Towing Tips......please!
New User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Hickory USA
Towing Tips......please!
Just bought a 2000 F-250 SD, extended cab, LWB, V-10. Put a gooseneck hitch in, wired it up for a brake control and am ready for a horse-riding getaway. This truck has an automatic transmission with overdrive. That leads to my plea for help.
For the past six years I have been pulling my trailer with a manual transmission. Now that I have "more power" and an automatic, I need some advice.
Should I deactivate the overdrive while towing? How about using the cruise control? I've heard yes and no. Do I need to downshift into 2 or 1 when going down steep grades or will the tranny handle that on its own? Anything else to be particularly concerned about due to the auto tranny or this truck in particular?
I'm excited! This is a nice truck. Seems to have power to burn and will no doubt handle my trailer with ease. My first Ford, so I may have other novice questions.
TIA,
For the past six years I have been pulling my trailer with a manual transmission. Now that I have "more power" and an automatic, I need some advice.
Should I deactivate the overdrive while towing? How about using the cruise control? I've heard yes and no. Do I need to downshift into 2 or 1 when going down steep grades or will the tranny handle that on its own? Anything else to be particularly concerned about due to the auto tranny or this truck in particular?
I'm excited! This is a nice truck. Seems to have power to burn and will no doubt handle my trailer with ease. My first Ford, so I may have other novice questions.
TIA,
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 2
Towing Tips......please!
Unless it's shifting back and forth a lot just leave it in O/D.
Keep your trans.fluid and filter clean and changed.Some people who tow a lot change it as often as every 20,000mi.If it acts up while in cruise control mode,just mash the gas pedal
.
Enjoy your truck!
Keep your trans.fluid and filter clean and changed.Some people who tow a lot change it as often as every 20,000mi.If it acts up while in cruise control mode,just mash the gas pedal
.Enjoy your truck!
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
Towing Tips......please!
I have a 02 f350 4x2 v10 auto 3:73's...tow a 6500 lb travel trailer.
i lock out the over drive on the secondary roads.....interstate on the level or downhill use the overdrive. up and down hills lock it out. this truck turns low rpm's at 60-65mph without overdrive...i would prefer to keep it in the power band.in od you are below power band. good luck
Dan / FT
i lock out the over drive on the secondary roads.....interstate on the level or downhill use the overdrive. up and down hills lock it out. this truck turns low rpm's at 60-65mph without overdrive...i would prefer to keep it in the power band.in od you are below power band. good luck
Dan / FT
New User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Hickory USA
Towing Tips......please!
>Just got a booklet from Ford that said you can tow in O/D
>but if the transmission shifts a lot in and out of o/d, you
>should block it out.
Thanks for all the quick responses! I'll do as suggested above and report back with any difficulties. I appreciate the help.
>but if the transmission shifts a lot in and out of o/d, you
>should block it out.
Thanks for all the quick responses! I'll do as suggested above and report back with any difficulties. I appreciate the help.
