Wondering About Driving Modes???
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 49
Likes: 5
From: Clare, MI
Wondering About Driving Modes???
Hello all. I'm new to the Ford Super Duty pickups. I just purchased a new '21 Ford F-350 King Ranch DRW with the 6.7L Powerstroke. I have just over 700 miles on it and the manual says to have 1,000 miles before putting it under loads, like my toy hauler that weighs in at 18,000# gross. With two Harleys loaded, that right where I am weight wise.
I know that I have five driving modes, not sure about the order but, Normal, Tow/Haul, ECO, Snow/Ice and Sand/Mud. I may have some of the wording wrong, but you should get the idea.
I did some searching and didn't find what I was looking for. Mainly what I'm looking for is this, do the different modes change shift point, transmission pressures, engine torque output, just what do they do?
Also on YouTube, I found that I have a "hidden" Sport driving mode. You push your Traction Control button twice quickly and a window pops up asking if you want to enter Sport Mode, click OK to enter it. WOW, does that ever make a difference in performance!
My main concern will be the tow/haul mode with our 18,000# toy hauler. Is tow/haul the best mode to drive in? What other options might I have?
Thanks a bunch in advance, have a great week...
Dan Lockwood
I know that I have five driving modes, not sure about the order but, Normal, Tow/Haul, ECO, Snow/Ice and Sand/Mud. I may have some of the wording wrong, but you should get the idea.
I did some searching and didn't find what I was looking for. Mainly what I'm looking for is this, do the different modes change shift point, transmission pressures, engine torque output, just what do they do?
Also on YouTube, I found that I have a "hidden" Sport driving mode. You push your Traction Control button twice quickly and a window pops up asking if you want to enter Sport Mode, click OK to enter it. WOW, does that ever make a difference in performance!
My main concern will be the tow/haul mode with our 18,000# toy hauler. Is tow/haul the best mode to drive in? What other options might I have?
Thanks a bunch in advance, have a great week...
Dan Lockwood
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 49
Likes: 5
From: Clare, MI
Thanks guys.
I don't have 1k miles on the truck yet, but my B&W Ford OEM fifth wheel hitch base just got here today so I hooked it up. Our RV is not too far from home so I went to get it and haul it home.
I didn't get over 45 mph as that's all the roads will allow. I did feel a heavy 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 shifts and it jerked the RV quite a bit. But it is using every gear now.
I'm going to drive a couple hundred miles tomorrow and should be near 1k when I get home. This of course is without the RV in tow. Not sure how important the 1k mile break in is prior to heavy towing, but I will respect it.
Thanks again for the replies.
Dan
I don't have 1k miles on the truck yet, but my B&W Ford OEM fifth wheel hitch base just got here today so I hooked it up. Our RV is not too far from home so I went to get it and haul it home.
I didn't get over 45 mph as that's all the roads will allow. I did feel a heavy 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 shifts and it jerked the RV quite a bit. But it is using every gear now.
I'm going to drive a couple hundred miles tomorrow and should be near 1k when I get home. This of course is without the RV in tow. Not sure how important the 1k mile break in is prior to heavy towing, but I will respect it.
Thanks again for the replies.
Dan
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 8,480
Likes: 4,973
Thanks guys.
I don't have 1k miles on the truck yet, but my B&W Ford OEM fifth wheel hitch base just got here today so I hooked it up. Our RV is not too far from home so I went to get it and haul it home.
I didn't get over 45 mph as that's all the roads will allow. I did feel a heavy 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 shifts and it jerked the RV quite a bit. But it is using every gear now.
I'm going to drive a couple hundred miles tomorrow and should be near 1k when I get home. This of course is without the RV in tow. Not sure how important the 1k mile break in is prior to heavy towing, but I will respect it.
Thanks again for the replies.
Dan
I don't have 1k miles on the truck yet, but my B&W Ford OEM fifth wheel hitch base just got here today so I hooked it up. Our RV is not too far from home so I went to get it and haul it home.
I didn't get over 45 mph as that's all the roads will allow. I did feel a heavy 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 shifts and it jerked the RV quite a bit. But it is using every gear now.
I'm going to drive a couple hundred miles tomorrow and should be near 1k when I get home. This of course is without the RV in tow. Not sure how important the 1k mile break in is prior to heavy towing, but I will respect it.
Thanks again for the replies.
Dan
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 996
Likes: 193
From: AZ
Is this real? I’ve not heard of this before
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 669
Likes: 179
I have always ignored the 1k breakin period and have never suffered any ill consequence. Based on my experience trying out the various transmission modes I feel quite confident that the shift points as well as throttle sensitivity are changed. Normal seems to rev a little higher than eco before shift points and skips gears depending on load. Eco shifts early, uses all gears and causes the throttle to be less responsive. Tow haul holds gears longer. Sand and snow makes throttle response much more sensitive. I’ve never really played with the ice mode but suspect it would perform similar to eco.
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,266
Likes: 150
From: In the field...
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 49
Likes: 5
From: Clare, MI
Dan, have you tried to double tap on your Traction Control button yet? I've shown a couple friends this on my truck and it works as a much quicker normal mode. Try it, you'll like it...
Dan Lockwood
Dan Lockwood
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 49
Likes: 5
From: Clare, MI
Just got back from a two from the Greater St. Louis MO area to Des Moines IA. Our RV grosses around 18k# and was probably, for this trip, around 16.5k#. My new B&W Ford OEM puck base worked really well. It's a LOT lighter than my old B&W Companion base that I had for the B&W turnover ball gooseneck hitch.
The truck pulled great and I could hit the go pedal and be up to 70 mph at the end of the entrance ramp to the freeway! I drove around 65 mph up and back. According to the Lie-O-Meter I got around 8.9 mpg on the way up and 10.5 mpg on the way home. Either way, I think that's pretty good. Better than my '12 RAM dually could do for me.
Thanks for all the replies!
Dan Lockwood
The truck pulled great and I could hit the go pedal and be up to 70 mph at the end of the entrance ramp to the freeway! I drove around 65 mph up and back. According to the Lie-O-Meter I got around 8.9 mpg on the way up and 10.5 mpg on the way home. Either way, I think that's pretty good. Better than my '12 RAM dually could do for me.
Thanks for all the replies!
Dan Lockwood
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 8,640
Likes: 2,435
Sport mode has been discussed many times with varying opinions on what it really does.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...rchid=31519837
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...rchid=31519837
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 1,204
From: Southeast MO
I tried it on mine today and it worked. I have a pedal monster so not sure what the difference in throttle response is.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 917
Likes: 513
Bob
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 343
From: PG, BC, Canada
I don't think "sport" mode does much except disable traction control & not cut engine power when wheel spin occurs... JMO
I do think deep "snow & sand" mode is definitely much more "sporty" than any other mode I have found... IMO
WOW... 
I do think deep "snow & sand" mode is definitely much more "sporty" than any other mode I have found... IMO
WOW...
