test first; the lesson then follows.
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07-06-2015, 02:15 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Apple Valley, CA
Posts: 361
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Increased fluid flow?
Quote:
Originally Posted by mark0224
You can turn it on and off as needed, if you get into a hilly area it would be wise to turn it on. One of the Tow Haul functions is to increase the amount of transmission fluid flowing through the transmission cooler keeping your transmission cooler. Yes you can make the engine work the transmission similar to the Tow Haul and on the long flat it would work but in hills your transmission gets a workout and the increase flow of transmission fluid will save on repairs.
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Exactly how does this increase the transmission fluid flow? Never heard of this.
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07-06-2015, 02:15 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Michigan
Posts: 436
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmacklem
When I was towing my travel trailer with my F-150, I turned overdrive off. But now with the Sunseeker, I am getting ready to tow a Honda CRV. Should I have tow/haul mode on or off for towing with a class C?
Thanks.
Greg
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They have a tow/haul on there for a reason. With today's computer driven vehicles, the dealer can tell if you towed with out it on and let's say you burn up a trans, it's on you if they can prove it and want to prove it. I use it because it was made to use when you are towing or hauling heavy loads. I've seen a lot of remarks over the years about the tow/haul mode, I don't understand why you wouldn't want to use it. Saving a gallon of gas (if it saves any at all) versus a new trans, I'll pay for the gas.
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07-06-2015, 02:29 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 316
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I did a test while towing to see what the mpg difference was with tow haul on and off. Result - no difference. Always use the tow haul on when towing.
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Marcel & Jenne
Kemptville, ON
2014 Rockwood 8282WS
2015 Ford F150 Eco-Boost
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07-06-2015, 04:11 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Wellborn, Florida
Posts: 315
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My button is Always On whenever we are towing....Doesn't matter about the gas, easier on transmission and engine.
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Phil & Linda and our two four legged babies - Cricket & Brutus
2016 F350 Super Duty
2017 Heartland Big Country 3560ss 5th Wheel
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07-06-2015, 04:26 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virginia
Posts: 9,678
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__________________
2005 Dodge 3500 Cummins
2017 Wildwood Lodge 4092 BFL
1966 Mustang GT
1986 Mustang SVO
Lillie Spoiled Rotten Boxer Mix
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07-06-2015, 04:52 PM
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#19
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Old Timer
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sunny southern NM
Posts: 63
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Yorkranchgalnguy
I do better with my foot and the tach. My husband loves it! So, to each his own.
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X2, don't see any reason to keep revving the engine when I could be running one gear up already. Going up a little nudge will downshift at just the right time without lugging the engine. Nothing like seat of the pants driving -- just takes 45 years of experience.
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07-06-2015, 06:50 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mahwah, NJ
Posts: 103
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I use it when towing mostly because of the downshift function. What I find annoying is how long it takes to upshift! I accelerate nice and easy...when I'm driving my motorhome, I'm not in a hurry...but this thing wants to redline before it shifts to the next gear, like I have my foot on the floor. I find myself backing off the pedal until it upshifts, then accelerating normally again...that V10 doesn't exactly sound like it likes to rev. More annoying is that it "surges" as I accelerate with a steady foot on the gas. Without the tow/haul mode on, it upshifts more quickly and accelerates smoothly. I'm assuming this is all normal....
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