I have an '01 V-10 lmtd. "X" (125K mi) No upgrades at all, except a larger tranny cooler; today. I recently started towing a 9.5K travel trailer and have had two tranny boil-overs in stop and go traffic and on a hill. Both occurred after hours of driving with the least of problems (that V-10 rocks)... no instrumentation warnings what-so-ever.

What I need:

1. What do you ALL recommend for my axle gear?
   
2. Air Intake? Breathing?
   
3. Suspension? Shocks? Sway control?
   
4. Tranny upgrades?
   
5. Instrumentation? Tranny temp guage?
6. Lifts? Avoid? Add?
7. Tires?
   

Any advice (or experiences) from seasoned travel trailer haulers appreciated! I am planning a cross country drive next summer. 30+ days on the road, god help me!

 

At the age of your vehicle, you may want to see if the cooler is clogged or if it is a bad bypass valve.

The bypass is really easy to replace.


You can get them at Dieselsite at the following:

http://www.dieselsite.com/index.asp?...ROD&ProdID=172




Bion Rogers

 

Okay...first off...on the cooling...as suggested by Bion...get the system flushed. I've pulled 17,000 miles with my Ex in the last three summers. Thru some very challenging terrain and very HOT outside temperatures. The cooling system on these V10's is simply AMAZING...something is wrong with your setup...

Next...I'll try and address some of your numbered items.

1) I had 3.73's and now have 4.30's...for the load I'm pulling (9000#'s) and the areas I travel (Rockies, etc) the 4.30's and V10 is a KILLER combo with STOCK sized tires.

2) In my experiences Ford did a GREAT job with the stock intake. In fact the stock intake is sucking the coldest air available as is. No need IMO for cold air intakes since the factory intake air temp sensor reads accurate outside AMBIENT temps...can't get much colder than that! And unless you are going to remove the "Y" pipe and do headers...I don't think opening up the intake will do much good...you can search here or the V10 forum for intake/exhaust mods...doing one without the other doesn't make sense to me...

3) Depending on your Ex...if you do NOT have a rear sway bar...add a Hellwig for ~$200. A very easy self install of about 1.5 hours. Greatly improves handling and body roll. Next...depending on your tongue weight...but with such a heavy TT...I'm betting you have MINIMUM 1100#'s of tongue...I'd highly recommend the Roadmaster Active Suspension (RAS). The RAS adds ~2000#'s of rear spring capacity. It is a relatively easy self install of about 2 hours and has really improved the handling/towing characteristics of my Ex. do a search for RAS and you will find hours of reading on that subject. Shocks...well the two most popular that I don't think you could go wrong with either would be the Bilsteins and Rancho 9000XL's. Shockwarehouse.com is a site sponsor and if you enter ford-trucks at checkout you get a 5% discount.

4) Tranny upgrades...no help sorry...other than switching to synthetic fluid

5) Gauges...well I went with an Aeroforce gauge. You can read my write up with lots of photos at this link X_Hemi_Guy Aeroforce writeup It is an OBDII single 2" gauge...I really like how well it integrates into the interior of the Ex...however...the Scangauge II is another excellent choice and much more inexpensive...you have two great choices.

6) I'm not a fan of lifts on serious TV's...but many on here have done it and are doing it...so I'll let them respond...

7) Tires...I think I am in the minority there...I have the stock BFG Rugged Trail T/A's in stock size 265/75/16E and am pleased in the TOWING performance. Wet weather traction leaves a LOT to be desired...but the stability in towing is what I'm happy with. When it comes time for me to swap (I've got 40K miles on these and there's plenty of thread)...I'll be hard pressed to NOT go back to these...Big thing to know about tires...load range E's are what you want as they will generally have a stiffer side wall...which is important for towing stability. If you increase the tire diameter...you will change the effective final drive ratio...larger tires means higher (i.e. smaller numerical number) gearing...for towing with the V10...lower (i.e. larger numerical number) gearing is better...like I said STOCK tires with 4.30 gears is a KILLER combo. If you had larger diameter tires...you may want to consider 4.56 gears...just a thought to keep the overall effective gearing at the 4.30 mark...

Good luck...hope this helped...and WELCOME to FTE!!!

Joe.

 

Nice write up Joe. Cudo's!!

 

I like to second the other Joe. I would check the condition of the transmission fluid. I have towed a 31" trailer (17K weighed total) in all weather conditions and inclines with never even the gauge coolant temp gauge moving much. But when I first bought it at 82K miles I had all the fluids and factory specified preventative maintenance done. My truck is bone stock and it pulls my TT and boat in temps up to 100 F sometimes in stop and go traffic without even a hiccup. I would check with the basics before doing mods to the truck.


Joe

 

hi, i hate to be the one to say it, but i bet your trany is on it's way out, ihope not but , i betya it goes soon, barry

 

Had another tranny boil-over, not fun; thankfully my brother-in-law loaned me his '03-f250 smoker which allowed me to finish the trip. Of note: I stopped the X as soon as I saw smoke during a serious climb, and let it cool. I then limped into a gas station to transfer the TT to the truck and the X still completed the trip. I just topped off the tranny fluid, and watched it closely.

I'm still trying to decide which gear to upgrade to, I see alot of 4:10/11 and 4:30's... any manufacturers in particular?
I'll be back towing again this weekend!

 

What pressures are you running in those tires?

 

V10 with stock tires (265/75/16E)...IMO...4.30's are the BEST match for most loads (i.e. 11,000#'s and under)...

Heavier loads or taller tires...it is my opinion that 4.56's would be better to keep the V10 in her sweet spot better when attempting to run OD...

Of course...my advice is for a 2V V10 with 4R100...

Having a 3V V10 with 5 speed torqshift like the SD boyz...well...the added power helps out...where I'd change my above advice to 4.10's and 4.30's respectively for those two cases with the 3V motor...

Joe.