Downshifting while towing uphill

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Aug 16, 2005 | 07:14 PM

#16

jim henderson

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From: So Cal

One other thing...

In the past when I would let the cruise control handle things even going up hill, if it was a tough hill and the cruise down shifted to say 2nd, and if that wasn't enough the cruise would shut off. Then the tranny would slam shift up to third. I am pretty sure that isn't good for it.

I am not sure if that is just the way it is, or a quirk of the shift kit I had installed in my tranny back at 50K. This only happens under specific conditions, heavy load, steep uphill causing momentum loss and low gear setting, and letting off the gas(either me or cruise).

Either way, if your tranny slam shifts, I would recommend manually shifting before you get to the point where the tranny gets bogged down.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

Aug 17, 2005 | 01:58 PM

#17

Bootskillet

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Joined: Dec 2004

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Pops,
Are you towing while using cruise control??? I thought that was a No-No. Not trying to start anything just looking for clarification.

Aug 17, 2005 | 06:38 PM

#18

jim henderson

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From: So Cal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bootskillet

Pops,
Are you towing while using cruise control??? I thought that was a No-No. Not trying to start anything just looking for clarification.

Use cruise all the time. I think the only thing the manual says is not to let the tranny hunt gears. Otherwise OD and cruise are fine, least in my experience. Made many 500+ mile each way trips with no problem and would be beat to heck if I didn't use cruise.

When I get into hilly country I will usually kick it out of cruise anyway.

Don't recall any magazine, manual or guide saying otherwise over the past 9 years of towing with my current rig. Could have forgotten, but I think I would remember that one.

Jim Henderson

Last edited by jim henderson; Aug 17, 2005 at 06:41 PM.

Aug 18, 2005 | 10:11 AM

#19

pops_91710

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From: Chino, California

Yes, I have been towing trailers on cruise control since I got my first 460 cid Ford Club Wagon with it on it. That was 1989. My second TV with CC was a 1997 Club Wagon V-10, My third was a 2003 Superduty with a 5.4 and now I am towing a 10,000 pound Cardinal 5th wheel with my 2003 SD 4X4 with a V-10 and Gear Vendor. Like Jim said, it would be a killer without it. I tow up to 800 miles one way.

Of course, like I said, turn it off in hilly country. But I have never seena nay thing that says CC is a no-no while towing. BTW I can tow that behemoth in OD very well on the flats, and in CC too!
http://community.webshots.com/album/419305320vsESJJ

Last edited by pops_91710; Aug 18, 2005 at 10:26 AM.

Aug 26, 2005 | 01:46 AM

#20

bocomojoe

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Joined: May 2005

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From: Columbia, MO

tbax, I agree with Jimandmandy, that it may be more important to manually down shift on the way down. In fact I usually go down slower than I go up the hill/mtn. (If I go up in 3rd I may go down in 2nd, that was on my old '96 PSD auto). A diesel will not hold you back like a gasser will. I haven't pulled anything with my new truck that has the torqshift tranny so don't know how it is going to work.

Aug 26, 2005 | 10:14 AM

#21

RDON

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Joined: Nov 2004

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From: Wilton, Ca

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimrat

I installed a tach, allows me to shift when apropriate. My e150 5.8 with 3.55's has no reserve when going up the grapevine with 6000lbs. Have to keep in the power band. On these electronic transmissions the trans see an electrinic signal wether shifted manually or by computer, so shift like you have a manual trans.

I agree with jimrat you have to keep it in the power band.If to lose it,It takes too long to recover.
The easer you can make it on you truck or ? the longer it will last.Plus the way gas is you try to keep it from working too had in that higher geer.
Our rigs are completly diffrent as my 77 F250 with a new 351. It is strong IF I can keep it in the power band.I pull a 6000lb 5th wheel and a 14'boat behind.

( MEET YOU AT THE TOP) Don

Aug 26, 2005 | 11:38 AM

#22

SLE

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From: North Dakota

I do the same as many of you do, when I begin up a hill I'll lay into the throttle to make the truck shift, once its in the desired gear I'll manually select that gear untill reaching a grade where I feel the truck is capable in the next gear and manualy shift to the next gear.

I'm towing a 17ft SC boat behind a 27ft TT with a 03 CC SB F250 V10 4x4. The 4R100 will learn how to shift depending on the load and your right foot. After about 20 miles or so of my above driving style the trans will basically do this by itself and will hold gear untill I crest the hill or back off the throttle. In my 40 mile route to the lake I have three hills that require 2nd in order to not lose speed. Since it's pretty rolling terrain I'm usually in 3rd so when I get to the bottem of these hills, before my speed drops, I'll feed it enough throttle to automaticly shift to 2nd at which point I'll manualy select 2nd to keep it from prematurly shifting into 3rd before I reach the top. once I reach the top and roll out of the gas I'll manually shift back to 3rd. When I reach the 2nd and 3rd large hills the truck will hold automatically hold gear untill reaching the top. If you read the owners manual it will tell you the 4R100 will adapt to conditions after a few miles of a changed driving style. Good luck