Towing with an F150
 

I have a 2002 F150 SupercrewKR with a 5.4 can I pull my waverunner in overdrive or do I take it out of overdrive everytime I pull something? I don't know alot a lot about towing. When should I take it out of overdrive? By the way I love the power I will be getting an XCAL2 very soon. THANKS for the help.

i would take the overdrive off . you will get more torque at a higher rpm

When towing if the transmission 'hunts' shifting back and forth, and the truck just doesn't seem to feel normal then turn off the OD.

I doubt seriously this will be a problem hauling one waverunner.
A waverunner and small trailer can't weigh more than a few hundred or so pounds.

There are lots of guys on the site that have really fat girfriends and they never have to turn off their OD.

Sounds as if you are speaking from experience Raoul, you better hope your G/F doesn't read that.

Weght
 

I think it ways about 6 to 700lbs. trailor and waverunner combined and I did it this weekend and the truck never was hunting for a gear except downshifted on big hills and of coarse I was only running about 60 to 65 and RPM's were about 1600 is it bad to tow at that low of rpm's in overdrive lake is about 18 miles from my house.

You're fine. As long as your RPM's are staying steady and not jumping around. On mine the torque converter "unlocks" and you'll see the rpm's jump up. When it starts doing that I turn OD off. I try not to let it downshift to 3rd. I pull a 6500-7000# trailer though, with a similar truck setup as you (02 King Ranch). :)

Does your rig have the towing package? The reason I ask is it comes with the tranny cooler. If you don't have that I would suggest having one put on for good measure. Especially if you're towing in hot weather.

reply
 

I do not know if it has a towing package but it came with a reciever hitch so maybe and as far as the torque converter "unlocking" it does only on the bigger hills which is why I love the 5.4 it has no stress except up hills. But very very soon I will be ordering the XCAL2 I cannot wait.

I regularly pulled my snowmobile trailer that weighed 900lbs with one sled and 1500 with two. I left my 2002 XTR 5.4 truck in OD no problem. Funny thing though I tried one weekend (400 km trip) with OD off and the gas mileage was exactly the same. ;) ;)

NO!!! I pull a snowmobile trailer with 2 sleds never had to take it out of OD.

I tow an 18 foot car hauler, 19 foot ski boat, and a 17 foot center console boat, plus smaller boats and 4 wheeler trailers and I always tow in overdrive unless like others above said if I am in hilly terrain where I think the trans will shift back and forth alot I will turn the overdrive off.

You won't even know a jet ski is behind you.

Same here, I tow a 22' race trailer with an 02 and 4.6 weighing over 11,000 gcw.
It does a remarkable job.
You have two conditions. Either pull in OD or unlocked and have the trans temp shoot up. Then you really need a cooler to cover all conditions.