towing in 2 low
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,470
Likes: 3
From: Pea Ridge, AR
If your transmission, and transfer case are in good working condition now you should not have a problem at all. It could/should be actually better for the trans and also keep you in the power band better.
It's a Van Gogh
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,813
Likes: 1,335
From: Elk Grove, CA
one of my favorite vacation spots involves a severe grade a relentless atleast 10 percent with hairpin turns for around ten miles ( nine mile rd near pearson ville ca ) . in a new to me 2002 f350 towing 12k would i benifit from using 2 low in a taller gear to reduce load on the auto trans going up and increase engine braking going down .can the transfer case handle this load for an extented time ? what are opinions or experiences .
thanks
thanks
I slowly hauled my 5er up Hiway 155 to Lake Isabella near there, pretty effing brutal. The xfer case and engine will be fine, especially if you go 2 low. The trans is the issue. If you have opportunity throw on a 6.0 cooler first. Low road speed plus steep grades is the recipe for cooking your trans. Otherwise I think your idea of 2 low is excellent.
You have manual hubs? A real trans gauge or just the dash gauge?
And just between us, one camper to another, tell me this secret camping spot!
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 40
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I slowly hauled my 5er up Hiway 155 to Lake Isabella near there, pretty effing brutal. The xfer case and engine will be fine, especially if you go 2 low. The trans is the issue. If you have opportunity throw on a 6.0 cooler first. Low road speed plus steep grades is the recipe for cooking your trans. Otherwise I think your idea of 2 low is excellent.
You have manual hubs? A real trans gauge or just the dash gauge?
And just between us, one camper to another, tell me this secret camping spot!
You have manual hubs? A real trans gauge or just the dash gauge?
And just between us, one camper to another, tell me this secret camping spot!
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 26
From: Mesa AZ
I use 2 low all the time, not for 10 miles, but depending on speed I wouldn't see any issue, I have been in 4 Low for about 60 miles before on trails and scenic drives.
To Greg and Joey, just don't luck the hubs, and shift the transfer case, a nice luxury of having the manual transfer and hubs.
On one of my previous trucks, I had ESOF, and wired a bypass switch next to the ESOF to cut out the Pulse Vacuum Hub Solenoid to allow for the hubs to stay in "auto" disengaged and allow the transfer case to still shift into 4 low.
To Greg and Joey, just don't luck the hubs, and shift the transfer case, a nice luxury of having the manual transfer and hubs.
On one of my previous trucks, I had ESOF, and wired a bypass switch next to the ESOF to cut out the Pulse Vacuum Hub Solenoid to allow for the hubs to stay in "auto" disengaged and allow the transfer case to still shift into 4 low.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 16
From: AZ
I use 4L w/o locking my hubs quite often in the back country of Nevada...have run it for hours doing this...10 miles will be easy. I would add this proviso, there is a hell of a lot of torque being sent to those rear wheels. Avoid bouncing the truck around on washboard roads (brutal on axles and driveline if the tires get off the ground and then return to ground), just take it easy and you will be fine. I would have a tranny temp gauge on that auto tranny for sure.
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2012
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I use 4L w/o locking my hubs quite often in the back country of Nevada...have run it for hours doing this...10 miles will be easy. I would add this proviso, there is a hell of a lot of torque being sent to those rear wheels. Avoid bouncing the truck around on washboard roads (brutal on axles and driveline if the tires get off the ground and then return to ground), just take it easy and you will be fine. I would have a tranny temp gauge on that auto tranny for sure.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 4,243
Likes: 16
From: AZ
Do you have a tranny temperature gauge? Do yourself a BIG favor and put one on it BEFORE this haul...sure hate to burn up the tranny.
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2012
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as stated earler i have a after market trans temp gauge and a 40k trucool mounted in series with stock cooler
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2005
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FWIW, I just unplugged the solenoid on the passenger side of the engine bay so that anytime I put my ESOF switch to 4wd, the front hubs dont attempt to engage (they didn't really engage automatically anyways, I've had a vacuum leak there for as long as I can remember).
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 398
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From: Nova Scotia, Canada
I have manual hubs and t case, I use 2wd low when backing up (truck hardly moves in R) and when other wise working in tight quarters with a trailer. A lot easily on the clutch etc.
I actually HAD to use low range to start a loaded trailer in soft dirt one time, the truck wanted to stall out in L on the ZF-6, lots of traction, just dead weight!
As far as hauling extended distance in 2 Low, go for it, just keep in mind your top speed is quite limited, but by the sounds of it, you plan SLOW anyways.
I tried to see how fast I could go in 4 low on a snowy road, seem to me the 7.3 was reving high in 6th and I wasn't doing 40 MPH
I actually HAD to use low range to start a loaded trailer in soft dirt one time, the truck wanted to stall out in L on the ZF-6, lots of traction, just dead weight!
As far as hauling extended distance in 2 Low, go for it, just keep in mind your top speed is quite limited, but by the sounds of it, you plan SLOW anyways.
I tried to see how fast I could go in 4 low on a snowy road, seem to me the 7.3 was reving high in 6th and I wasn't doing 40 MPH
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2012
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thanks for all the replies. 2 low it is thats what i wanted to hear i dosent sound like any one has had any transfercase isues and i will feel much safer hauling my family with the extra controll going up and down this grade
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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I use it for low speed but I'm careful with it and usually only on dirt or gravel.
Neal was the first to get to the right idea. The transmission will be fine as long as it (or the engine) doesn't get too warm from low road speed. Remember in 4L the torque the trans sees is 37% of what it would be in 2H or 4H in the same scenario. The transfercase will be fine as well. The 271/273 is so overbuilt you'll break something else first...which leads to...
the rear driveshaft and the pinion shaft. That is your problem area. You increase the torque on the rear driveline by 2.72 when using 2L. That's why you aren't given the choice of 2L. Pulling too hard on dry pavement in 2L you run the risk of a pretzeled driveshaft or a broken pinion shaft or other rear end calamities.
Neal was the first to get to the right idea. The transmission will be fine as long as it (or the engine) doesn't get too warm from low road speed. Remember in 4L the torque the trans sees is 37% of what it would be in 2H or 4H in the same scenario. The transfercase will be fine as well. The 271/273 is so overbuilt you'll break something else first...which leads to...
the rear driveshaft and the pinion shaft. That is your problem area. You increase the torque on the rear driveline by 2.72 when using 2L. That's why you aren't given the choice of 2L. Pulling too hard on dry pavement in 2L you run the risk of a pretzeled driveshaft or a broken pinion shaft or other rear end calamities.
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