Do you tow..(part Deauu)

[FRENCHIE]

in four speed auto, say 5.4 ltr ford f150, expedition etc, in third gear-no use of overdrive? all the way to river in third with the od off? or use the od on down hill or ? also how fast in third is not too much stress on the tranny?:confused:

[ryantparks]

Only when Im doin around 75 to 80mph I drive in overdrive with both my expedition with 66k and my f-150 with 72k on it. No problems with either "knock on wood". I have changed the tranny fluid in both and the filter along with the differential. Ive heard that towing in OD is really bad for the tranny but I do it anyways so that I save on the gas and the stress on the motor maybe Ill pay for it down the road.

[cc322]

I just pulled my 24 lavey for the first time with my 00 expedition ran fine. I left it in drive with the od on, had no problem,we took the 10 fwy and started the long climb and was going 65 up the hill and out of nowhere came a white CHP in a camero, got beside me and flashed me the 55 sign I said OK. Other than that it ran good , but I wouldnt want to tow all the time.

[cc322]

My manual says to leave it in od unless the tranny starts going into shift shock, looking for the right gear 2000 expedition with 33 in tires did just fine:D still would like a f-250 though

[mbrown2]

Supercrew, 5.4 in D (or 3) no overdrive, except on flats or downhill grades, but I also have 4.56 gears with 35" tires....tows pretty damn good, just don't have the diesel mpg...

[Mandelon]

I leave it in OD on the flats and down hills. Up hill as soon as it drops I keep in D.
Coming over the hill on westbound 8 with the camper on and the boat behind I got down to 2nd gear, at 4000 rpm, barely held 45 mph. Turned off the A/C too, when the temp gauge started to climb.

[jbtrailerjim]

My 02 F-150 5.4 I tow in D most of the time. The only time I tow in overdrive is on a downhill or on flat land going at least 70.
What kind of gas mileage are you guy's with F-150's and Expedition's with 5.4? I'm lucky if I get better than 10 or 11 towing the boat. That suck's!!

[CustomCruiser]

I towed with the OD off with my previous truck ('97 F150) for seven years without any problems. For down grades or flat roads, I turned it on just to save some gas.

[copperrat20]

With my 2003 Ford Exp. I drive the flats with the OD on to save on gas. Now when going up or down hill I turn the OD off. I turn it off so that it will act as a brake. Saves on brakes down the road also. When off the engine revs just a little higher, which makes it just a little easier for passing uphill.

[Desert Rat]

Over Drive ALL the time in my F250 7.3L Power Stroke! Truck doesn't know the boat is back there:D

[Dr. Eagle]

Originally posted by Desert Rat
Over Drive ALL the time in my F250 7.3L Power Stroke! Truck doesn't know the boat is back there:D
D in my 01 suburban w/8.1L... there is no OD... so I guess it is 4th gear to be clear. Truck doesn't even know that little Ultra 21 footer is back there.

[riverbound]

I just got rid of my 2000 expedition. I used to tow all the time and the tranny was shot (100,000 miles) In o.d. the truck was definitely working. Will not tow with anything other than diesel now.

[FRENCHIE]

diesel will be next truck but right now 5.4 ltr, looks like about 80-90% time with the od off then?!:p

[One Particular Harbor]

If you were to tow in overdrive, does the wear n' tear on the transmission result from over-shifting, say when the truck repeatedly "hunts" for a gear on long climbs?
If so, I thought many of the auto manufacturers had addressed this with "tow" modes for their transmissions (changing shift points, reducing hunting, etc.)?
Just curious.
OPH

[cc322]

Again....if the tranny statts to go into shift shock, looking for the right gear than down shift, if not than I leave it in od, thats what my owners manual says

[CBLavey]

The minute the tranny starts hunting for a gear I would downshift into 3rd on either my wifes Suburban or my Tundra. Now I only use 4th on downhills when I know there is a lot less stress and heat buildup on the drivetrain.
I also have not seen much of a difference in mileage. The Chevy averages about 13 and the Toyota about 12.

[Ziggy]

Originally posted by Desert Rat
Over Drive ALL the time in my F250 7.3L Power Stroke! Truck doesn't know the boat is back there:D
Ditto....:D :D :D
with an occassional downshift over the whoops on Rice, truck's on 35's:p..............oh and thats with cruise too:yuk: