Towing w/new F150
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 395
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From: New Jersey
Originally Posted by 01vert
Well, as far as my Crappy comment, 5000 is not a high rpm, and i was talking about the newer engines not a 97. these new cant handle much over 5500, which is pretty dam low if you ask me. and no its not the 3 valve look at the mustang. They just put crappy parts on our trucks. I think its called ford is cheap...
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 532
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From: Youngsville, LA
I am curious what kind of milage you have on your new truck. What has been said, a lot on here, is that it takes about 2000 - 3000 miles for these trucks to get broken in, especially for any notice in mpg changes. I am just surprised you are having that much trouble. Good luck.
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 51
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power on the hills
Originally Posted by John P.
Really need some help here. Purchased my 1st Ford 2 weeks ago. Traded in my Tundra for it due to the fact I needed just a bit more power to tow my 6,500 lb (loaded) travel trailer.
Bought a 05 F150 4X4 FX4, 5.4L, 3.73 axle, which is rated to pull 9,200 lbs.
Problem: Took the trailer last week and was not happy with it's power up the long hills. It would NOT downshift. Instead it ran at about 3,200 rpm's at 40 mph up the hill. I had the pedal floared and it just would not downshift.
With my Tundra I would just hit the pedal quickly and it would slam into a low gear at about 45-4,700 rpm's and it would accelerate up those same hillls my F150 was bogging down on. Is this normal? The Ford has a larger engine, more torque, hp, and can tow 2,000 more than the Tundra.
I had it in the dealer yesterday and at the end of the day the mechanic said there was nothing they could do and told me to manually downshift into 2nd.
My friend, who knows quite a bit about vehicles said that was a wrong answer. He said the transmission should downshift on it's own.
Any input would be great. I know you guys don't want to hear this but if a Tundra and my F150 were going up the hill at the same time (pulling 6,500 lbs) the F150 would be a spot in the Tundras mirror at the top. :o
Bought a 05 F150 4X4 FX4, 5.4L, 3.73 axle, which is rated to pull 9,200 lbs.
Problem: Took the trailer last week and was not happy with it's power up the long hills. It would NOT downshift. Instead it ran at about 3,200 rpm's at 40 mph up the hill. I had the pedal floared and it just would not downshift.
With my Tundra I would just hit the pedal quickly and it would slam into a low gear at about 45-4,700 rpm's and it would accelerate up those same hillls my F150 was bogging down on. Is this normal? The Ford has a larger engine, more torque, hp, and can tow 2,000 more than the Tundra.
I had it in the dealer yesterday and at the end of the day the mechanic said there was nothing they could do and told me to manually downshift into 2nd.
My friend, who knows quite a bit about vehicles said that was a wrong answer. He said the transmission should downshift on it's own.
Any input would be great. I know you guys don't want to hear this but if a Tundra and my F150 were going up the hill at the same time (pulling 6,500 lbs) the F150 would be a spot in the Tundras mirror at the top. :o
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Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8
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From: Central CA
Got around 8.8 mpg towing the trlr.
Not to beat a dead horse, but I would think I should be able to hit a higher rpm than low 3's (FLOORED!!!), the tach goes up to 8 or 9 I think.
Not to beat a dead horse, but I would think I should be able to hit a higher rpm than low 3's (FLOORED!!!), the tach goes up to 8 or 9 I think.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Something is not right. 3200 rpm in 3rd gear will put you at close to 80 mph. 3200 in 2nd will be close to 50 mph. If you are realy in 3rd and doing only 40 mph at 3200 rpm then your tranny is fubar'd. Have it looked at.
JMC
JMC
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,506
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From: Puyallup, WA
John, That does not matter.... Gearing is a constant... Assuming no tranny slippage, or unlocked TC, you will always go a set mph for a set rpm as long as the gears and tires remain the same.... I will pull 3500 rpms in second gear going 55 mph whether I have a #4500 travel trailer going uphill attached or running empty on flat road. The only difference will be how much gas pedal you have into it to maintain that speed...
Now, if you have your foot to the floor and are losing speed, you are running out of power. Even so, your mph will still follow suit along with your rpms.... Going 35 mph in second gear should be pulling around 2100 rpms...
That's why we need to find out your trans gear ratios... With that info and knowing your rear end gear and tire size, we can compute your speed for any rpm in any gear.....
Just like JMC confirmed... 3200 rpms @ 40 mph just don't make sense... It's way too high of rpms for third gear and only going 40 mph and even too high for second gear for that matter...... But, it's not high enough if you were in first gear......
I found a table with the gear ratios!! http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_...n.htm#4%20Auto
Trans First Second Third Fourth
4R44E 2.47 1.47 1.00 0.75
4R55E 2.47 1.47 1.00 0.75
4R70E 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
4R75E 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
4R70W 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
4R75W 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
4R100 2.71 1.54 1.00 0.71
AODE 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
AODEW 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
AXOD-E 2.77 1.54 1.00 0.69
AOD 2.40 1.47 1.00 0.67
AOD-E 2.40 1.47 1.00 0.67
A4LDE 2.47 1.47 1.00 0.75
A4LD 2.47 1.47 1.00 0.75
E4OD 2.71 1.54 1.00 0.71
Now, there is no gear ratio that would produce 3200 rpms @ 40 mph assuming a locked up TC..... If you were in first gear, your rpms would be in the 4500 range....
Maybe you were in second, but the TC was slipping big time?? That's about all I can come up with....
Mitch
Now, if you have your foot to the floor and are losing speed, you are running out of power. Even so, your mph will still follow suit along with your rpms.... Going 35 mph in second gear should be pulling around 2100 rpms...
That's why we need to find out your trans gear ratios... With that info and knowing your rear end gear and tire size, we can compute your speed for any rpm in any gear.....
Just like JMC confirmed... 3200 rpms @ 40 mph just don't make sense... It's way too high of rpms for third gear and only going 40 mph and even too high for second gear for that matter...... But, it's not high enough if you were in first gear......
I found a table with the gear ratios!! http://www.vibratesoftware.com/html_...n.htm#4%20Auto
Trans First Second Third Fourth
4R44E 2.47 1.47 1.00 0.75
4R55E 2.47 1.47 1.00 0.75
4R70E 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
4R75E 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
4R70W 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
4R75W 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
4R100 2.71 1.54 1.00 0.71
AODE 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
AODEW 2.84 1.55 1.00 0.70
AXOD-E 2.77 1.54 1.00 0.69
AOD 2.40 1.47 1.00 0.67
AOD-E 2.40 1.47 1.00 0.67
A4LDE 2.47 1.47 1.00 0.75
A4LD 2.47 1.47 1.00 0.75
E4OD 2.71 1.54 1.00 0.71
Now, there is no gear ratio that would produce 3200 rpms @ 40 mph assuming a locked up TC..... If you were in first gear, your rpms would be in the 4500 range....
Maybe you were in second, but the TC was slipping big time?? That's about all I can come up with....
Mitch
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
Likes: 11
From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
No I am not forgetting. The stall speed of the torque converter should be some where between 1800- 2200 rpm. So at 3200 you should be done most of the slipping. And if you are not then your tranny is going to over heat.
JMC
JMC
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
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I am very interested in this thread as I just bought an 05 FX4 to replace my 98 V8 Explorer for towing. The Ex just couldn't handle my trail rig over the mountain. W/ the Ex it wouldn't downshift into 1st and was lugging 2nd at 2500 floored. I finally slowed down, downshifted and pulled the mountain at 4500 rpms. I haven't tried the F150 out yet but I hope it does alot better. I only tow the trail rig once a yr so not expecting miracles.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 133
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Originally Posted by Podunk
Well, how many RPMs do you think you need to be turning?
Its a truck, not a Ferrari.
All the new truck motors hit their max torque at 3500-4000 RPM and they hit their max HP rating at 4500-5000 RPM.
If you go any faster then that, all your doing is taking power away and abusing your engine.
Its a truck, not a Ferrari.
All the new truck motors hit their max torque at 3500-4000 RPM and they hit their max HP rating at 4500-5000 RPM.
If you go any faster then that, all your doing is taking power away and abusing your engine.
