I just picked up a new travel trailer that weighs about 5000 lbs. Should I always turn O/D off, or just when in the mountains ? I drove it home (a couple hours) on flat freeway all the way, and did not turn off O/D. I had no issues. But I'm no expert on towing

 

Conventional wisdom and many owners manuals recommend to disable overdrive when towing or hauling a heavy load. Many members will recommend to give overdrive a try - if the overdrive does not kick in and out excessively - leave it in overdrive.

My preference for the larger loads is to disable overdrive for the 'cushioning' ability of the torque converter fluid coupling versus the locked-up torque converter in O/D - as well as the extra performance as seen by less speed variation when using cruise control. But keep in mind that my model year / motor was rated for only 185hp stock - probably less than that now after the miles of wear.

It's just a personal preference - no real data to back it up. For the 5x8 trailer with a riding lawn mower - yeah, I'll leave it in O/D.

 

for the little bit or extra gas i use pulling my 5000lbs trailier i turn the over drive off cheeper then killing my traniy .the over drive was not made foe that kind of strain

 

exactly

 

I just recently towed 6000 for 400 miles. The first 50 miles or so the OD kicked in and out several times. After that it acted as if no load was on it at all. Computer learning as it drives i think.But then again, i dont tow alot with this truck.

 

What gas mileage do you get when you are towing a travel
trailer ?

Our trailer is about 6,000 pounds. It is towed behind a 1997
F - 150 with the 4.6 V-8 engine, with factory installed tow package.

Our gas mileage, with the O/D turned off is between 8 to 10
miles per gallon.

I find this to be very disturbing.

Ken H.

 

Unfortunatly, you are pulling 6000 pounds, using a 4.6 liter, with no overdrive. The newer models have improved, but that does not help your 1997 truck much. I don't see any mods that can provide you any significant improvements for the price of the mods (I.E. cold air box, free flowing exhaust). They would help, but not by more that 2 to 3 MPG perhaps.

 

Back to you Montano, listen to the truck. The truck will do as the road dictates, it will downshift out of OD when necessary and back in as the driving load lessens. Now comes when you have to be smarter than the truck, put your wallet aside, the truck will last longer then the money in it. Select OD off and drive. Occasionally, select OD and see what happens. Why intentionally abuse the truck or intentionally be wasteful on economy. You are driving a great machine, once in a while it needs your help.

 

Whatever you do, change the transmission fluid at least annually! Better yet, if you have been changing the fluid already on your '04, have it flushed annually. Or flushed if the present mileage isn't too high, maybe no more than about 60,000... I learned this the hard way; all my trucks from now on will get annual transmission flushes.

 

Pulling a small trailer with some firewood or a lawn mover is one thing. Pulling a 5000lb travel trailer is another. Turn the O/D off. The extra $$ that it costs in gas is well worth the wear you will save on the trans. Chalk up the extra expense of gas to owning the trailer.

John