Hunting gears while towing
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 80
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From: Canada
Hunting gears while towing
I have a 2013 F150, 5.0L
I have 2 trailers
1) 1975 trailer weighing 2100kgs
2) 1998 trailer weighing 1300kgs
At highway speeds, the heavier one does not give me a problem and shifts up to 6th and stays there till a hill comes. The lighter trailer, at the same speed, hunts between 5-6th gears.
Anyone know why this is happening?
I have 2 trailers
1) 1975 trailer weighing 2100kgs
2) 1998 trailer weighing 1300kgs
At highway speeds, the heavier one does not give me a problem and shifts up to 6th and stays there till a hill comes. The lighter trailer, at the same speed, hunts between 5-6th gears.
Anyone know why this is happening?
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Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Sioux Falls Area
Which one is taller?
Wind is harder to move than weight.
Our 3,000 lbs empty horse trailer pulls as hard as our 7,000 loaded camper. And the horse trailer doesn't pull any harder at 6,000 lbs than it does empty. But that thing just pulls like crap no matter what....
Lock out 6th if you can if it hunts.
Wind is harder to move than weight.
Our 3,000 lbs empty horse trailer pulls as hard as our 7,000 loaded camper. And the horse trailer doesn't pull any harder at 6,000 lbs than it does empty. But that thing just pulls like crap no matter what....
Lock out 6th if you can if it hunts.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Canada
Dropping my speed by about 2 mph, it stopped hunting and stayed in 6th. With the older trailer, I was doing higher speeds and it stayed in 6th.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2004
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Very true. I would get the same mileage in my '07 towing my 23' Sea Ray (6000lbs trailer weight) as I would towing my mom's 16' pontoon boat (guessing 1500lb trailered weight). It takes more to get the Sea Ray rolling, but once it's moving it is fairly aerodynamic. The pontoon is like pulling a parachute...lots of vertical, flat surfaces sitting way up high.
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From: Stephensville WI
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Cross-Country
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Then it won't upshift into 6th.
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From: Maryville, TN
Your lighter trailer is obviously not as aerodynamic. My 8500 travel trailer pulls great at 60-65. If I try running 70, I have a hard time keeping it in 6th on flat ground. It's a huge parachute, and the faster you go, the more resistance you get. Your options are to run a little slower, lock out 6th, regear to a lower gear, or get a truck with more low end torque. Most trailer tires are only rated to 65 mph, making option 1 the smart choice.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Canada
Your lighter trailer is obviously not as aerodynamic. My 8500 travel trailer pulls great at 60-65. If I try running 70, I have a hard time keeping it in 6th on flat ground. It's a huge parachute, and the faster you go, the more resistance you get. Your options are to run a little slower, lock out 6th, regear to a lower gear, or get a truck with more low end torque. Most trailer tires are only rated to 65 mph, making option 1 the smart choice.
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