Forum Discussion

w3ozwizard's avatar
w3ozwizard
Explorer
Jul 01, 2015

Tow Haul

I did a search on this subject and did not get much of an answer. So I am asking you folks who probably know more about the subject than any other place on the Internet. Here goes..... When I got my Ford E-450 based Class C. The dealer told me when I asked to keep the vehicle in Tow Haul as he thinks it improves gas mileage. Well I have been running that way, not knowing REALLY what the feature is supposed to do. I have read that it changes the shifting control and allows for better control in some situations. OK but what is really happening? On our last trip I had it in the Tow Haul condition and when I went down a sharp hill, the MH went into some kind of condition with a lot of noise and it seemed to have shifted the transmission or engine into another gear. Kind of like when you hit the passing gear on your car. At the end of the hill all went back to normal. On the way home on the same hill the same thing happened this time going up the hill. If I am not towing anything do I need to have it in this mode? Does it really make for better mileage? Seems to me that it revved up everything and sounded more stressful on the transmission and engine and I don't want to do that if it is not necessary. Any thoughts?
Class C
  • Desert_Captain's avatar
    Desert_Captain
    Explorer III
    Jul 01, 2015
    If you are running light, as in well under your GVWR you can get better mileage on the flats and slight down hill grades by leaving Tow Haul off. I'm not sure E-450's ever fit that description. :B

    On any significant grade and often on slight extended grades engaging TH will dramatically lower your trans fluid temps. I use my Scan Gauge to monitor this critical function. If you don't have a Scan Gauge or some other device to monitor your engine functions above and beyond the idiot lights Ford supplies, you need one.

    On steep downhills you always want to be in TH. I can engage TH and descend a 12 mile 6 - 8% grade and never touch the brakes and best of all won't burn a drop of fuel all the way to the bottom. Don't be concerned about the the V-10 revving as that is what it is designed to do.

    A lot of folks just keep things simple by running in TH all the time and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. You will burn a tad more fuel but your trans will stay cooler and gas is a lot cheaper than a new transmission.

    :C
  • kaydeejay's avatar
    kaydeejay
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2015
    With a Moho you are HAULING all the time.
    Put it in TH and ferget it!
    It delays and sharpens the upshifts, locks the converter earlier and helps with trans temps.
    It WILL downshift on grades to offer you some engine braking.
    Assuming you have a V10, that motor is designed to rev. Your computer will make sure it doesn't over-rev.
    It will NOT improve fuel economy - there will be no measurable difference.

About Motorhome Group

38,706 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 01, 2025