I have a 1996 F250 4x4 with an E4OD. Does anyone know the real rules behind towing in OD? Is the only reason not tow in OD, the hunting associated with 3rd and 4th gear?

Does this mean that I can tow the load in OD, as long as the transmission doesn't hunt? Does towing OD on a relatively flat road hurt the transmission?

 

I guess it depends on how much you are towing. I have a 96' F-350 with that tranny in it & have pulled anything from 1000 to 25000 pounds with it. If you are pulling a lot of weight leave the OD off but if you are under 7000 or 8000 pounds you should be able to run it with no problems.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 20-Jun-01 AT 02:02 PM (EST)[/font][p]Towing in OD will harm your transmission. The only time you need to lock out OD is if the tranny starts 'hunting' between 3rd and OD. We use to pull a 24' #6000 TT with our '95 F250 with the E4OD and never had a single problem. We recently moved up to a 30' 5er at #10,000 and still haven't had a problem. The only maintance/upgrades to the tranny we have done are fluid/filter changes, added a secondary cooler, added Banks TransCommand, and added a tranny temp gauge to monitor the temperature.

Rich

 

Rich -

Are you happy with the addition of the Banks Trans Command? DOes it change the shift points, or just make a firmer shift?

I have a 2000 F250-SD V10 3.73 gears. Was told by a pretty knowledgable tranny guy that the existing trans cooler is as good or better then any aftermarket. Are you running synthetic trans fluid?

I pull a 4000 pound trailer about 80% of the time - I Occasionally pull my boat that is about 9500lbs wet - Haven't had any problems, but only have 17K miles on the truck -

Love to hear what you think about the Trans Command -

Pat Hopkins

 

Pat,

The TransCommand is one of the best additions to the truck. It definately makes the shifts firmer and more precise. The truck now shifts like it had a shift kit in it. As for changing the shift points, I don't believe they have changed drastically, if at all. The performance difference is drastic, mainly because the TransCommand now controls the TC lock up.

We left the factory trans cooler in place, but installed, after the factory cooler, an auxullary cooler. We also added a trans temp gauge. While towing in stop and go traffic or backing, our temp is running between 150 and 170, which is where you want to see it.

We also run Mobil 1 synthetic in the trans. This is the first time we've run sythetic, so we'll see how it does. We decided to go with the synthetic because it can take higher temperatures.

I have to say, for the price, you can't beat the TransCommand.

Rich

 

Thanks for the information. I was also going to ask about the TransCommand. I had looked into getting one, but never heard of anyone who had used one.

I only tow a 20' boat. Weight of my rig with all our stuff is about 12,000lbs, including the truck, fuel, etc. It doesn't sound like this is much weight, since my boat/trailer is about 5500lbs. Compared to the guys that towing a 12,000lbs 5th wheel.

Thanks for the info.. I'll keep it in 3rd...

Juan