Strange Tow haul mode results
09-30-2016, 09:01 AM
#11
Official HTT Greeter
Truck did not like towing in sport mode at all. That plan was scrapped about a mile into the trip getting to the freeway.
Just became the biggest fan of manual mode. Pulls great, tranny shifts when you want it. Downside is you prob shouldnt use cruise control unless you know the terrain.
I actually liked manual mode for braking on exit ramps too. Engine breaking when it's ready for downshifts.
Once off the freeway and wheeling around to the gas station/rest stop, regular drive was ideal to focus on the new surroundings.
Some big hills on the trip. 75-80mph @ 11mpg in my 5.0 from MN to Bentonville. I'm going to run the trip 2 for the total way back. Wish I would have reset it at the start for the whole 1300 mile trip
Just became the biggest fan of manual mode. Pulls great, tranny shifts when you want it. Downside is you prob shouldnt use cruise control unless you know the terrain.
I actually liked manual mode for braking on exit ramps too. Engine breaking when it's ready for downshifts.
Once off the freeway and wheeling around to the gas station/rest stop, regular drive was ideal to focus on the new surroundings.
Some big hills on the trip. 75-80mph @ 11mpg in my 5.0 from MN to Bentonville. I'm going to run the trip 2 for the total way back. Wish I would have reset it at the start for the whole 1300 mile trip
10-07-2016, 02:45 PM
#12
Senior Member
I always leave it in tow mode. In the situations where tow mode isn't doing what I want Ill manually choose the gear for the time being and then switch back to auto when the road levels back out. The truck cant see what is up ahead, its gotta guess based you your throttle and brake inputs as well as the sensors letting it know if its on a grade or not. All in all my tow mode does a pretty good job. Sometimes the downshifting into 1st seems a little aggressive. But I know its not hurting anything and its saving my brakes.
One thing I have noticed is that the number of times you hit the brake pedal and let off during a given deceleration event does matter. For example if you are on the highway with cruise on and you get to your off ramp, you tap the brake once to disable cruise and let back off, then ride the brake a little longer to scrub some speed then let back off, then when you get back on the brakes a third time that's when the aggressive downshifting seems to start. If you will turn of the cruise with the button on the steering wheel and then time your braking to where you can just lightly keep the brakes applied the whole time instead of letting off and getting back on them the downshifting will be much less dramatic.
One thing I have noticed is that the number of times you hit the brake pedal and let off during a given deceleration event does matter. For example if you are on the highway with cruise on and you get to your off ramp, you tap the brake once to disable cruise and let back off, then ride the brake a little longer to scrub some speed then let back off, then when you get back on the brakes a third time that's when the aggressive downshifting seems to start. If you will turn of the cruise with the button on the steering wheel and then time your braking to where you can just lightly keep the brakes applied the whole time instead of letting off and getting back on them the downshifting will be much less dramatic.
10-11-2016, 09:11 AM
#13
Official HTT Greeter
I always leave it in tow mode. In the situations where tow mode isn't doing what I want Ill manually choose the gear for the time being and then switch back to auto when the road levels back out. The truck cant see what is up ahead, its gotta guess based you your throttle and brake inputs as well as the sensors letting it know if its on a grade or not. All in all my tow mode does a pretty good job. Sometimes the downshifting into 1st seems a little aggressive. But I know its not hurting anything and its saving my brakes.
One thing I have noticed is that the number of times you hit the brake pedal and let off during a given deceleration event does matter. For example if you are on the highway with cruise on and you get to your off ramp, you tap the brake once to disable cruise and let back off, then ride the brake a little longer to scrub some speed then let back off, then when you get back on the brakes a third time that's when the aggressive downshifting seems to start. If you will turn of the cruise with the button on the steering wheel and then time your braking to where you can just lightly keep the brakes applied the whole time instead of letting off and getting back on them the downshifting will be much less dramatic.
One thing I have noticed is that the number of times you hit the brake pedal and let off during a given deceleration event does matter. For example if you are on the highway with cruise on and you get to your off ramp, you tap the brake once to disable cruise and let back off, then ride the brake a little longer to scrub some speed then let back off, then when you get back on the brakes a third time that's when the aggressive downshifting seems to start. If you will turn of the cruise with the button on the steering wheel and then time your braking to where you can just lightly keep the brakes applied the whole time instead of letting off and getting back on them the downshifting will be much less dramatic.
The following users liked this post:
Aj06bolt12r (10-11-2016)
10-12-2016, 04:33 PM
#14
That is also how the TBC works, applies more energy to the trailer the harder you press the pedal, so maybe the two systems are tied together now?
10-13-2016, 08:54 AM
#15
Official HTT Greeter
a lot of newer motorcycles have "linked" brakes as well. If you hit one or the other hard, it automatically partially activates the other one.
10-14-2016, 10:23 AM
#16
I have to say, the TBC is worlds apart from the older add on ones. Those just apply the brakes all the way regardless of how much actual braking you are doing. You have to feather the brakes in order to slow without locking the trailer. The built in one, I like how it applies the brakes gradually with the amount of brake pedal being pushed. Even the top of the line controller I had, with the delay system would apply full brakes if you braked long enough, and going down a grade, that was tricky.
10-18-2016, 04:47 PM
#17
Senior Member
I just had an update as in tow/haul... braking hard or holding to long truck would drop to 2nd....fine.? My problem was release and accelerate it would hold 2nd gear till like 5000 rpm then shift up....so I hope this update fixes it
10-21-2016, 06:18 AM
#18
Senior Member
I wish Ford and all American truck makers still offered stick shift on 1/2 tons.
And whats the gain with these new 8 and 9 speed auto trannys? Just more up and down shifting to **** you off while you're towing..
Call me old school but give me a stick shift any day.
And whats the gain with these new 8 and 9 speed auto trannys? Just more up and down shifting to **** you off while you're towing..
Call me old school but give me a stick shift any day.
10-21-2016, 07:06 AM
#19
Na.....
10-22-2016, 11:37 AM
#20
More fuel efficient for one thing. The number of gears makes it easier for the computer to get the engine at the perfect power band for best fuel use. It is far smarter than any driver can be since it knows exactly the fuel ratio to power output. The Automatic in a Ford Focus is actually more fuel efficient than the manual is.
The other reason, soccer moms don't do stick.
Personally I would rather drive auto, I used to drive an 18 and shifting is such a PITA. That and my knees are shot so pushing in a clutch gets to be painful after a while, and I need the extra legroom that a clutch pedal would consume.