Just got back from a 426 mi trip towing a trailer that weighs less than 3,000 lbs. It did not matter how fast (or how slow) I went, the truck would not stay in overdrive. I left it out of overdrive for most of the trip & it would go in & out of lock-up at the slightest up hill grade or head wind. This truck is geat to drive empty or without a trailer, but looking back I probably would have made a different choice when I was shopping for a truck, mabye a 4.10 ratio would have been in order. '04 Screw FX4 5.4 3.73 ratio

 

That is odd because i have not seen another post about poor performance when towing with an 04 F150 with 3.73 gears. Sorry it is not living up to expectations. A 3000 lb load is not much for that truck.

Mike

 

could that be a faulty transmission? Personally I don't know much about automatics and how they are "supposed" to work, but something sounds wrong to me in that, as I also, have not heard of any challenges as such.
A FIVE thousand pound load (on trailer) is not that much for what this truck should be easily able to do. Hope you find resolution to this challenge, and that it is correctable.

 

I have a 03 Expedition with the 5.4L 2V and 3.73 rear end and pull a 5800LB camper. On level ground, you can pull with the OD on, but hills, like Arkansas, So Missouri, the vehicle performs much better with the OD off. I can still maintain speed on some long grades, but it will always kick in passing gear and rev like hell.

I have ordered a 04 S Crew, I have not heard any other complaints on Towing.

If you are in the hills, turn off the OD. If you are bouncing between OD and other gears, turn the OD off.

I actually get better mileage with OD off pulling in hills, 8.9 with OD on and 9.7 with it off.

 

I have an 04 Screw with 3.55 LS rearend. I have pulled my Sound Equipment trailer a few times already and I did not even know it was back there. I would guess that it weights about the same as what you are pulling. It did down shift on a few hills, but not many. I have NO complaints and am VERY happy with the performance so far.....

just my $0.02

BD

 

Ford's transmission ratios make it so that the tranny hunts for a gear all the time when towing on the highway. My F-150 did it, and my Mother's Explorer did it, and now my Ranger does it. Most people I know with Ford autos. have this problem.

Best thing to do is switch of OD for towing heavy loads, especially on hills. I think the owner's manual even recommends this.