View Full Version : Towing with Ford's
RickTK
02-09-2002, 08:39 AM
The owners manual is a bit confusing. Should you tow with the overdrive "on" or "off". Thanks.
perchjerker
02-09-2002, 08:42 AM
I have a 94 F150, I have always towed with it off, when I worked at a dealer as a mechanic that was the way to go, but that was years ago, things might have changed since then.
The reasoning was that you wanted the engine to rev higher to get into the optimum torque curve of the motor, and the tranny wasnt in such a high gear, either. You avoid a "lugging" condition this way.
Ranschau1
02-09-2002, 08:50 AM
I have a '98 Ford F150 with the automatic and overdrive.
I was told by a transmission shop that you should ALWAYS tow with the overdrive OFF. They even recommended you take the overdrive off when driving in the city to avoid constant shifting into and out of overdrive. Apparently this is very hard on the transmission.
The tranny guy said Ford should have made the overdrive default to OFF so that you would have to turn it on when you wanted it instead of the way it is.
Because of this, I do tow with it off at all times, but if you are on a level stretch of interstate and the speed limit is 75, I do turn it on. The engine revs to high for my liking with it off when I'm driving over 65 mph.
Mike
Had to do it.
02-09-2002, 09:07 AM
I did not know you could tow with a Ford. Poor thing is probably real tired at the end of the day.
mtwalleye
02-09-2002, 09:12 AM
I just knew it wouldn't take long for somebody to take a shot at Fords, with an opening like this. It was a little like shooting fish in a barrel -- too darn easy. -- mark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walleyes Unlimited
www.walleyesunlimited.com
Boatnut
02-09-2002, 09:15 AM
I'd say it depends on the speed/terrain you are towing in and the weight of your rig. If you find it shifting in and out of od/3rd, then lock out the o.d. but if you can maintain steady speed without it shifting, then leave it in o.d.
I've got a 96 f250 with diesel, 3.50 axle and used to regulary tow a rig that weighed 8000 lbs for 300 miles or more at a clip. I always left it in o.d. except when i was in hilly terrain or speeds under 60 mph. I've got 148K on it and never a tranny problem.
my 2 cents
If he didn't; I would have.
148k no probelms must be a ford