When yall tow are yall turning Overdrive off in your V10? Seems like I am seeing on here that lots are not? If your not are you running a custom tune?

thanks

 

Usually mine will downshift if it needs to. What you don't want is hunting and seeking where it is constantly shifting back and forth. In that case, lock it out of overdrive. If you are pulling a long grade it is not a bad idea to lock it out of OD. In third gear with the TC locked the transmission is at it's happiest since all clutches are locked and the ratio is 1:1. None of the planetary gears are running in third gear. A Scanguage can help alot with knowing if the TC is locked or not and what the trans temp is. When the TC is locked the heat generated inside is small.

Perry

 

My boat is over 10000 lbs when loaded - the only time I turn off OD is if I'm in the 45-55 mph range where it seems to want to go into OD but ends up hunting a bit. I'm completely stock except for the zoodad mod and I'm running synthetic fluids everywhere.

 

I have towed my 9000# TT all over the country...thru the Rockies twice too and I always keep OD on and let the trans tell me what she wants to do.

I've noticed that once you get up in elevation (4000' +) the trans pretty much tells me she doensn't like OD on so I turn it off.

Also when towing thru the Appalachians on 5 mile long 6-7% grades...well OD is useless.

I also employ the select the gear on the downside that you used on the upside...so if the grade needed 2nd to get up...you are probably looking at 2nd on the down or you will be using your brakes to keep your speed in check and that leads to hot brakes...

So in 'general' where I live in Indiana...I can tow in OD all day long with no issues.

I do run an SCT tuner with tunes from Mike at 5-Star...but I've towed in OD more miles without the tuner than with the tuner...so that isn't a variable in this equation.

Oh...one factor that IS in this equation...I run a 4.30 rear end with stock size tires and wheels...

Good luck and WELCOME to FTE!

Joe.

 

Thanks guys. I have just always towed with od off. I will try it now and see how it does. I am running a 3.73 rear and am really thinking hard about custom tunes from 5 star. Just wanna be sure it will be worth the money.

 

I'm still experimenting with mine but recently towed locally for about three or four hours and kept the OD off. Seemed to run more consistently/smoothly and I got batter mileage, (10mpg).
V-10 w/3.73's. Of course - it is pretty flat out here in Illinois/Missourir. Towing it across 64 and the mountains....I HAD to keep it out of OD. No worries on heat though.

 

As long as it isn't hunting, why not leave it on?

 

This is one of the many upgrades in a BTS tranny. The backup/downshift clutch pack is a weak point. If you run it in like you just described much, the clutches will wear out then when you get to the campsite, no reverse.

Brian's fix is to upgrade that clutch pack from 5 disks to 7. All the other clutch packs, he upgrades from 5 disks to 6.

Just thought someone might like to know this.

 

Perfectly stated. I concur 100%, well maybe 90%, I have the 3.73 gears in mine.

 

Joe, I know you've been on I-70 on the way to "the tunnel" in both directions with that trailer in tow. What speeds are you able to maintain on that drive, and does the Ex have to downshift to 2nd to maintain those speeds?
Just curious to hear from someone that has real world experience towing with a N/A V10 on that "brutal" roadway run.
JL

 

Johnny,

Yes I have in fact hauled my 9000# trailer up and over Loveland and Vail passes.

The KEY to towing at 17,000#'s combined at altitudes of 10,000 - 11,000' with a normally aspirated engine with only a 4 speed trans with one of them overdrive (did I cover enough of the downsides of this setup in that sentence? ) is to make sure your RPM's are in the optimal range. Keeping in mind that the power curve of your engine is much lowered at these altitudes.

I was able to maintain a MINIMUM of 55mph up those passes and as I neared the top is when I needed 2nd gear (rpm's needed to be in the 4000-4500 range) to maintain good pulling power and throttle response. I was not starved for power...in fact running in that RPM range you are pretty much limiting your speed by how high on the RPMs you want to go because there IS more to go with the motor ladened with this load at this altitude...BUT the key is to NOT let the RPM's fall below 3000 or you will have issues.

RPM management is KEY.

At non-altitudes I have pulled 5 mile long 7% grades on I-64 thru the Appalachians at 70mph in 3rd gear...BUT you have to hit the hill at 3200 RPM's in 3rd gear (i.e. 70mph with 4:30 gears) and you can maintain that speed up the climb.

Too many people I think want to baby for MPG's and that is a mistake with this SOHC motor...

So...sorry for the long winded answer...

I was able to maintain a minimum of 55mph in 2nd gear climbing that pass. And you know what...cars just traveling next to me towing NOTHING were going the SAME speed I was when I was pulling the passes. Big rigs on the other hand were in the right hand lane with flashers on going 20-25mph as they neared the top.

FWIW...I did NOT have a tuner the last time I was in the Rockies either. Mike at 5-Star has corrected a Ford issue in the fuel enrichment switch over...and even with the stock tune...and the fuel enrichment as it was (it has to do when the motor switches over from the normal 14:1 air/fuel ratio to a higher more powerful 12:1 air/fuel ratio and is tied to 50% throttle position)...I was able to easily and comfortably climb those extreme passes...I was monitoring my trans temps too and they were climbing slowly and peaked at 212°F and after I crested the climb they quickly dropped...the cooling fan/capacity on the V10 does an excellent job from what I have seen!

Hope that helps and answers your question!...if not let me know.

Thanks,
Joe.

 

That answers it. And is exactly as I suspected. I'm not gonna bring it up in "that" thread, but it's also contrary to what certain folks claim over in "that" thread.
JL

 

People just like to hear themselves talk even if it isn't factually based...

I KNOW what my little 'ole V10 is capable of and she is reliable and plenty strong for what I do...and I have no reservations about taking her anywhere...

In fact...I'm in the process of planning a close to 3 week trip next summer that includes the Rockies again (northern ones)...Teddy Roosevelt NP in ND, Glacier NP in Montana and then out thru Idaho with the farthest west reaching Spokane WA and then back thru Yellowstone, Devils Tower, Rushmore, Badlands and home...all told it will be in the 4500-5000 mile range...and I have NO concerns about the V10 rolling at 17,000#'s combined taking me and my family there and back...real world experiences trump chest thumping blow hards everyday ... because we all know that they are trying to justify spending $6000 to $8000 MORE for a truck than I did because it has a diesel in it and they spend MORE for fuel with each fill up and when you factor in cost per mile it is a virtual dead heat except I still have the extra $6000 to $8000 that funds my vacations...but I have no real opinion or real world experience with towing with a V10! LOL

Joe.

 

I switched to a diesel not because I liked them. Hell, the fuel is harder to find, the pumps are dirty when you can find them and you are basically a 2nd class citizen. On top of it, you have gelling issues if you are in cold climates. My 99 E300 was a diesel because we needed the size and mpg. I used to drive 200 miles a day so it was helpful. Only way I could get that kind of mileage is in a car that was a lunchbox on wheels. No thanx. Now that I live 20 miles away from work, I would drive a gasser all day long if I owned one. I drive my Vette when I can.

I had a vehicle that worked well. An 01 Yukon XL. One time we went to Bryce Canyon UT. I noticed that in higher altitudes, I was stuck in 2nd gear, WOT doing 30 mph. On the flat areas, it was ok. Dad's diesel was pulling a bigger trailer with a bed camper and he was asking if I needed a tow. I figured it would cost me much more to put forced induction than a diesel Excursion was worth after I sold this GM POS. I even had a shift kit and a performance tune put in at the time.

 

I see your problem...you were driving a girlie man bow-tie!

I've been to Bryce as well...those are low elevations compared to I-70 into Denver...I was able to run about any speed I wished to with my 9000# TT in tow with my V10 and 4:30's...

I'm not anti-diesel in any way...I believe choosing the right tool for the job...the V10 fits my needs just fine...if I could have found a PSD version when I was looking for a reasonable price I would have considered it...but those selling the PSD's really had a high opinion of their commodity that I was not willing to pay and to this day...with all the places I have taken my family with trailer in tow...I have not regretted my decision one bit.

My point here is that I've been to and thru 35 states and counting with my V10 towing my camper and the V10 has been a wonderful tow vehicle...no matter what some folks (not you aklim) would lead folks on the web to beleive about the V10.

Joe.