Hi guys, i'm a newbie to this forum. We have a 2002 s crew with 5.4L and towing package. However, it has the 3.55 rear end. I have a 27 ft. travel trailer that weighs in at 4050 lbs. dry. When pulling on the hiway, it doesn't quite have enough to keep it in overdrive without hunting sometimes. When i drop down into 3rd. it runs about 2500 rpms at 63 mph. Will it hurt to run at 2500 - 3000 rpms for an extended period of time? This is our first ford product to own, and will definately not be our last. The wife and i both love this truck. thanks for any replys.

 

It won't hurt a bit, many trucks have lived a long time at that rpm, it is just getting started into the powerband. If you let it shift in and out of od too many times, you'll be having to replace the trans. It's fine to shift occasionally, but if it happens every hill or such, then you need to leave it out of od.

 

My '98 F250 Supercab has a 5.4, and 3:73's. When towing our 25' fifth wheel we always keep it out of overdrive. In OD, it constantly hunts and lugs. The truck really needs 4:30 gears to tow in OD.

Two years ago we towed from CA to Canada, across Canada to Michigan, and back to CA. No OD. 2600 RPM is 62 MPH in third, right on the torque peak. Got about 9.5 mpg.

Don't sweat it.

Rick