Well after months of looking I finally purchased my first F-250! 2001 Lariat crewcab 2WD with the 373 rear and only 61,000 miles. I'm sure this will be my first post of many. With my previous trucks rangers, and F-150s I always took the overdrive off no matter what I was towing. With a heavy duty truck do you always need to take the overdrive off? I have a 16 foot trailer that I use usually loaded with no more than 2,000 lbs. Today while on the interstate with it the truck did not even know it was back there. I switched the overdrive back on and notice no strain. I want this truck to last a while so I don't mind giving up the milage, but was just curious if you really need to take the OD off with lighter loads?

 

nope, even if you are towing a heavy load, leave OD on. it will help save fuel. the only time (on all trucks) that i turn OD off is when the truck "hunts" gears. that means that it is constantly downshifting and up shifting to stay in the right range. then i'd downshift and slow down by 5 mph or so. one thing to remember is to let off the pedal some (completely when under heavy load) when you anticipate a shift in or out of OD. the clutch pack that engages OD are embarassingly small. save the clutches and let out of the torque when they shift. i do it all the time, and i find myself letting out even in shifts from 1-2 and 2-3.

 

I agree with Stroking_It. If it isn't hunting between 3rd and OD I don't shift it out of overdrive. The only exception is pulling in the mountains. Then I go ahead and shift it into 3rd, but I'm only running 45 - 55 mph most of the time.
Joe

 

Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts BJMF250

I normally just leave it in 6th until it lugs down...then I'll go ahead and drop it down to fifth.....oh...you were talking about automatic transmissions.

 

Let the automatic be automatic. I never turn OD off when towing my 4000# boat. I will when towing my 10000# camper if I get in slow traffic on a long pull and the trans. start jumping back in and out of 3rd and ODl