Towing in Overdrive?
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Towing in Overdrive?
the manual says not to tow in overdrive but my trucks engine is telling me not a problem. On a flat grade 5th gear almost seems to low.
would'nt it be easier on the truck to put it in OD when not stressing the engine?
Until I get used to this new truck please bare with me and my questions.
thanks for any replies,
JK
would'nt it be easier on the truck to put it in OD when not stressing the engine?
Until I get used to this new truck please bare with me and my questions.
thanks for any replies,
JK
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 1
From: Elverson, PA
Yep - you got it right. Tow using overdrive unless the transmission starts hunting around - then lock it out. The way the manual says it is pretty dumb - yea, like you could tow a trailer on a 4-lane highway without OD?? I think not. It doesn't take long to get used to kicking it out every now and then.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 0
From: IOWA
I'm guessing you have a 6 speed manual? since 5th is too low of gear. Cat_man is referring to an automatic, but he's right either way. You should be able to tow in overdrive/6th no problem. Just watch the rpms and be sure not to lug it too hard, but you can usually tell then just by the way the truck feels pulling. The PSD has plenty of power and you could pull some small grades in OD without a problem. Go luck!
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From: Derby, Kansas
Hello Judyk,
I am a new guy to Diesels but an old guy to towing RV's (30yrs). I've pulled 12,000 lb fifth wheels, 10,000 lb trailers and this question always comes up, should I pull in OD?
My 12000 lb fifth wheel was pulled with an F250 HD 460 with a 4.10 Axle and it simply did not do well in OD anywhere. But in (always had autos) in third gear at 1 to 1 ratio there wasn't any problems.
My 10,000 trailer I pulled for three years with a V10 F250 SD 4.30 axle and sometimes when I wasn't bucking the wind or going up hill it did ok in OD, but I would say 75% of the time was in third.
I have the same trailer now being pulled with a 7.3L PSD and the change is noticeable that if I maintain a good 60 to 65 mph I can pull in OD about 75% of the time instead of third. The moral of this story is weight of the trailer, power of the engine and keeping speed in a reasonable zone, you can use OD but not all of the time. If she start shifting a lot get it into third gear or whatever ratio is 1 to 1.
Hope this helps,
fknipfer1
I am a new guy to Diesels but an old guy to towing RV's (30yrs). I've pulled 12,000 lb fifth wheels, 10,000 lb trailers and this question always comes up, should I pull in OD?
My 12000 lb fifth wheel was pulled with an F250 HD 460 with a 4.10 Axle and it simply did not do well in OD anywhere. But in (always had autos) in third gear at 1 to 1 ratio there wasn't any problems.
My 10,000 trailer I pulled for three years with a V10 F250 SD 4.30 axle and sometimes when I wasn't bucking the wind or going up hill it did ok in OD, but I would say 75% of the time was in third.
I have the same trailer now being pulled with a 7.3L PSD and the change is noticeable that if I maintain a good 60 to 65 mph I can pull in OD about 75% of the time instead of third. The moral of this story is weight of the trailer, power of the engine and keeping speed in a reasonable zone, you can use OD but not all of the time. If she start shifting a lot get it into third gear or whatever ratio is 1 to 1.
Hope this helps,
fknipfer1
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
thanks for all the imput. Will continue to use the OD when my engine tells me to. Love this manual for towing- takes all the guess work out of it.
JK
JK
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: USA
When my relatives 4R100 went out while vacationing, the tranny shop disassembled his trans, took one look at the guts and said "Don't tow in overdrive."
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 5,324
Likes: 1
From: Denton,TX
Originally Posted by TowinBob
When my relatives 4R100 went out while vacationing, the tranny shop disassembled his trans, took one look at the guts and said "Don't tow in overdrive."
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, TN
I've been towing 9000+lbs with my PSD since I've had it using OD with two exceptions, if the transmission hunts or if I'm pulling in city traffic then OD gets turned off. I'm on my original tranmission with nearly 192,000 miles and no problems yet.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,537
Likes: 27
From: Long Beach, Ms.
I'll run in OD most of the time when I'm pulling my 24' Coachmen TT. When pulling my 30' Fleetwood OD works well on the flat. But when the road starts to climb I'll drop down to 3rd ( OD off ) and I can see that the engine isn't working as hard as the vacume increases several inches.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
My 4R100 runs cooler in OD than in 3rd. It takes alot for the tranny to start to hunt, so if I see a grade or other conditions that warrant I shift into 3rd. I was amazed to see the cooler temps. I tow a 36ft. 5th wheel. Total GVW right at 20,000 lbs.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Edmond, Okla.
Judy K,
I tow 10,000 plus with my 99 PSD auto and I take it out of Overdrive only if it starts to lug in high gear. I have a SCMT set at 90 extra hp and I watch my gauges closely when it starts to pull. I have 125,000 miles so far and am not detecting any problems with my tranny. I know my tranny is the weak point in this truck but it's also not made of plastic sooooo... Good Luck!!! Paul
I tow 10,000 plus with my 99 PSD auto and I take it out of Overdrive only if it starts to lug in high gear. I have a SCMT set at 90 extra hp and I watch my gauges closely when it starts to pull. I have 125,000 miles so far and am not detecting any problems with my tranny. I know my tranny is the weak point in this truck but it's also not made of plastic sooooo... Good Luck!!! Paul
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Penn Valley
Originally Posted by TowinBob
When my relatives 4R100 went out while vacationing, the tranny shop disassembled his trans, took one look at the guts and said "Don't tow in overdrive."
My guess is the tranny shop may have had a canned response.
Birken
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
