does 4wheel drive effect towing capacity
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
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Thanks again acdii, This is a great site I Have a million questions but know I'm off to work to pay for my truck , One more before I go, what do you recommend when driving do you use automatic or do you drive your truck in manual thanks again
5 Year Member
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Depends on the terrain. If hilly and towing the travel trailer I set it to tow haul mode and lock out top gear, if towing my RC trailer I just keep it in regular mode. On relatively flat roads I just stick it in T/H for the TT.
That was for my 2014 with 3.15 gears, I haven't towed with my 16 yet, so wont know if I need to lock out top gear or not, it has 3.55 gears.
That was for my 2014 with 3.15 gears, I haven't towed with my 16 yet, so wont know if I need to lock out top gear or not, it has 3.55 gears.
Grumpy Old Man
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Midland County Texas, just west of the star in my avatar
When towing, I use automatic, cruise control, and tow-haul mode. My F-150 has the SelectShift tranny with "M" mode, but I never use it. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM or computer) is a lot smarter than I am, so I allow it to decide which gear I need to be in, whether going up or down the mountain. When going down the mountain in tow-haul mode, I tap the brakes once to wake up the tow-haul program. Then I set cruise control at about 5 MPH less than my target speed. Then hang on and steer. On the rare times when the rig gets going too fast, I use the service brakes to quickly slow down to my target speed, then resume the cruise control. Works great.
I rarely lock out gears. Tow/Haul mode does that for me automagically.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
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When towing, I use automatic, cruise control, and tow-haul mode. My F-150 has the SelectShift tranny with "M" mode, but I never use it. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM or computer) is a lot smarter than I am, so I allow it to decide which gear I need to be in, whether going up or down the mountain. When going down the mountain in tow-haul mode, I tap the brakes once to wake up the tow-haul program. Then I set cruise control at about 5 MPH less than my target speed. Then hang on and steer. On the rare times when the rig gets going too fast, I use the service brakes to quickly slow down to my target speed, then resume the cruise control. Works great.
I rarely lock out gears. Tow/Haul mode does that for me automagically.
I rarely lock out gears. Tow/Haul mode does that for me automagically.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 18
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Depends on the terrain. If hilly and towing the travel trailer I set it to tow haul mode and lock out top gear, if towing my RC trailer I just keep it in regular mode. On relatively flat roads I just stick it in T/H for the TT.
That was for my 2014 with 3.15 gears, I haven't towed with my 16 yet, so wont know if I need to lock out top gear or not, it has 3.55 gears.
That was for my 2014 with 3.15 gears, I haven't towed with my 16 yet, so wont know if I need to lock out top gear or not, it has 3.55 gears.
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5 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Georgia
Everything else being equal the extra axle on the front and transfer case will weigh 200-300 lbs and reduce towing and payload capacity by that amount. Not much really and everything is rarely equal.
Most 4X4's are geared lower than 4X2's and that will more than make up the extra weight in towing capacity. The payload may or may not be reduced depending on the suspension package.
Most 4X4's are geared lower than 4X2's and that will more than make up the extra weight in towing capacity. The payload may or may not be reduced depending on the suspension package.
