Tow/Haul Button
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 385
Likes: 2
From: North Florida
Tow/Haul Button
Not a whole lot of experience with the tow/haul mode. I understand the general concept. The 2001 7.3 had an overdrive button - disabling overdrive I believe. My wife hauled her horse trailer and I don't think she ever used it.
But here is my question - is it ever ok to haul without using the tow/haul mode. The reason I ask is I do tow mostly very light loads. My larger boat total weight with trailer is probably in the 4K range. My smaller boat is very light - probably total rig at about 2k if that. Wife's horse trailer is a different animal as would be my flatbed with tractor loaded.
I have the 6.2 gasser. What are your thoughts?
But here is my question - is it ever ok to haul without using the tow/haul mode. The reason I ask is I do tow mostly very light loads. My larger boat total weight with trailer is probably in the 4K range. My smaller boat is very light - probably total rig at about 2k if that. Wife's horse trailer is a different animal as would be my flatbed with tractor loaded.
I have the 6.2 gasser. What are your thoughts?
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,709
Likes: 2,629
From: SE Florida
You can tow with or without tow/haul. Tow/haul is designed to make driving while towing easier. If you don't like it, don't use it. The truck was designed to be able to tow with or without it. You won't hurt it either way.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 387
Likes: 11
From: Alberta
It will save your brakes as it turns on engine braking to help you slow down especially when going down hill and slow speeds, I don't think gassers have exhaust break like the diesels but that helps with high speeds
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 4
Using Tow/Haul will hold it in gear longer to prevent straining on acceleration. When slowing it will keep the Torque Converter locked up and down shift to use some of the engine compression to help slow down. Not the same as Exhaust Braking which will add more engine braking when slowing.
5th Wheeling
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 29
Likes: 4
With a lighter trailer not much difference. With a heavy trailer, it definitely improves the experience. Stretching out the upshifts helps get the rig moving, and accelerated downshifts help to slow it down without having to stand on the brakes as hard.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 4
Oh and don't tell anyone. When I go to the city and get in heavy traffic I hit the Tow/Haul so I can pull out from a stop into traffic. Be careful that *** end will come loose.
I went test drive a 17 King Ranch. The young salesman tells be to get down on it to feel the power. So I do and it feels ok. So I pull over to let traffic pass. He ask what I'm doing and I say watch this. I put it in Tow/Haul and turn the traction control off. I pull back onto the street and stop. I then launched it and left two black lines about 50ft+ then two short lines when it hit second. He only thought he was the most knowledgable salesman of the Super Duties and now he was educated. He liked that.
I went test drive a 17 King Ranch. The young salesman tells be to get down on it to feel the power. So I do and it feels ok. So I pull over to let traffic pass. He ask what I'm doing and I say watch this. I put it in Tow/Haul and turn the traction control off. I pull back onto the street and stop. I then launched it and left two black lines about 50ft+ then two short lines when it hit second. He only thought he was the most knowledgable salesman of the Super Duties and now he was educated. He liked that.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 63
What does tow/haul have to do with that?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,223
Likes: 63
And, what does tow/haul have to do with that?
Tow/haul doesn't change turbo spool up characteristics, or power programming changes.
Tow/haul doesn't change turbo spool up characteristics, or power programming changes.
New User
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
I use Tow/Haul a lot in stop and go traffic. It prevents my truck from shifting into a higher gear when going slow so I can just let off the gas to slow down when needed. It acts more like a manual car would in those situations.
This is on an Ecoboost F150. I'm assuming it'd be the same for Super Duties (haven't received mine yet).
This is on an Ecoboost F150. I'm assuming it'd be the same for Super Duties (haven't received mine yet).
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 481
Likes: 1
technically because tow haul causes the truck to stay in gear longer before shifting this would raise rippums and cause the turbo to spool faster with more available boost. Theoretically...