Which gear for towing?

[GeauxMimiGo]

Driving 2018 FR3 29DS: Towing a vehicle on dolly. What gear is best to drive in: "Drive" or "4th gear"? HELP. First time towing.

[kenandterry]

Originally Posted by GeauxMimiGo

Driving 2018 FR3 29DS: Towing a vehicle on dolly. What gear is best to drive in: "Drive" or "4th gear"? HELP. First time towing.

If your speed is relatively constant, and no real hills, “D” is fine.
If your terrain is very hilly, and you hear the transmission constantly changing, move it to “4”.

You’ll find your engine and transmission work best around 60-65mph maximum on interstates.

[BehindBars]

I’m commenting on the assumption that you have a Ford V10 with 6 speed transmission. A vehicle on a tow dolly behind a motorhome presents very little aerodynamic drag. On flat land, if you normally drive easily in D, that will be fine for towing. Only if the tranny does frequent shifting to 5th or 4th, would I shift to 4. If you have a tow/haul mode button, use tow haul all the time as it will greatly aid in engine braking.

As mentioned already, hilly situations may call for “4” if the transmission automatically downshifts often.

I have the V10/6speed in a somewhat lighter motorhome than the FR3 but I find D is fine for most all situations, including towing.

[GeauxMimiGo]

Thank you so much.

[Dc8mdtmech]

I always use the tow-haul mode. While in dow haul, there is a gear in the transmission, that when your doing over 50, you depress the gas half way down the accelerator. That gear kicks in and it pulls up most hills without further shifting. Not mountains, but good size hills. I found that gear is not available in D, only in Tow Haul

[phipps33]

Originally Posted by Dc8mdtmech

I always use the tow-haul mode. While in dow haul, there is a gear in the transmission, that when your doing over 50, you depress the gas half way down the accelerator. That gear kicks in and it pulls up most hills without further shifting. Not mountains, but good size hills. I found that gear is not available in D, only in Tow Haul

AFAIK, It’s not a special gear. Tow/haul changes the shift points and delays or turns off overdrive. When you accelerate it is simply downshifting.

[High Desert]

Use the "Tow/Haul" setting, as that's what its made for and will compensate for changes without you having to shift back and forth. When I had my class A gasser, towing a Jeep Wrangler, my transmission was always in the tow/haul mode. Plus, it does help with braking, a bit.