Towing w/ 48RE

[Ken55]

Hi all,

I recently picked up my first automatic PU since I bought a new '76 Ford F250 so I'm a little out of practice towing with these new auto's. I was wondering about driving technique towing say 10,000 lbs.

The few times I've done it this is how I drove. Start off in 2nd w/ OD off shift to D at 45 and when I get up to 55 put od on and accelerate to 65 then hit the cruise. When I hit a moderate hill should I leave cruise and OD on and let it downshift and charge up the hill or shut cruise and OD off and take the hill at whatever speed it takes? What about the longer steeper grades?

Thanks for your tips. I've got a temp guage coming but until I get it in I'm at the mercy of the factory temp light, which has never come on yet.

I've got the 3. 73 rear.

Ken

 

[AFurrh]

My '05 doesn't let me "lock-out" the O. D. , so things may be a little different, but I believe the transmission is plenty beefy to take heavy towing even in O. D.

I have pulled 12k+ (total weight over 20k) for several thousand miles, and all seems to work well if I just put it in "D", don't accelerate too hard off the line, let the transmission pick the shift points, and when I get to the speed I want, put the cruise on. I leave it on cruise all the time unless traffic makes me slow down; steep hills don't seem to bother it!



Have fun!



Tony

 

[Bertram65]

I keep od locked out until it will be over 2000rpm when it is engaged, with the 4. 10s that is about 65mph, I let off after I turn od on and it just goes in, if I have to slow down below about 55 I also take od off, the tough spot for me is 55-65 as it is really spinning in 3rd and lugging in od, if I have to travel at a speed in that range I prefer to use 3rd and a little more fuel, better for the trans, lower boost, and lower egts.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

I put mine in D and let the transmission do it's thing with OD locked out until I hit my cruising speed. The key is keeping the RPM's above 2000, or you will be lugging the engine, and your EGT's will go up. The truck will pull grades fine, even with cruise on, as long as it's in the 2000 rpm, (or above), range.



Jim

 

[KWheaton]

It's best to keep it out of overdrive when accelerating. 55 to 60 mph is a good time to let overdrive engage. When I'm climbing a hill on the highway and it starts to slow below 55, I drop it out of overdrive before it kicks down by itself. (I've got a few extra horses than most w/ a firmer shifting trans, and I feather the throttle a bit so it doesen't slam too hard into overdrive, don't want to snap an input shaft. ) I also don't use the cruise on steep hills, I anticipate the hill and dissengage it before I get there. However, most hills are no problem for the Cummins, I just love that motor!

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Why are you putting it in 2 to start off?



If you are accelerating, the truck is not going to try to go into OD by itself but no harm in locking it out.



The 03 WILL let you lock out of OD unlike the newer trucks (I test drove an 05 beyond that I have no clue what the 06's do???).

 

[DaveHess]

This is interesting. Off the top of my head I don't remember the exact page numbers in the owners manual for my 2003, but I felt there was unclear information regarding the use of O/D while towing. About the only thing that has stuck with me is the up/down shifts occurring frequently. With that said, I wrote a letter to DC at an address I found in my arbitrar package. In the letter I laid out all my concerns and references in the owners manual, the weights of my loads, and the way I like to operate my truck while towing. The address was in Minneapolis as that is closest to me. It couldn't have been about a week later, I received a telephone call from an individual with DC named Dave. He went through my letter point by point with me and in conclusion told me that based on my weights that I should leave it in O/D all the time unless it hunts around. Basically what the owners manual said. I have done that since day one. I also change transmission fluid and filter every 25,000. Actually that is a lie. That is what I am going to do. The truck has 28,000 on the clock and I changed it out at 19,000. I got bored. For the record, my heaviest trailer is my 29-foot Jayco Eagle at a little over 9,000 lbs ready to camp. The only time she starts to hunt around is when I am running 65 or slower or on a long grade. If I am running 70, for some reason the same grade that will cause the truck to downshift at 65, will not at 70. That seems to be the "sweet spot" if you will. We do have some very high wind days and on those days when the headwind is 40+ MPH, I will run with the O/D off when towing and slow my butt down. I like it better that way anyway. Just my . 02 cents.

 

[RKerner]

Up to 10K, I just put it in D and drive normally except for accelerating to speed - I figure the faster you get to speed, the longer you stay in OD for covering miles.

Going down grades, hit the button to help slowing down and if it gets really steep, I go down into second.

Above 10K, it depends on terrain if I stay in OD or hit the button - if it's flat, OD works, if it's rolling hills, my truck seems to like 3rd and lockup better. towing at 2200-2500 makes more noise and lower egts but doesn't produce any better mileage.



hope this helps.

 

[champspa]

here's the way I do it towing 14k most every weekend and 210k on the odometer, pull out the driveway in drive , push the throttle 3/4 down until I reach desired speed and bingo it's done . that's how autos are .

 

[Ken55]

Thanks very much for all your input!!! I think what I'll do is put it in D let the trans shift and when I get to speed put it in cruise and go.

I seem to get to speed faster when starting with OD off. I guess I start in 2nd because it seems like the thing to do. Used to doing the shifting myself.

Mine also seems to have the 55-65 mph range where it's close to redline or lugging. The owners manual says to tow in OD unless there is a lot of dropping in and out which will cause excess wear. But it really isn't spelled out very well. I just didn't want to hurt the trans but it's under warranty.

Again, thanks for your feedback.

Ken

 

[Ken55]

Don't mean to close this thread so if any one else feels like chiming in please do. My main concern was rolling hills where it did seem to hunt around. I usually drive at 65 while towing and some of the kick down in OD sort of rattled me. I wasn't sure if I should leave it in OD or disengage it and let it rev up with the cruise on. I've got the double deep pan ordered along with all the guages but have not received them yet. Those additions will help while towing to be able to monitor things.

Ken

 

[desertryder]

answer me this.



sometimes I tow in OD pulling a heavy 5er.

My tach reads 1800 to 2000. Is that bad ?

I have no egt gauge.



wurty

 

[KWheaton]

answer me this.



sometimes I tow in OD pulling a heavy 5er.

My tach reads 1800 to 2000. Is that bad ?

I have no egt gauge.



wurty

Sounds right to me.

Overdrive and 1800-2000 rpm seems just right for these motors, although some members would like to see above 2000 rpm. (Especially those with bigger turbos and more fuel. )



You should only be concerned if the motor is lugging. I know its real tempting to just let the motor power through from 1400 to 1900 rpm, sounds real good with an aftermarket exhaust and some nice smoke if you've got a fueling box or bigger injectors. However, that deep bogging sound and pretty smoke means a hot turbo. Better to downshift that transmission.

Good Luck,

Kevin



P. S. I didn't see how much you were pulling, two trailers at once? Yikes, how much weight have you driven across the scales with?

 

[smd]

P. S. I didn't see how much you were pulling, two trailers at once? Yikes, how much weight have you driven across the scales with?[/QUOTE]



If your a non-DOT pulling say a 34` 5er plus a :-laf 12` toy open trailer, do I weight in at the scales? Mainly in No NV and No CA.

 

[ECappleman]

If your a non-DOT pulling say a 34` 5er plus a :-laf 12` toy open trailer, do I weight in at the scales? Mainly in No NV and No CA.

Sounds like you are over your maximum length to tow, for a double trailer.

This includes the truck (overall lenghth).

Check your state laws. In Texas that would not pass.



Also some states don't allow double trailers.

 

[KWheaton]

If your a non-DOT pulling say a 34` 5er plus a :-laf 12` toy open trailer, do I weight in at the scales? Mainly in No NV and No CA. [/QUOTE]



Truckstops in your area should have a scale you can use for a fee ($8 near my home, with a $1 re-weigh if you rearrange your load). I wouldn't go across the scales at a weigh station if I could avoid it.



I'm not sure of the max length in my state, but I've seen pickups with 5'rs pulling boats and said to my self, "Glad I'm not pulling that. "



As far as weight goes, the 2500 series Dodge has a GCWR of 20,000lbs. , and the 3500 series I think is near 23,000lbs. Weight scares me more than length.



Good luck.



Kevin