towing help
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New User
Joined: Jun 2020
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towing help
hi ive got a 1994 f250 7.5l 4.10 gear truck that i tow a travel trailer with,flat roads are never an issue but doing the steep grades taxes the truck with the e4od.i feel that a 6 speed auto would be the best solution for this but im thinking that if it could be done it would be more trouble than its worth.the other options would be the gear vendors unit or go to a lower gear set up maybe 4.3 or 4.56. does anybody have experience or thoughts about it. thanks
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
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Buy more truck or less trailer. Or put money into that 460 and get it to breathe better.
A six speed auto trans sounds great, but that 460 doesn’t have enough powerband to make it work as it’s wheezing not too far passed 2500 rpms.
These transmissions nowadays days are paired with engines that have DOHCs and variable cam timing that put power out that makes a 460 blush.
A six speed auto trans sounds great, but that 460 doesn’t have enough powerband to make it work as it’s wheezing not too far passed 2500 rpms.
These transmissions nowadays days are paired with engines that have DOHCs and variable cam timing that put power out that makes a 460 blush.
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New User
Joined: Jun 2020
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towing help
thanks for replies,when i say taxing the truck on grades i mean that with the 4 speed trans there is a lot of rpms between gears in that going down from 4th to third spins the engine significantly higher, likewise from 3rd to 2 the same.a six speed should narrow that rpm gap and keep the engine in its comfort zone a little better,am i making sense?thats why i mentioned the gv unit or with taller gears would it delay the need to downshift.was hoping someone might have had similar questions and came to a good result.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,521
Likes: 412
From: Washington Coast
Faster and easier method to fix that problem is a under drive unit. It'll give you the equivalent of 8 forward and 2 reverse gears. When I had my old F350 with the 460, a C6 automatic, and 4.11 rear end gears in it. I had a US Gears under drive unit which gave me basically the 4.11 and a 4.80 effective ratios and all the gears I needed to do all I needed. I used it to haul gear boxes and generators all over the western states. I had the only truck that could pull our trailer mounted 750 Kw generator (12,500 lbs) 3 axle trailer without having to hire a semi.
I've owned several vehicles with the 460 in it and never had one Wheeze above 2500 RPM. Maybe it was my setups but never saw that. Mine would just keep on pulling and continue to accelerate as long as I had the nerve to hold down the throttle. Only time after I got rolling that I used to have to drop a gear was on the Sysku Summit between California and Oregon pulling the 750 north to Portland. Droped into low range and continued up the grade at 55 in drive. Came down in the same gears at 50 and only used very short braking for a couple of spots I'd still be driving that beast if the tree hadn't fell on it (150 foot Sitka Spruce) and bent the frame.
I've owned several vehicles with the 460 in it and never had one Wheeze above 2500 RPM. Maybe it was my setups but never saw that. Mine would just keep on pulling and continue to accelerate as long as I had the nerve to hold down the throttle. Only time after I got rolling that I used to have to drop a gear was on the Sysku Summit between California and Oregon pulling the 750 north to Portland. Droped into low range and continued up the grade at 55 in drive. Came down in the same gears at 50 and only used very short braking for a couple of spots I'd still be driving that beast if the tree hadn't fell on it (150 foot Sitka Spruce) and bent the frame.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,371
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From: Green Springs, OH
I have never owned a gear vendor unit but I say go for it if your truck is in good shape overall. Cheaper than 40k for a new truck. I had a 77 F150 I wanted to put a Gear vendor in. Never did it. I think at that time they were 2500 bucks for the unit. Which is not bad for what you gain in driveability. Get it done and report back!
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