Towing vs. hauling
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Pulaski, NY
Towing vs. hauling
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!
I'll give the background before I ask the question.
I am aware that you shouldn't tow anything in overdrive. I have read plenty of things that support this, and I understand about the tranny overheating. What I haven't heard is if somebody loads up their truck with a bunch of dirt, or cement blocks or whatever, do they leave the overdrive on?
Here's why I ask: I'm going to SC in a couple of days to pick up my car (66 Galaxie) from a friend's house. It's a 1000 mile trip (one way), and I was trying to figure out if I could leave the overdrive on when I drive south, when the trailer is empty. It weighs about 2100 pounds, and it seems to put no strain on the truck when it (the trailer) is empty. I think it's a no-brainer to turn off the OD on the return trip, when I've got the car on it, but the truck has 4.10 rear gears, and I don't want to turn 3000 RPM for 20 hours or so of driving, especially with fuel becoming so expensive. So I guess the real question is how much is too much?
I'll give the background before I ask the question.
I am aware that you shouldn't tow anything in overdrive. I have read plenty of things that support this, and I understand about the tranny overheating. What I haven't heard is if somebody loads up their truck with a bunch of dirt, or cement blocks or whatever, do they leave the overdrive on?
Here's why I ask: I'm going to SC in a couple of days to pick up my car (66 Galaxie) from a friend's house. It's a 1000 mile trip (one way), and I was trying to figure out if I could leave the overdrive on when I drive south, when the trailer is empty. It weighs about 2100 pounds, and it seems to put no strain on the truck when it (the trailer) is empty. I think it's a no-brainer to turn off the OD on the return trip, when I've got the car on it, but the truck has 4.10 rear gears, and I don't want to turn 3000 RPM for 20 hours or so of driving, especially with fuel becoming so expensive. So I guess the real question is how much is too much?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 509
Likes: 1
From: Pasco, WA
Do you have the standard factory tow package? If so, there is nothing wrong with towing in overdrive, even in mild terrain (freeway overpasses and the like). When you get to the hills, kick it out of OD. If no tow package, empty trailer in OD will still be ok.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Silverdale, WA
I just completed a 4700 mile trip towing 8K and never turned the OD off. The tranny kicked down when it needed to. No problems so far as I can tell. On some mountains I did have to down shift to 2nd but the was pretty rare. Most of the time the tranny stayed in OD.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,248
Likes: 1
From: Elverson, PA
Leave the overdrive on unless the tranny starts hunting - then kick it out until you are over the hill. There's no way you could run out on a main highway without using overdrive - Ford just is covering their rear with what they say in the manual.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Pulaski, NY
Thanks everybody! 
I was pretty much planning on the haul in OD unless the hills were steep. I just needed a few extra opinions. Keep throwing them out there though, I'm still interested in what others have to say.
I was pretty much planning on the haul in OD unless the hills were steep. I just needed a few extra opinions. Keep throwing them out there though, I'm still interested in what others have to say.
Last edited by Freakazoid!; Nov 25, 2004 at 01:53 PM. Reason: spelling error
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 4
From: Braham MN
Originally Posted by CAT_man_963
Leave the overdrive on unless the tranny starts hunting - then kick it out until you are over the hill. There's no way you could run out on a main highway without using overdrive - Ford just is covering their rear with what they say in the manual.
let er ride in OD I have a tranny temp guage so I can monitor it but I haven't really pulled many heavy things so can't say what it really does.
I can say that driving down the road at 60 it will sit about 140*-150*. as soon as I get to a stop light and have to sit for a few minutes the temp will jump right up to 180*. one day I was just driving around the pasture in 4 low and it climbed up past 200* on me.
so the moral of the story to anyone with an auto, if your at a light or stopped in traffic and its practical. pop er into neutral. seems to work pretty good for me to keep the temps down.
sorry for the short thread jack but I would worry about it. like cat and everyone else said if it wants to downshift it will, if it hunts take it out of od till your over the hill..
Diesel rod
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: Pulaski, NY
Hey guys - I just got back form my run to Charleston and back and my truck pulled great. I'll be honest and say I was worried about the trans on the way back because of all the hills from Maryland on up (to upstate NY). I did what everyone recommended, except a couple of time when I saw a big hill coming, I would just turn the OD off.
On another note, I remembered reading a couple of bits that said the PSD makes optimum power and economy at 2000 RPM. Here's my proof - going south via I-95, NJ turnpike, etc at 65-70 mph (2300-2500 RPM) pulling the empty trailer used the SAME amount of fuel (within about 3 gallons) as going north using the alternate, hilly route, with a loaded trailer (6000 lbs), and it was about 60 miles longer - I just had the cruise control set at 60 mph (2000 mph). I'm a believer!
Thanks again everyone.
On another note, I remembered reading a couple of bits that said the PSD makes optimum power and economy at 2000 RPM. Here's my proof - going south via I-95, NJ turnpike, etc at 65-70 mph (2300-2500 RPM) pulling the empty trailer used the SAME amount of fuel (within about 3 gallons) as going north using the alternate, hilly route, with a loaded trailer (6000 lbs), and it was about 60 miles longer - I just had the cruise control set at 60 mph (2000 mph). I'm a believer!
Thanks again everyone.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
EcoboostKev
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
13
Sep 2, 2014 08:10 PM
old blue beast
Pre-Power Stroke Diesel (7.3L IDI & 6.9L)
6
Jun 11, 2013 02:05 PM
