Tow/Haul button: what is it for?
Hi all, very noob question. Just purchased my second RV., 2012 24' Class C on E350. The tow/haul button automatically comes on when started. Sales person said to just turn it off. What is it used...
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The 5R110 transmission in our 2005 E450 chassis (the first model year for the 5-speed, computer controlled Ford TorqShift transmission with the Tow/Haul mode) failed at around only 61K miles.
I assumed it would be a bullet-proof transmission in an under-loaded E450 chassis whether in Tow/Haul mode or not, so for overall smoothness in all driving situations except downgrades I never had it's Tow/Haul mode turned ON.
I don't know if my above usage made the transmission fail prematurely or if it was merely an early-life component failure. I had it replaced with a remanufactured heavy duty version of the 5R110 transmission. This transmission upshifts and downshifts so smooth with Tow/Haul mode turned ON - as compared to original one - that I now can leave it engaged all the time while still experiencing very smooth operation.
BTW, I'm speculating that with Tow/Haul mode engaged all the time ... gas mileage may actually be slightly better ... because of less clutch slippage in the transmission. Clutch slippage of course raises temperatures and it takes energy to raise temperatures. I have no data or proof of this ... but it just makes sense that fuel usage would be a tiny bit lower with less waste heat generation.
I assumed it would be a bullet-proof transmission in an under-loaded E450 chassis whether in Tow/Haul mode or not, so for overall smoothness in all driving situations except downgrades I never had it's Tow/Haul mode turned ON.
I don't know if my above usage made the transmission fail prematurely or if it was merely an early-life component failure. I had it replaced with a remanufactured heavy duty version of the 5R110 transmission. This transmission upshifts and downshifts so smooth with Tow/Haul mode turned ON - as compared to original one - that I now can leave it engaged all the time while still experiencing very smooth operation.
BTW, I'm speculating that with Tow/Haul mode engaged all the time ... gas mileage may actually be slightly better ... because of less clutch slippage in the transmission. Clutch slippage of course raises temperatures and it takes energy to raise temperatures. I have no data or proof of this ... but it just makes sense that fuel usage would be a tiny bit lower with less waste heat generation.
