I'm going to be towing a travel trailer with a GVWR of 4500 Lbs using a weight distributing hitch. My truck is a 2001 F-150, 5.4l, 3.55 rear end, auto trans and a trans fluid cooler . Ive been told that I should not use the OD when towing. Is this true and if so how does towing in 3rd gear affect hwy towing if at all?

Thanks Flyguy

 

According to my ownwers manual on my 2000 F150, when towing and climbing steep grades (mountain) turn the O/D off. Still keep it in drive and let the auto tranny do the work. Your fuel consumption will increase, but that's a price you pay to tow...

 

Yea, tow with OD off. Even on flat grade in low rpm's there's still a lot more stress on the tranny when towing. How far are you planning on towing?

 

I always tow with O/D off. With it off, will have higher engine RPM at high speeds, and probably more gas useage. But lower gas mileage is cheap compared to a cooked trans!

At interstate speeds I think the frontal area and aerodynamic drag of the trailer is going to be much more significant than the actual trailer weight, as far as engine load.

 

My 01 at highway speeds gets better mileage towing with OD off because it stays around 2500 rpm which is where peak torque occurs. This makes the engine more efficient when loaded. I was towing about 7000lbs and got 15.9mpg. I was shocked!!

 

I have a 99 F150 with the 5.4 2wd, towing package, r70 transmission, and I agree with Lxman, I pulled around 6000 and also got about 15-16, so it should be fairly efficient, just not cruising unloaded down the highway efficient.

 

Ditto for O/D off when towing.

 

yea my 01 screw 5.4 gets about the same milage towing a 6000lb travel trailer with the od off on the highway, as it does driving around the city and on the highway with the od on and not towing. right around 14mpg. but my highway with out towing has hit 17mpg.

 

Thanks everybosy for all of your input. I really appreciate it. It's nice to be able to ask questions and not have to wonder about whether I'm getting info from people who are not very expierenced. Thanks a gain.

Fly guy