I am a little concerned about towing my 3000lb travel trailer with my 97 F150 4x4 4.6 auto for long distances out of overdrive. With rpm's running up aroud 2500-2600 for long periods, does any one have any opinion whether this is ok or not? I'm not noticing any problems with cooling, and I use Mobil 1. Guess it just bothers me when I am use to seeing 1500-1600 rpm's cruising in a non-towing situation.

 

Why wouldn't it be OK? How did we tow before pick-ups had OD and standard tachs? Two years ago I drove across NoDak at 3400 RPM because the 4.6 didn't have enough power to stay in OD while driving into the wind at 75-80 MPH. As far as I know, it only hurt my gas mileage.

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2000 F-150 XLT Supercab 4X4,5.4,Off Road,Tow Pkg

 

When I drive at 65 mph my rpms are ~3100. The world survived with out OD , of course I have a t-18 4sp trans and 4.10 gears I say don't worry about it.

 

You are just fine...I wouldn't worry about it...well within normal limits!

 

It's no problem; these ODs just spoil us. As has been said, it's made to do heavy towing with it off, it was very common before overdrives or with low gearing, and those are low rpms.

 

When you get up near 6000 RPM's is when you need to worry the only thing you notice is you gas mileage will go down running at 2500 or so.

 

I normally hit 4K+ going around 60MPH towing 2 ATV's, 2 people, and a bed (with fiberglass tonneau) and back seat full of camping gear while towing over the mountain pass near Wallace, Idaho. With dual exhaust and glasspacks, it sounds like I'm drag racing !!

98' 4.6 stock