Just set the cruise and go. The computer will force the transmission to downshift to control the hill decent speed. Have towed a similar setup with my 2015 in the Rockies on I 80 and I 70 with no problems. I just let the computer handle the cruise settings.

Some like to set the exhaust brake on all the time. I do not. I only turn it on in the slow winding hills during decent. Also, using the +/- on the gear shift level. I lock out some gears when I descended from Estes Park in the Rockies above Boulder Co a few years ago.

I did experience a problem with the DPF not cleaning adequately when towing slow in the mountains. I now have an Edge CTS2 that i can do a manual regen if necessary.

 

Tow/haul mode is your friend. Also, pick a lower gear than what you'd climb the hill in. Slow it down at the top of the grade you're descending. Don't go into a grade faster than what you want to go down the hill. If it is a mountain pass, I like to come to a complete stop at the top of the grade and do a quick check of everything. Hitch, tires and brakes. Then, I take my time doing down the grade.

 

Correct answer, I just did NM to WA and am now in NE. The truck does just what he says, 6% down grades and it will hold what ever speed you have the cruse set at. My 5W is 13K+ and up downs not an issue.

Just Strokin, I had the DPF issue on long grades and have the SCT programmer, how do you do a manual regen?? I actually went to limp mode once when it wouldn't clean. I cleared the code and drove at 60 for several miles. It's flat here in NE so no issues since. The owners manual says to do a manual regen but I just couldn't make it work.

 

I do not have the tuner you have so, can not give you any information about how ti start it. The CTS2 has a diag menu that you can go into and then offers manual regen as an option. the manual regen is a stationary regen. Can only be accomplished with the truck parked.

Check you menus to see or call SCT?

 

I tow a 22' enclosed trailer with a 2003 Thunderbird in it - I hit the tow/haul button before I put it in drive and set the cruise when on the open road. Works like a champ.

 

 

Question: When using tow/haul and or cruise going downhill without touching the brakes, what does the trailer braking?

 

 

That's what I thought. When I'm going downhill, I need all wheels braking otherwise, all of the braking energy is absorbed in the tow vehicle drive train (rear end, tranny, motor, etc). That's a lot of energy (heat) that must be absorbed in the vehicle's drive train.

I live in Colorado and have been up and down about every mountain in the state numerous times. I came down Pike's Peak and they stop everyone along the to check brake temp. My brakes were cool.

I have used cruise control braking and especially in Lake Tahoe area. It worked great, but I didn't have 20,000 lbs on the back.

My method for coming downhill is to engage engine braking and service brakes as needed. I slow down 5-10 mph from my cruising speed using service brakes, let it speed back up, repeat braking action to slow back down 5-10 mph from my cruising speed. This allows the brakes to cool. Don't let it get going too fast. Stay in control and stay slow. Keeping the vehicle slow is the key.. Once you let it get outta control, it will take 10 times more braking to get it back under control again.

(IF EQUIPPED)
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

WARNINGS
Hill descent control cannot control
descent in all surface conditions and
circumstances, such as ice or
extremely steep grades. Hill descent
control is a driver assist system and cannot
substitute for good judgment by the driver.
Failure to do so may result in loss of vehicle
control, crash or serious injury.

Hill descent control does not provide
hill hold at zero miles per hour (0
kilometers per hour). When stopped,
the parking brake must be applied or the
vehicle must be placed in P (Park) or it
may roll away.
Hill descent control allows the driver to set
and maintain vehicle speed while
descending steep grades in various surface
conditions.
Hill descent control can maintain vehicle
speeds on downhill grades between 2 mph
(3 km/h) and 12 mph (20 km/h). Above 20
mph (32 km/h), the system remains
armed, but descent speed cannot be set
or maintained.
Hill descent control requires a cooling
down interval after a period of sustained
use. The amount of time that the feature
can remain active before cooling varies
with conditions. The system will provide a
warning in the message center and a chime
will sound when the system is about to
disengage for cooling. At this time,
manually apply the brakes as needed to
maintain descent speed.
USING HILL DESCENT
CONTROL
E163957
Press and release the hill
descent button located on the
instrument panel. A light in the
cluster will illuminate and a chime will
sound when this feature is activated.
To increase descent speed, press the
accelerator pedal until the desired speed
is reached. To decrease descent speed,
press the brake pedal until the desired
speed is reached.
Whether accelerating or decelerating, once
the desired descent speed is reached,
remove your feet from the pedals and the
chosen vehicle speed will be maintained.
Note: Noise from the ABS pump motor may
be observed during hill descent control
operation. This is a normal characteristic of
the ABS and should be no reason for
concern.
Hill descent modes
• At speeds below 20 mph (32 km/h):
When the Hill Descent Control switch
is pressed and Hill Descent Control is
active, the Hill Descent Control telltale
will flash.
• At speeds below 20 mph (32 km/h):
When the Hill Descent Control switch
is pressed and conditions are not
correct for hill descent activation, the
Hill Descent Control system will be
enabled, the Hill Descent Control
telltale will be solid and a message will
display in the information display.
• At speeds above 20 mph (32 km/h):
When the Hill Descent Control switch
is pressed, the Hill Descent Control
system will be enabled, the telltale in
the cluster will not be illuminated and
a message will be displayed in the
information display.

Ford has a button to push for engine braking apart from Tow/Haul mode, but it only works for something like under 20 mph. So if you're going faster downhill, the decent control is active but not helping. I was going down a steep mountain pass and thought the engine was over rev'ing.....

Engine braking has 3 modes.. Off, On and Auto (Double push the button) .... Auto might be new.. Not sure.. Maybe someone can verify...

Maybe someone that's had a heavy trailer going down mountain passes can help more.

 

Tow/Haul mode is nothing magical. It basically raises the shift points to help prevent the transmission doing hunt and seek for the right gear in slow speed operations.

 

True Exhaust Brakes like Jake Brakes use an engine exhaust valve retarder that forces exhaust back pressure.
The exhaust valves hold back exhaust with another similar call exhaust braking that's called a potato brake.

Just downshifting will provide some tranny braking, but that's not exhaust braking. Exhaust braking is done at the motor.

Do Ford 6.7L Diesels really provide restrictive exhaust?

 

This feature of Off, On and Automatic is the 2017 and 2018 trucks. The 2015 and 2016 was only on or off.

It is on page 221 and 222 of the 2017 Owner's Manual.

Owners Manuals Search Results

 

I have towed my 5th wheel from coast to coast over just about every mountain range in the country and i ust tow haul and engauge the exhause brake button and just go. You dont have to have cruise control engaged for the exhause br

 

Edd505, this is a few posts back, but the SCT will not let you do a manual regen.