Towing in overdrive

Bigtony4 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 05:44 PM

Has anyone tried towing in overdrive on the highway? I know the constant shifting in and out of overdrive is not good for the trans, but if the truck stays in OD while driving on the highway will it cause any damage to the trans?

MBBFord · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 07:17 PM

I've done it several times with a 7,000 lb camper.

As long as it is on flat ground at a steady speed, it holds OD fine.

Get into the slightest hills or try and accelerate, it will shift down.

For towing at lower speeds, the truck feels to shift differently with OD off, so I usually do that, and when I get to hwy speeds I engage OD.

4DOORSR · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 07:31 PM

^I do the same. Anywhere over 110km/hr and I'm in overdrive. Helps drop oil temperature. If you tow alot I've got to recommend the Edge. I can monitor engine oil and transmission temps while keeping an eye on engine load when the tunes are cranked!

MohaveMike · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 08:31 PM

A wise man once said, A tranmission is more expensive that a little extra fuel. The only time I let the trans into od while towing is when I am going down hill, in both the F150 and 250.

XolieX · #5 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 10:33 PM

just a month ago i towed with my 150 5.4 screw, well with or without the overdrive, i got the same MPG (12.5-13.5mpg). it seemed weird but it was actually happening. i guess with the OD the engine speed may lower but the throttle is more open.

oh yeah, of course this was with a stock tune 5.4.

thewheelman · #6 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 10:49 PM

I've had 3 conversion vans: 2 150's and 1 250 and have pulled a 28 and 30 ft. camper with them--all in od. From KY to FL, from KY to Gatlinburg, from KY to NY & DC, all over southern IN and no problems. Now, only the 250 would hold cruise--even in the flat lands of FL. But I experienced not a single transmission problem. I thought you were supposed to tow in od, that the bowtie boys weren't.....

Dustin1690 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 10:52 PM

You can do it for sure just be cautious good to get tranny temp guages and keep it out of od if its hunting a lot

tylus · #8 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008, 01:55 AM

towed ^^^ through Washington state for about 200 miles. Kept it in O/D until I hit the hills up/down to prevent the transmission from constant downshifting. in the flat and sorta hill areas, the transmission held 60-65 mph just fine with O/D. got 12 mpg on that tank

btw, I agree with Dustin1690...use O/D judiciously...but as soon as it starts to hunt/downshift, lock out O/D. it isn't worth the risk in those cases

marobrown · #9 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 07:16 AM

I leave the overdrive on unless I am hitting alot of hills, mainly to control the speed on the down side. My camper is only 3000#, I barely know it's back there.

jbhford · #10 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 09:28 AM

I don't use overdrive to tow. I get the same mileage whether towing with or w/o overdrive. Besides, it is sweet pulling hills with torque converter lock up at 3,000 rpm and having power to accellerate!

Remember, trucks of the 80's (even a 460CI with 4:10 rear end) did not have overdrive trannys or locking torque converters. And I'm sure our cooling systems are better now than back then. My opinion is to lock out that overdrive and let it roar. These are not diesels, so their power is not at lower rpm.

V8EXPLR · #11 (**permalink**) 05-16-2008, 12:05 PM

I agree with basically everyone here. Flat roads it's okay, hills/mtns lock it out of O/D.

Living in CO, the majority of my towing is with O/D off. Even when going through the mountains without a load the truck hunts for gears a lot. So I almost make it a conserted effort to lock out O/D anytime I head west from Denver.

jtruck618 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-19-2008, 11:19 PM

How many more RPM's do you run with the O/D off? Say at normal driving speeds 55/65/70? Wish this truck had a tow/haul mode cause I would probably buy one tomorrow. It is my only hold out........

pb34 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-20-2008, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtruck618

How many more RPM's do you run with the O/D off? Say at normal driving speeds 55/65/70? Wish this truck had a tow/haul mode cause I would probably buy one tomorrow. It is my only hold out........

I'm not quite sure about your question but I believe the '09 has a tow/haul mode.

jtruck618 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-20-2008, 07:04 PM

My question is.....what kind of RPM's do guys run when towing?.........See my other post for further....

FLAgtSTANG302 · #15 (**permalink**) 06-20-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtruck618

How many more RPM's do you run with the O/D off? Say at normal driving speeds 55/65/70? Wish this truck had a tow/haul mode cause I would probably buy one tomorrow. It is my only hold out........

I all ways thought that the tow hall botton on the chebys was the same as the botton on the fords to take it out of OD