Towing rpm question
12-30-2009, 09:23 PM
#11
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Location: spokane, wa
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Running the higher rpm's should only have the biggest impact on gas mileage. One consideration when going at higher speeds towing are the trailer tires. Tires marked as 'ST' have a speed rating of 65 mph.
As for using overdrive while towing, as long as the transmission is not hunting gears, ie: the truck downshifts going up the hill and then goes back into od at or near the top, you are ok. If the truck downshifts more than twice, manually drop the tranny into 4 after the first downshift. Experience will guide your shifting.
A tuner or Scanguage will work wonders for keeping an eye on the transmission. My Scanguage 2 also keeps an eye on torque converter slippage that lets you watch as the tranny comes out of lockup.
As for using overdrive while towing, as long as the transmission is not hunting gears, ie: the truck downshifts going up the hill and then goes back into od at or near the top, you are ok. If the truck downshifts more than twice, manually drop the tranny into 4 after the first downshift. Experience will guide your shifting.
A tuner or Scanguage will work wonders for keeping an eye on the transmission. My Scanguage 2 also keeps an eye on torque converter slippage that lets you watch as the tranny comes out of lockup.
12-30-2009, 09:49 PM
#12
Senior Member
Towing at 60 is not unsafe. I just put down the 70mph and rpm numbers so i could show how high the rpms were with the gears i have. I usually tow no faster than 60mph but im looking at taking my boat to the coast and the speed limits are 70mph. I know i dont have to go that fast but it gets nerve racking when you have a line of 20 cars behind you on a one lane road cause you are going 60 in a 70.
12-31-2009, 11:20 AM
#13
cwcw
Thread Starter
Wow guys, forget what i am towing. Thats not what i was asking. If its that important, im towing a boat. Im not towing loose crap that will fly out or something. Its not a heavy boat, its probably 1200-1500lbs in all including trailer.
Last edited by f150cwcw; 12-31-2009 at 11:25 AM.
12-31-2009, 11:21 AM
#14
cwcw
Thread Starter
Running the higher rpm's should only have the biggest impact on gas mileage. One consideration when going at higher speeds towing are the trailer tires. Tires marked as 'ST' have a speed rating of 65 mph.
As for using overdrive while towing, as long as the transmission is not hunting gears, ie: the truck downshifts going up the hill and then goes back into od at or near the top, you are ok. If the truck downshifts more than twice, manually drop the tranny into 4 after the first downshift. Experience will guide your shifting.
A tuner or Scanguage will work wonders for keeping an eye on the transmission. My Scanguage 2 also keeps an eye on torque converter slippage that lets you watch as the tranny comes out of lockup.
As for using overdrive while towing, as long as the transmission is not hunting gears, ie: the truck downshifts going up the hill and then goes back into od at or near the top, you are ok. If the truck downshifts more than twice, manually drop the tranny into 4 after the first downshift. Experience will guide your shifting.
A tuner or Scanguage will work wonders for keeping an eye on the transmission. My Scanguage 2 also keeps an eye on torque converter slippage that lets you watch as the tranny comes out of lockup.
12-31-2009, 11:23 AM
#15
cwcw
Thread Starter
i have the same motor and gears and my truck shifts down when its on a hill when its not towing anything, but tn is pretty hilly and they get steap, so to answer your question that rpm range is fine wont hurt anything, i pulled a car hauler with a mustang on it back in november and left od on and my truck wasnt hunting for gears, i could control very well with my foot so i just left it alone, as stated above its more of a judgement thing
12-31-2009, 11:25 AM
#16
cwcw
Thread Starter
Im not too worried about tranny temp cause its not a heavy load. Its not that the truck is struggling to pull the load at all. Its got plenty of power to pull the trailer, its just that i dont have that power in OD. I only have power in 4th gear.