overdrive
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overdrive
I have a f-150 5.4 liter with a tow package and pulling a trailer with a loaded weight of 4900 lbs to north carolina first of all is this weight ok for the truck and second should I take it out of overdrive.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Puyallup, WA
You should be fine with that weight trailer. This is just what I do in regards to towing in OD with my setup..... It's by no means 'the correct answer' by any means, just what I do....
I leave OD 'on' and if the truck will go into it, then fine. Now, if I find I have to give it more pedal in order to maintain my given speed, then I wait to see if it will pick up a mph or two and go from there. If it downshifts, then I switch OD to 'off' and just run it in third until I think it might be able to handle OD again.
Any head wind and OD is usually not an option for me... My trailer just has too much frontal area and my 3.55's and 32" tall tires just don't like it. In 3rd, it tows fine and I'm only pulling around 2300 rpms @ 60 mph, so that puts the engine in it's 'sweet spot' and I will rarely have to downsift into 2nd, unless on a 5% grade!.. It'll tow in 3rd all day long!
The other thing about OD is that even if it 'holds' it, but you have to press the pedal deeper to maintain speed, then you aren't saving a thing.... You are just dumping more fuel into the cylinders and yes, you are pulling less rpms, but dumping more fuel in just makes it work harder and actually uses more fuel in the long run....
Unless you can run in OD for hours on end, you are not going to save any mpg's compared to running in third... Figure on about 10 mpg when towing and that's about it. OD or not...
Mitch
I leave OD 'on' and if the truck will go into it, then fine. Now, if I find I have to give it more pedal in order to maintain my given speed, then I wait to see if it will pick up a mph or two and go from there. If it downshifts, then I switch OD to 'off' and just run it in third until I think it might be able to handle OD again.
Any head wind and OD is usually not an option for me... My trailer just has too much frontal area and my 3.55's and 32" tall tires just don't like it. In 3rd, it tows fine and I'm only pulling around 2300 rpms @ 60 mph, so that puts the engine in it's 'sweet spot' and I will rarely have to downsift into 2nd, unless on a 5% grade!.. It'll tow in 3rd all day long!
The other thing about OD is that even if it 'holds' it, but you have to press the pedal deeper to maintain speed, then you aren't saving a thing.... You are just dumping more fuel into the cylinders and yes, you are pulling less rpms, but dumping more fuel in just makes it work harder and actually uses more fuel in the long run....
Unless you can run in OD for hours on end, you are not going to save any mpg's compared to running in third... Figure on about 10 mpg when towing and that's about it. OD or not...
Mitch
Last edited by MitchF150; May 29, 2007 at 03:25 PM.
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Puyallup, WA
I don't use cc while towing... It does not know that you have a #5000 anchor behind you and when your speed drops a couple of mph, it trys to compensate by giving it more gas, when that does not do anything, it gives it more and usually causes a downshift to occur....
When I'm controlling the gas, I just let the speed drop (and keep the pedal in the same position) and the road usually comes back to where the speed comes back 'naturally'... No downshift, no additional feeding of fuel to the engine, only to let off again to slow back down.... Or, when I see a hill up ahead, I can try to gain a little speed to hit the hill with a little more momentum and make it to the top without having to downshift... Just a couple of many little things that occur that my eyes see, that the cc cant'...
I also feel like I have zero control over the towing situation and just don't feel comfortable with it on, so I leave it off.. I've heard of others that use cc all the time... Personal preference I guess... I just don't like it while towing..
I do use it when I'm not towing whenever possible, so I do like cc!
Mitch
When I'm controlling the gas, I just let the speed drop (and keep the pedal in the same position) and the road usually comes back to where the speed comes back 'naturally'... No downshift, no additional feeding of fuel to the engine, only to let off again to slow back down.... Or, when I see a hill up ahead, I can try to gain a little speed to hit the hill with a little more momentum and make it to the top without having to downshift... Just a couple of many little things that occur that my eyes see, that the cc cant'...
I also feel like I have zero control over the towing situation and just don't feel comfortable with it on, so I leave it off.. I've heard of others that use cc all the time... Personal preference I guess... I just don't like it while towing..
I do use it when I'm not towing whenever possible, so I do like cc!
Mitch
Last edited by MitchF150; May 30, 2007 at 02:18 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: mobile, Al
Originally Posted by MitchF150
I don't use cc while towing... It does not know that you have a #5000 anchor behind you and when your speed drops a couple of mph, it trys to compensate by giving it more gas, when that does not do anything, it gives it more and usually causes a downshift to occur....
When I'm controlling the gas, I just let the speed drop (and keep the pedal in the same position) and the road usually comes back to where the speed comes back 'naturally'... No downshift, no additional feeding of fuel to the engine, only to let off again to slow back down.... Or, when I see a hill up ahead, I can try to gain a little speed to hit the hill with a little more momentum and make it to the top without having to downshift... Just a couple of many little things that occur that my eyes see, that the cc cant'...
I also feel like I have zero control over the towing situation and just don't feel comfortable with it on, so I leave it off.. I've heard of others that use cc all the time... Personal preference I guess... I just don't like it while towing..
I do use it when I'm not towing whenever possible, so I do like cc!
Mitch
When I'm controlling the gas, I just let the speed drop (and keep the pedal in the same position) and the road usually comes back to where the speed comes back 'naturally'... No downshift, no additional feeding of fuel to the engine, only to let off again to slow back down.... Or, when I see a hill up ahead, I can try to gain a little speed to hit the hill with a little more momentum and make it to the top without having to downshift... Just a couple of many little things that occur that my eyes see, that the cc cant'...
I also feel like I have zero control over the towing situation and just don't feel comfortable with it on, so I leave it off.. I've heard of others that use cc all the time... Personal preference I guess... I just don't like it while towing..
I do use it when I'm not towing whenever possible, so I do like cc!
Mitch
, its like we have one brain
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Joined: Sep 2001
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Originally Posted by kingedward
I have a f-150 5.4 liter with a tow package and pulling a trailer with a loaded weight of 4900 lbs to north carolina first of all is this weight ok for the truck and second should I take it out of overdrive.
Remember, accelerating is only 1/2 the game. Most people forget about the braking dept. until its to late. You have enough motor, but not enough brakes. If you have not pulled a trailer before, remember that going into intersections and the road in general.
