Lets see your campers being towed
#1791
Senior Member
I believe you have pinpointed the problem. The transmission shifting is erratic at best. In cruise control at 60 mph, it is constantly shifting gears on the flat and level (no headwind). When I downshift to "3" for 45 mph speed limits through towns, etc. , if I stop at a light and try to start in "3", it won't go. I have to shift to "D". IMHO that is just dumb computer control of the transmission.
Maybe the engine has the power, but the computer controlled transmission doesn't put the power to the rear wheels.
Give me back my old stick shift with a clutch! That way I know what the engine is doing.
Maybe the engine has the power, but the computer controlled transmission doesn't put the power to the rear wheels.
Give me back my old stick shift with a clutch! That way I know what the engine is doing.
I've towed around 6000lbs with my 2010 4.6 3V and in tow haul mode it did great. I wasn't breaking any speed records but did not have any problems.
#1792
Senior Member
I agree. 3 is just that, 3. It won't shift at all. Put it in drive and leave it alone. Use tow haul and don't use cruise, you will have better luck. I notice when I used cruise it holds a gear higher than necessary. No cruise and flat land no wind im pulling 8500+ pound loaded 5th wheel plus a single jetski behind that whatever that weighs and it holds 2100 rpm all day long at 65 mph. I can even go up small hills with low inclines without shifting but will will lose a few mph. By small hills I mean only 30 to 40 feet. Much more than that, or very steep it losses speed to much so I apply more throttle and downshift. Frankly 4500 pounds is nothing and you really shouldn't hardly even notice its there unless you're in the mountains. But if you put it in 3 that's your problem. It's like putting a manual in 3. It won't shift, Leave it in drive with tow haul on. A 3.15 gear ratio might also give you problems, not sure, never drove one. You didn't say what you had.
#1793
Thanks for the pics...good looking Heartland trailer. We tow a 6,000 lb trailer (actually had it weighed when loaded) and our "old" 2010 5.4l sure handles it well. I only got the 7,200 tow package, which comes with the 3.55 gears in the rear. We've been through the mountains in Vermont and Pa. without any problem, and some what reasonable gas mileage. 12.5 mpg on the Pa pike coming west from Gettysburg.
#1794
I see from your profile you have a 2011 F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost. That will blow the doors off my 5.4L V-8
My truck is as described in my signature line. I think the Ford spec. says 6,000 pounds empty. Figure another 500 pounds for me plus full tank of gas plus tool box. Travel Trailer dry weight is 4,600 pounds. Add another 500 pounds for water, propane, battery and stuff you need for camping in a travel trailer.
I figure the whole rig, ready for the road weighs about 11,100 pounds.
Maybe I need an EcoBoost.
.
My truck is as described in my signature line. I think the Ford spec. says 6,000 pounds empty. Figure another 500 pounds for me plus full tank of gas plus tool box. Travel Trailer dry weight is 4,600 pounds. Add another 500 pounds for water, propane, battery and stuff you need for camping in a travel trailer.
I figure the whole rig, ready for the road weighs about 11,100 pounds.
Maybe I need an EcoBoost.
.
Happy camping! I can't get out and use our rig close to enough.... love it!
Last edited by jjm1024; 07-28-2013 at 07:20 PM.
#1795
Check your owners manual. Premium gas is recommended for towing and will improve your fuel mileage while towing. These engines were designed to benefit from premium, but tuned to allow for 87 octane. I use 87 in the winter, but never less than 89 in the summer so I can top off with 93 prior to towing and get around 91.
Just got back from a 250 miles round trip and averaged 8.6 mpg with my fiver. Half rolling hills thru way and half rolling hills 45-55 mph back roads. She a big girl though, like I said earlier, about 10k loaded and on the road.
#1796
You wouldn't be disappointed! Haha
Love mine and can't believe the acceleration I have with the fiver hooked up. It honestly amazes me.
Plus the select shift is great for anticipating grades that the auto just cannot see coming, locking out the top end gears when a steep hill is coming up and just continue chugging along at 65!
I should be a Ford salesmen, jesh!
Love mine and can't believe the acceleration I have with the fiver hooked up. It honestly amazes me.
Plus the select shift is great for anticipating grades that the auto just cannot see coming, locking out the top end gears when a steep hill is coming up and just continue chugging along at 65!
I should be a Ford salesmen, jesh!
Last edited by jjm1024; 07-28-2013 at 07:19 PM.
#1797
#1798
Senior Member
#1799
Senior Member
#1800
Senior Member
We have an 07 with the 5.4 and 3.55 gears. our trailer weighs 7,100lbs empty. Every year we do a rafting trip down in Riggins ID. in order to get to Riggins we have to attack three hill climbs or "grades" as they call em around here. The worst one is the White Bird Grade in White Bird ID. We hit this one uphill coming home. It climbs 2700 vertical feet in just 7 miles with an average gradient of over 7%. I was very impressed with the truck this year with our new trailer. I got many looks from drivers that i passed while trucking up the hill at 40mph. We already get a lot of looks because the trailer has a fancy paint job and its 35 feet long from tip to tip. There was this one diesel that passed us a couple of times because he kept pulling over at the scenic pullouts for who knows what reason, but every time he passed us again he was just stare at us. The other grades are the Lewiston Grade which has 3 miles of 6% and 4 miles of 7% and the Winchester Grade in Winchester ID Which isnt as bad but its more than twice as long.
I drive with cruise control all the time. When im hitting the bottom of a hill, i press down on the gas to shift the tranny down to a lower gear to make it hold speed because if i let the cruise do it, it takes to long and i lose too much speed. The guy with the tiny trailer that only goes 40 up hills could park that trailer in the living room of my trailer. I think there is somthing wrong with his truck . The 5.4 should not bog that much. Our last trailer was 1000lbs lighter than our current and more than his and it would do 55 mph up these grades without flooring it.
I drive with cruise control all the time. When im hitting the bottom of a hill, i press down on the gas to shift the tranny down to a lower gear to make it hold speed because if i let the cruise do it, it takes to long and i lose too much speed. The guy with the tiny trailer that only goes 40 up hills could park that trailer in the living room of my trailer. I think there is somthing wrong with his truck . The 5.4 should not bog that much. Our last trailer was 1000lbs lighter than our current and more than his and it would do 55 mph up these grades without flooring it.
Last edited by imafordboi69; 07-28-2013 at 10:12 PM.