Well, I've been towing my cargo trailer with my Ranger in it since about early october, I'd say probably on the order of five to six "two way" trips. It's about a 265-70 mile trip out to West Virginia. Combined weight of trailer (14x7 V-nose) w/Ranger is in the 3,500 lb. zone. I usually travel 60-65mph, lately staying closer to 60 to get a little better mpg. I go thru some mountains along the way. When I use Tow/Haul I'm generally pleased with it. I understand it's suppose to down shift for engine braking, change the trans mapping, etc.. On the steep declines, several times, it shifted down to 3rd gear and the revs just gets on my nerves. That's my only complaint. Otherwise I love this truck. The other day I was going thru some stuff around my computer and I found a CD I got from the dealer when I bought the truck. It's titled "The truth about Trucks", and it has short marketing videos about the F150 and Super Duty's features, controls, etc. as compared to the compatition. It has some guy putting the F150 thru it's paces with each feature (TBC, Tow/Haul, sway control, etc.). In one video about the Tow/Haul mode he demonstrates how to use it. He says, when you engage the Tow/Haul mode at the top of a hill, to "Touch the Brake pedal Twice", and the system will slow you down automatically. Has anyone ever heard this? and does it make any differance in how the system works? I've done some quick searches here on the forum, and on the web and I haven't been able to find any other information on it. Tonight I'm gonna do an in depth search in the hopes of finding some more info. What do you guys think?

 

My owners manual says nothing about a double tap of the brakes. It indicates that depressing the brake pedal, while in tow/haul mode, with no throttle, the transmission may downshift to avoid excessive road speed. The amount of downshifting will be influenced by how hard you brake. So, I would say that, if you brake to a certain speed, and then the speed begins to rise, that it will automatically downshift for you in an attempt to keep your road speed where it was.

 

Thanks. I know. I found that in my manual too. But, if I leave it in tow/Haul mode, do nothing else, and start down the decline, and the speed starts to rise (like 3-4mph), it down shifts one gear. If the speed still climbs one or two more mph, it downshifts again to 4rth, which is fine. But several times it went down to third and the revs just seemed to high to me. Gets on my nerves. In 4rth. the revs were like 2,500 rpm or so I think? But third was like 3,000 rpm or more. I know the system is working the way it's designed. I just was thinking that this "Touch the brake pedal twice" thing might change how it works. Like maybe it would automatically apply the brakes as needed to help maintain speed? And now thinking back, I can't remember if using the brakes made a differance or not, other than slowing down. Sometimes I use cruise control on flat areas (which can be quite a few miles) and going up the mountains, but kick it off when going down. I won't be taking another trip out to WV for a few more weeks yet and I was just wondering if anyone else had heard of this, or had any experiance doing it.

 

3000 rpm is nothing. Let it rev, you are saving your brakes. Redline is well over 5000 rpm.

 

Yea, that's all well and good, unless you have longtube headers, x-pipe, high flow cats and dual chambered mufflers that crack like glasspacks at high revs..............................

 

Oh well, you are the one who wanted a noisy exhaust........

 

Somehow, I just new you would come back with that.......Oh well. thanks for your help.......and the kodos LOL

 

Your other option is take it out of tow/haul and beat the $%^#$ out of your brakes.

 

Boy, you just have all the answers, don't ya? Except anything informative or relavent. LOL. Yea, I usually just kick it out (like I said), and just use the select shift as needed. I was asking, has anyone ever heard of this "touch the brake pedal twice", and if it works. So I guess your answer would be no? Your Turn..........LOL

 

My turn? Have you TRIED it yet to see if it makes a difference? I have no idea and honestly don't really care. *IF* I had a truck with tow/haul and *IF* I were towing heavy with it, I'd be very pleased with multiple downshifts to save my brakes and help with control. I *DO* have a loud exhaust and the racket it makes coasting down steep hills with MANUAL downshifts (I have a 5 speed stick) doesn't bother me in the least.

My front brakes are still good with almost 100k on the pads..........

 

Well, I haven't tried it yet, I wouldn't be asking the question if I had. I guess you didn't surmise that while reading the posts. Thanks for trying to help even thou you don't care. I was just curious because I found the CD and was wondering if anyone heard of this. I guess not. It'll be a couple more weeks before I take another trip with the trailer. So I'll try it and see what happens. Since you have no experiance with Tow/Haul mode, you couldn't offer any information anyhow. But thanks anyway. You've been so kind

 

For the record, i'm laughing AT y'all.

 

Thank god someone got it

 

hey scarlet do u hav center counsel or Coulomb shift? and how is it *every one* with the select shift?

 

I have buckets, and full center console with shifter. I'm sorry but I don't understand when you say everyone with the selectshift?