New E450 with tow/haul question

Thanks DC

DAS26miles wrote:
Thanks guys, I don't mind the off topic, but would like to know how those without a toad dive up mountains, T/H on or off???

"On!"

:B

I'm beginning to drive up mountains with T/H turned ON.

I never want to have to install a 3rd 5R110 in our E450 MH. The fluid in the original failed 5R110 transmission did not look burned (still pink in color) and was not low .... but just in case, I think I'll install a Scanguage on the dash to monitor tranny temperature (and gas mileage) from now on!

Thanks guys, I don't mind the off topic, but would like to know how those without a toad dive up mountains, T/H on or off???

Well .... I guess we've certainly segwayed this issue into the off-topic realm!

I agree to disagree here, as I consider a 1-2-3-4a-4b-5 ratio transmission as a transmission with 6 speeds - regardless of whether I or the computer have access to them at any given time. ;)

Tow/haul was introduced with the 5 speed transmission. All the 5 speeds (on the E series) have it, none of the 4 speeds do.

The five speed transmission does indeed have two different 4th gear configurations internally, and it uses one or the other based on conditions. Ford doesn't list separate ratios for them, I assume since the difference is too insignificant to worry about and the alternate one is only used under quite limited circumstances, but there are still two different 4th gears. That doesn't really make it a six speed transmission in any practical sense.

My 2005 Itasca motorhome (it's 2005 Ford E450 chassis built in the fall of 2004) definitely had, and now still has, an 5R110 transmission in it - per the mechanics who recently installed a remanufactured 5R110 (with heavy duty options) in it. I have a Tow/Haul button on the end of the gear shift with a little white light that comes on when the button is depressed ... and it's labeled as "Tow/Haul". So .... Ford E450 chassis (I don't know about Ford E350 chassis) intended to be sold as "2005" chassis had the 6 computer available ratios TorqShift transmission in them .... or at least mine did.

When I pull away from a stop it shifts 3 times fairly quickly and as I start moving up to highway speeds it shifts a couple of more times. I call this "five speeds" .... or "five gear ratios" .... that my 5R110 goes through each time I come up to speed.

I can feel it's 1-2-3-5-6 gear ratio changes all the time. I haven't driven yet in cold enough weather so as to feel it's 1-2-3-4-6 gear ratio changes.

I can't imagine how the more recent "six speed" Ford E450 tranmisson would feel/shift any different to me - other than me feeling the individual 1-2-3-4-5-6 six shift points instead of my current five shift points. I consider moving in to, or out of Overdrive as a "shift point" .... because this is in fact a change in overall gearing ratio.

Read the various Ford enthusiast's discussions in their forums about the 5R110 TorqShift transmission. It will be cystal clear then about the 5R110 TorqShift being a 6-internal-ratio automatic transmission .... but with only five (1-2-3-5-6) shift points being felt by the driver in moderate or hot weather and with only the other group of five (1-2-3-4-6) shift points being felt by the driver in cold weather.

It seems crystal clear to me what is going on with 5R110 gearing ratios. Perhaps some folks have a problem with calling it a "shift point" when a transmission moves in to, or out of, Overdrive?

As much as my MH weighs, if it is turned on, I have T/H on.

Googled 2005 E-450 and came up with the following:

2005 E-SERIES VAN / CUTAWAY / STRIPPED CHASSIS
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Transmissions
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS
Ford 4-Speed Automatic Ford 4-Speed Automatic Ford 5-Speed Automatic. Make/Type Overdrive (4R70E) Overdrive (4R75E) Overdrive (TorqShiftTM)
Engine 4.6L SEFI V-8 / 5.4L SEFI V-8 5.4L SEFI V-8 (Over 8,600 lbs. 5.4L SEFI V-8 (Over 8,600 lbs. GVWR) GVWR) / 6.8L SEFI V-10 / 6.0L
V-8 Turbo Diesel

Ratios (to 1) —
1st 3.11
2nd 2.11
3rd 1.55
4th — OD 1.00
5th — OD — — 0.71
Reverse 2.88

Converter Size & Type 12” 145K (L290 Bypass Clutch) 12” 145K (L370 Bypass Clutch) 12” PCM Controlled Clutch Apply Converter Stall Ratio 2.33 —
Converter Torque Ratio @ — — 2.2 (5.4L), 1.86 (6.8L & 6.0L) WOT Stall
Lubricant Capacity (pt.) 13.2 (E Lifetime Fluid 18.2 (5.4L), 19.0 (6.8L, 6.0L) Gear Set Helical Spur Oil Cooler Water Oil to Air and In-Tank


No 6th gear and just one 4th gear, just saying.... I don't think the 2005's had Tow Haul but did have the manual on/off OD. TH, like the true 6 speed tranny's came along a number of years later. I think the TH appeared around 2009 or 2010 (?) and the six speed trans made its first appearance in 2013 (my 2012 is a 5 speed torque Shift... with I had the six speed).

:C

Automatic transmissions (at least the traditional designs, such as we're talking about here) don't have individual gearsets for each speed, as a manual transmission does, but rather a series of planetary gearsets and clutches to interconnect them in various permutations and combinations. I suspect the 5R110 and the 6R145 (and the 4R100) have four planetary gearsets, but I'm far from positive about that.

This article on thetruthaboutcars.com starts with a brief introduction to some of the theory behind automatic transmissions and planetary gearsets, if you're interested. It's a little on the technical side.

This is rather far removed from whether or not one should engage Tow/Haul, I realize. My apologies in advance to the original poster.