Tow/Haul

Yep.

The RV, by itself, weighs enough to need the TOW/HAUL, in my humble opinion.

jamesk1 wrote:
Am I the only one that didn't use the tow/haul before?

Probably not by a long stretch.

Judging by the amount of times I see folks in the forums asking about "what it's for" and "how/when to use it", I doubt that it's used much in E350/E450 motorhomes.

I know what it does and still don't use it much ... except for sometimes in the mountains when I want to keep the cruise control engaged so I can stretch out my right leg. With Tow/Haul mode engaged and with cruise control ON, the cruise control also regulates your downhill speed to what you set it at by automatically downshifting the transmission - hence helping your brakes out by using strong engine braking without you even having to touch the shift lever. However I have a Class C that underloads it's E450 motorhome with it's 4:56 diferential so engine braking is more pronounced all the time and anytime, even when not in Tow/Haul mode.

jamesk1 wrote:
Am I the only one that didn't use the tow/haul before?

I've had an E450 for about 16 months and just used the Tow/Haul mode for the first time last weekend. I noticed that whenever I took my foot off the gas ( I don't use cruise control that often) it felt like I was applying the brakes - strange/different feeling, and this was in flat South Florida.
I also made a conscious effort to drive a little slower, hardly ever hitting 60,drove in the upper 50's. My gas mileage went from a "normal" little over 8 mpg to 9.5 mpg. on this 300 mile round trip.
The previous weekend I had 180 mile round trip and got the same mpg, (actually 1 way was 9.7 mpg) just by driving slower, but not using the tow haul mode. I'm pretty sure if I was to take a longer trip, the mpg would be even better.

Most of the areas I drive are up and down hills so it was always shifting. Didn't seem as bad with the cruise on but if it was very steep it would downshift into the lower gears and jump to the high rpms. Not near as bad with the tow/haul on. I did notice that it would downshift and use engine breaking coming into town but not on the rolling hills. Not sure about gas mileage yet as I haven't filled but looked as if I used less on this trip than on the last trip going to the same area.

Never leave home without tow/haul on. The auto downshifting keeps me focused on the road and my foot off the brake as much as possible,

Yep, you gotta love the Tow Haul. Another reason to use it often, even on seemingly slight grades, is to reduce your transmission temps. By engaging the TH you can reduce your trans fluid temps by as much as 10 degrees as it will not only be working more efficiently (for the load on it), it will be cooling more efficiently.

Just another very good reason to get a Scan Gauge or similar display. Being able to see a digital read out of trans and coolant temps is a real eye opener. Ford "gauges" aren't really gauges. The display leaps up to the mid point and stays there until until excessively high then moves quickly to the max. I have seen 224 degrees of coolant temp while the gauge had not moved from the midpoint and not many, if any, fords I have seen come with a display for trans fluid temp despite the ECM having that data available through the OBD port.

On long down hills the TH really shines. I can run down a 12 mile 6% grade with the TH engaged and virtually never have to touch the brake pedal. It will hold me at 50-55 in fourth gear and a single tap of the brake pedal will drop it down in to third for increased braking (control) should the grade get steeper. The best part is you are not burning a drop of fuel all the way to the bottom. If you don't have TH you can get similar results by locking out O/D.

Works for me.

:B

It is great for crowded roadways, being able to decelerate (the torque converter stays locked) without having to slam on the brakes.

I used Tow Haul on my new-to-me 2012 Freelander on a 2008 chassis this weekend. The high revs, and noise, starting out were disconcerting at first, but as I watched the shift points it appears Tow Haul programs the tranny to shift at the top of the torque curve. Mine was shifting up at 3700-3800 rmp, which was the point of maximum torque in the 2000 V-10 I had in my class A. Haven't seen the torque curve for the 2008 V-10 but assume it is pretty similar.

Desert Captain, Tow Haul is far different than locking out overdrive. I found overdrive lockout to be useful for slowing approaching a stoplight, but really minimally effective in slowing my 25,500 pound class A and toad on downgrades of 6% or more (fortunately the F-53 chassis has great brakes). Haven't used the tow haul on a downgrade yet, but it is much more effective in slowing the Freelander on level roads.

Since you really drive torque, not horsepower, tow haul seems to provide a much better tranny programming for accelerating a heavy class C. I can rationalize the improved fuel economy that has been posted. I suspect that in addition to higher pressure shift points, it reduces slippage as you approach an upgrade. Should keep the tranny cooler also. I'll be checking both when I get my Scanguage installed.

fortytwo wrote:


Desert Captain, Tow Haul is far different than locking out overdrive. I found overdrive lockout to be useful for slowing approaching a stoplight, but really minimally effective in slowing my 25,500 pound class A and toad on downgrades of 6% or more (fortunately the F-53 chassis has great brakes). Haven't used the tow haul on a downgrade yet, but it is much more effective in slowing the Freelander on level roads.

You really should read my post before trying to tell me I am wrong. I wrote:

"On long down hills the TH really shines. I can run down a 12 mile 6% grade with the TH engaged and virtually never have to touch the brake pedal. It will hold me at 50-55 in fourth gear(I have the 5 speed Torque Shift trans), and a single tap of the brake pedal will drop it down in to third for increased braking (control) should the grade get steeper. The best part is you are not burning a drop of fuel all the way to the bottom. If you don't have TH you can get similar results by locking out O/D."

{As you can see I never said that TH and O/D were the same}.

You will get "similar results" on long down grades by locking out O/D, saving wear and tear on your brakes much like utilizing TH. For folks without TH this is a viable option. When you lock out O/D you have eliminated 4th gear (on a 4 speed trans), and that will effectively contribute to greater control and less required brake pedal.

When towing anything naturally you must use more brake pedal to activate your trailer/toad's braking system but the proper use of TH or O/D will improve overall braking dramatically.

As always.... Opinion s and YMMV.

:C