I drove our new F350 diesel home yesterday. We have a very steep grade to climb to get to our house, and the speed limit is 29 mph. By the time I reached the top I was practically flooring the accelerator pedal, the truck was going slower and slower and I wondered if the truck was going to stall. The truck finally downshifted and all was fine after that.

Would using the tow/haul mode help in this situation? Or drive it in manual?

(I realize I could just go out and try both, but I'd like to hear what you all have to say since you are so much more experienced than I.)

Thanks!

 

Maybe the transmission is learning. Give it a few weeks to see if it improves.

 

Did you have it in Drive "D" or Manual "M". ?

 

Was the road icy or wet? Did you see the traction control light flashing on your instrument cluster. I've experienced something similar in 2wd when going up a very steep icy hill. The truck cuts power out to prevent wheel spin while limiting downshifting to not add increased torque. I put it in 4wd and it revs and cruises up he steel and icy hill like a raped ape.

 

Hard to say with such limited info. How steep and long was the grade? How much weight total? What speed did it shift at? What does "practically flooring" mean?

My initial hunch is try "actually flooring" it, as that might kick it down sooner. Practically flooring sounds like when I tell my mom to hit the pedal on a Mustang I took over to her house and she revs her up to 3500 rpm.

 

I drove up to my dad's house a week ago. It's a forest service road that has what I would estimate to be a 14% grade on the switchback section. I had no problems with power. I was in 4x2 mode in "D". I hit a nasty section of washboard that wasn't as steep and the suspension really didn't like it - and neither did my kidneys - but I don't recall losing power due to traction loss. I did not turn off the traction control.