Tow vehicle (what gear?)

[coolzzy]

I've got a 2012 F150 with tow haul mode, and on the ford 6spd transmission 5 and 6 are overdrive gears. I cannot pull my 6k pound trailer in 5th unless perfectly flat ground with no headwind, 6 would only be possible downhill. I monitor transmission temps when toeing and will tell you that in 5 or 6 while towing, the temps go up. I usually lock out 5 and 6 and tow in 4th at all times since it's as close to a 1 to 1 ratio as possible. Hills need 3rd or even 2nd if it's a 7 percent grade.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by coolzzy

I've got a 2012 F150 with tow haul mode, and on the ford 6spd transmission 5 and 6 are overdrive gears. I cannot pull my 6k pound trailer in 5th unless perfectly flat ground with no headwind, 6 would only be possible downhill. I monitor transmission temps when toeing and will tell you that in 5 or 6 while towing, the temps go up. I usually lock out 5 and 6 and tow in 4th at all times since it's as close to a 1 to 1 ratio as possible. Hills need 3rd or even 2nd if it's a 7 percent grade.

Wow, that surprises me. We tow a 5,500 pound RV trailer with our 2012 F150. It pulls in 6th gear 97% (or so ) of the time. Rarely does it need 4th gear; takes quite a significant climb; and I've never seen 3rd or 2nd. 3.73s; 62 mph; 1,700 RPM 6th gear.

Our transmission temperature stays right at 195 regardless of the gear we are in. Might see 200 degrees on a long, hard climb on a hot day. We must have the same transmission. Do you have trailer tow or max tow package with a transmission cooler?

[coolzzy]

I you must have the ecoboost motor. I've got the 5.0 With 3.55 gears. It has to spin up higher I the rpm bans to get its horsepower and torque. I've seen temps transmission as high as 210 on long 6 or 7 percent uphill climbs, the analog gauge never budget from below half but the digital gauge moves around between 195 and 201 when I'm not pushing it in the steep Hills.

[Tonkatoy77]

The reason you are not supposed to town in overdrive with transmissions like the 700R4 and the E4OD is that the friction plates are about half the size of the other gears. Way higher chance of them slipping and burning up the friction material. The newer transmissions we have these days are different. I can run in 6th gear all day in my Allison with no issues because the clutch plates are a lot bigger.

[Hicks43]

Older chevy truck here 4l80e tow in od all the time 280,000 miles. I do have a big trans cooler on it. Change the fluid and filter when needed. And it's just fine. If your trans hunts for a gear take out of od hunting makes heat. Heat kills transmissions.

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by RSchleder

Interesting how Ram pickups ( probably the other makes also) have a "tow/haul" button on the dash. This button, according to the owner's manual, is to be engaged when towing a trailer or hauling a load. Engaging the "tow/haul" button locks out the high overdrive gear to stop the transmission from overheating. Just sayin!!!!!

I just use tow/haul all the time except when doing 60-65 on a highway at a steady speed but don't know if there is any MPG difference but tow mode works better up hills and down towing my Roo


2014 F150 FX4 Crew 4X4 EB
2015 Roo 23IKSS

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[KMANUEL74]

Originally Posted by wicked1

I just use tow/haul all the time except when doing 60-65 on a highway at a steady speed but don't know if there is any MPG difference but tow mode works better up hills and down towing my Roo


2014 F150 FX4 Crew 4X4 EB
2015 Roo 23IKSS

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

Turning off Tow/Haul mode on Fords at highway speeds is a waste of time. Tow/haul holds gears a little longer going up hills for the power (yes lowing your MPG, but saving your transmission) and also helps going down hill when braking with engine braking. Tow/haul does not change gearing so it will not change MPG on flat land going same speed.

[5er_tom]

I use tow/haul mode all the time.


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