First Trailer Tow Experience
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 776
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From: North Central Penna
First Trailer Tow Experience
Did my first trailer tow today - thought I would make some comments.
'09 FX4 with Max Tow, 20" wheels (which gives the extra spring), the big honkin' trailer mirrors, and the integrated brake controller.
Trailer is my 16' tandem axle landscape trailer with brakes on both axles - total weight around 3400#.
-----------------------------------------
Integrated brake controller: I am so happy that I had this added on at the dealer. I had a Prodigy P3 controller in my '08, and I thought that was the ticket. While the P3 is probably one of the best on the market as far as smooth braking, the Ford IBC blows it away. I did the quick test at start out to set the gain properly - ended up at 4.0 for now.
Braking was so smooth, you wouldn't realize that you have a trailer hooked. It seems to make a seamless connection with the truck & trailer braking.
Transmission: I used the tow/haul mode to see what it was all about. I was traveling mostly on secondary 55mph roads that are nothing but hills and curves - picture West (by God) Virgina mountains.
On a flat straight (not many areas) the trans would use all 6 gears - running at 55mph I was ~1500RPM (3:73 gears). On an uphill, it would shift into 5th pretty quickly. As I climbed different hills, I tried two different approaches with the throttle.
First time I tried to maintain speed (55mph) - I had to push down on the accelerator quite a bit before it would shift. I liked that since it seemed to give me some control on when the shifting took place. It would smoothly shift down one gear at a time which was great - I was able to maintain my speed on some pretty steep hills.
Next time I wanted to see how low it would lug down - I pretty much kept the accelerator at the same position while climbing. I was impressed that it would lug down to ~1200 RPM before it shifted. Again, a nice smooth 1 gear shift at a time.
What all this meant to me is that I feel I have good control of shifting. Very impressive.
Now for the downhill. Just a side note - I drive a fairly new Volvo tractor-trailer 100,000 miles a year, and am so used to a jake brake (engine brake). On a downhill at 55mph, without any preasure on the accelerator, as the truck picked up speed, it downshifted one gear, then another. It actually tried, and did a good job of trying to maintain my speed by doing this. Felt almost like my jake brake!
I found that if I ever so lightly kept my foot on the accelerator, it would not downshift and keep rolling.
The same was true when slowing for a stop sign - as I slowed down, the trans downshifted very smoothly giving me some engine braking.
All of these downshifts I talked about, the RPM's never went over 2900 RPM.
Handling My only comparison is pulling this same trailer, loaded the same with my '08 XLT. There was a noticeable difference in handling between the two trucks. Maybe because of some of these differences:
133" wheelbase vs. 147" on the '09
17" 'P' tires vs. 20" 'P' (55 series) on the '09
No extra leaf on the '08
Anyway, it felt like I had no trailer back there at all - even through some pretty sharp bends at 55mph I was steady as a rock. In the '08 I could feel some "push".
I just thought I would throw my comments out there for anyone who might be interested - this has all really made me happy with my purchase - I had no idea this truck would pull a trailer so nicely. I wouldn't hesitate to hook a 6000# trailer to this truck and go!
'09 FX4 with Max Tow, 20" wheels (which gives the extra spring), the big honkin' trailer mirrors, and the integrated brake controller.
Trailer is my 16' tandem axle landscape trailer with brakes on both axles - total weight around 3400#.
-----------------------------------------
Integrated brake controller: I am so happy that I had this added on at the dealer. I had a Prodigy P3 controller in my '08, and I thought that was the ticket. While the P3 is probably one of the best on the market as far as smooth braking, the Ford IBC blows it away. I did the quick test at start out to set the gain properly - ended up at 4.0 for now.
Braking was so smooth, you wouldn't realize that you have a trailer hooked. It seems to make a seamless connection with the truck & trailer braking.
Transmission: I used the tow/haul mode to see what it was all about. I was traveling mostly on secondary 55mph roads that are nothing but hills and curves - picture West (by God) Virgina mountains.
On a flat straight (not many areas) the trans would use all 6 gears - running at 55mph I was ~1500RPM (3:73 gears). On an uphill, it would shift into 5th pretty quickly. As I climbed different hills, I tried two different approaches with the throttle.
First time I tried to maintain speed (55mph) - I had to push down on the accelerator quite a bit before it would shift. I liked that since it seemed to give me some control on when the shifting took place. It would smoothly shift down one gear at a time which was great - I was able to maintain my speed on some pretty steep hills.
Next time I wanted to see how low it would lug down - I pretty much kept the accelerator at the same position while climbing. I was impressed that it would lug down to ~1200 RPM before it shifted. Again, a nice smooth 1 gear shift at a time.
What all this meant to me is that I feel I have good control of shifting. Very impressive.
Now for the downhill. Just a side note - I drive a fairly new Volvo tractor-trailer 100,000 miles a year, and am so used to a jake brake (engine brake). On a downhill at 55mph, without any preasure on the accelerator, as the truck picked up speed, it downshifted one gear, then another. It actually tried, and did a good job of trying to maintain my speed by doing this. Felt almost like my jake brake!
I found that if I ever so lightly kept my foot on the accelerator, it would not downshift and keep rolling.
The same was true when slowing for a stop sign - as I slowed down, the trans downshifted very smoothly giving me some engine braking.
All of these downshifts I talked about, the RPM's never went over 2900 RPM.
Handling My only comparison is pulling this same trailer, loaded the same with my '08 XLT. There was a noticeable difference in handling between the two trucks. Maybe because of some of these differences:
133" wheelbase vs. 147" on the '09
17" 'P' tires vs. 20" 'P' (55 series) on the '09
No extra leaf on the '08
Anyway, it felt like I had no trailer back there at all - even through some pretty sharp bends at 55mph I was steady as a rock. In the '08 I could feel some "push".
I just thought I would throw my comments out there for anyone who might be interested - this has all really made me happy with my purchase - I had no idea this truck would pull a trailer so nicely. I wouldn't hesitate to hook a 6000# trailer to this truck and go!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,798
Likes: 0
Did my first trailer tow today - thought I would make some comments.
'09 FX4 with Max Tow, 20" wheels (which gives the extra spring), the big honkin' trailer mirrors, and the integrated brake controller.
Trailer is my 16' tandem axle landscape trailer with brakes on both axles - total weight around 3400#.
-----------------------------------------
Integrated brake controller: I am so happy that I had this added on at the dealer. I had a Prodigy P3 controller in my '08, and I thought that was the ticket. While the P3 is probably one of the best on the market as far as smooth braking, the Ford IBC blows it away. I did the quick test at start out to set the gain properly - ended up at 4.0 for now.
Braking was so smooth, you wouldn't realize that you have a trailer hooked. It seems to make a seamless connection with the truck & trailer braking.
Transmission: I used the tow/haul mode to see what it was all about. I was traveling mostly on secondary 55mph roads that are nothing but hills and curves - picture West (by God) Virgina mountains.
On a flat straight (not many areas) the trans would use all 6 gears - running at 55mph I was ~1500RPM (3:73 gears). On an uphill, it would shift into 5th pretty quickly. As I climbed different hills, I tried two different approaches with the throttle.
First time I tried to maintain speed (55mph) - I had to push down on the accelerator quite a bit before it would shift. I liked that since it seemed to give me some control on when the shifting took place. It would smoothly shift down one gear at a time which was great - I was able to maintain my speed on some pretty steep hills.
Next time I wanted to see how low it would lug down - I pretty much kept the accelerator at the same position while climbing. I was impressed that it would lug down to ~1200 RPM before it shifted. Again, a nice smooth 1 gear shift at a time.
What all this meant to me is that I feel I have good control of shifting. Very impressive.
Now for the downhill. Just a side note - I drive a fairly new Volvo tractor-trailer 100,000 miles a year, and am so used to a jake brake (engine brake). On a downhill at 55mph, without any preasure on the accelerator, as the truck picked up speed, it downshifted one gear, then another. It actually tried, and did a good job of trying to maintain my speed by doing this. Felt almost like my jake brake!
I found that if I ever so lightly kept my foot on the accelerator, it would not downshift and keep rolling.
The same was true when slowing for a stop sign - as I slowed down, the trans downshifted very smoothly giving me some engine braking.
All of these downshifts I talked about, the RPM's never went over 2900 RPM.
Handling My only comparison is pulling this same trailer, loaded the same with my '08 XLT. There was a noticeable difference in handling between the two trucks. Maybe because of some of these differences:
133" wheelbase vs. 147" on the '09
17" 'P' tires vs. 20" 'P' (55 series) on the '09
No extra leaf on the '08
Anyway, it felt like I had no trailer back there at all - even through some pretty sharp bends at 55mph I was steady as a rock. In the '08 I could feel some "push".
I just thought I would throw my comments out there for anyone who might be interested - this has all really made me happy with my purchase - I had no idea this truck would pull a trailer so nicely. I wouldn't hesitate to hook a 6000# trailer to this truck and go!
'09 FX4 with Max Tow, 20" wheels (which gives the extra spring), the big honkin' trailer mirrors, and the integrated brake controller.
Trailer is my 16' tandem axle landscape trailer with brakes on both axles - total weight around 3400#.
-----------------------------------------
Integrated brake controller: I am so happy that I had this added on at the dealer. I had a Prodigy P3 controller in my '08, and I thought that was the ticket. While the P3 is probably one of the best on the market as far as smooth braking, the Ford IBC blows it away. I did the quick test at start out to set the gain properly - ended up at 4.0 for now.
Braking was so smooth, you wouldn't realize that you have a trailer hooked. It seems to make a seamless connection with the truck & trailer braking.
Transmission: I used the tow/haul mode to see what it was all about. I was traveling mostly on secondary 55mph roads that are nothing but hills and curves - picture West (by God) Virgina mountains.
On a flat straight (not many areas) the trans would use all 6 gears - running at 55mph I was ~1500RPM (3:73 gears). On an uphill, it would shift into 5th pretty quickly. As I climbed different hills, I tried two different approaches with the throttle.
First time I tried to maintain speed (55mph) - I had to push down on the accelerator quite a bit before it would shift. I liked that since it seemed to give me some control on when the shifting took place. It would smoothly shift down one gear at a time which was great - I was able to maintain my speed on some pretty steep hills.
Next time I wanted to see how low it would lug down - I pretty much kept the accelerator at the same position while climbing. I was impressed that it would lug down to ~1200 RPM before it shifted. Again, a nice smooth 1 gear shift at a time.
What all this meant to me is that I feel I have good control of shifting. Very impressive.
Now for the downhill. Just a side note - I drive a fairly new Volvo tractor-trailer 100,000 miles a year, and am so used to a jake brake (engine brake). On a downhill at 55mph, without any preasure on the accelerator, as the truck picked up speed, it downshifted one gear, then another. It actually tried, and did a good job of trying to maintain my speed by doing this. Felt almost like my jake brake!
I found that if I ever so lightly kept my foot on the accelerator, it would not downshift and keep rolling.
The same was true when slowing for a stop sign - as I slowed down, the trans downshifted very smoothly giving me some engine braking.
All of these downshifts I talked about, the RPM's never went over 2900 RPM.
Handling My only comparison is pulling this same trailer, loaded the same with my '08 XLT. There was a noticeable difference in handling between the two trucks. Maybe because of some of these differences:
133" wheelbase vs. 147" on the '09
17" 'P' tires vs. 20" 'P' (55 series) on the '09
No extra leaf on the '08
Anyway, it felt like I had no trailer back there at all - even through some pretty sharp bends at 55mph I was steady as a rock. In the '08 I could feel some "push".
I just thought I would throw my comments out there for anyone who might be interested - this has all really made me happy with my purchase - I had no idea this truck would pull a trailer so nicely. I wouldn't hesitate to hook a 6000# trailer to this truck and go!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
I bought my 09 4x2 XLT to be used primarily as a tow vehicle for mt travel trailer and boats. I couldn't be happier with the towing performance.
I suppose you had a Tekonsha P3 controller previously? The Prodigy is another Tekonsha model. Regardless both are excellent aftermarket controllers. I had been using a P3 as well before buying my 09 XLT.
The Ford integrated brake controller is a dream. I'm guessing it works off of detected pressure in the truck's brake system. Unlike an aftermarket controller that uses an accelerometer to react to breaking inputs, the IBC gets direct input and responds instantly and seamlessly. However it works, its a great feature!
I suppose you had a Tekonsha P3 controller previously? The Prodigy is another Tekonsha model. Regardless both are excellent aftermarket controllers. I had been using a P3 as well before buying my 09 XLT.
The Ford integrated brake controller is a dream. I'm guessing it works off of detected pressure in the truck's brake system. Unlike an aftermarket controller that uses an accelerometer to react to breaking inputs, the IBC gets direct input and responds instantly and seamlessly. However it works, its a great feature!
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 776
Likes: 1
From: North Central Penna
I suppose you had a Tekonsha P3 controller previously? The Prodigy is another Tekonsha model. Regardless both are excellent aftermarket controllers.