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swimmer_spe's avatar
swimmer_spe
Explorer
May 30, 2017

Shift! **** You Shift!

I have a 2013 Ford F150 5L V8 Long box extended cab 4x4. I was towing a 1999 Rockwood Ultralight 24' travel trailer. The thing doesn't even weigh 3000 lbs.

There was this magical speed where on the flats, it would constantly be shifting up and down from 5-6. One click up on the cruise control, it would stay in 5th. 1 click down and it would finally stay in 6 for more than a couple of seconds.

I had Tow/Haul on. Does anyone know why this happens or what I can do about it, besides "just driving slower"

149 Replies

  • swimmer_spe wrote:
    I know how to lock 6th out. I just want to use 6th. It sounds like I shouldn't. ****!

    The thing is, we are taking within 5km/hr difference. I would rather go 5km/hr slower and save fuel.


    If you want that then an 3.5L Ecoboost engine would have been a better option. Its greater low rpm torque/horsepower allows it to hold higher gears than the 5.0L which needs to downshift to be at the higher rpms where it makes power. That is just one of the drawbacks of a N/A engine versus a turbocharged one.
  • As others have mentioned, it's better if you lockout 6th whole towing.
  • I know how to lock 6th out. I just want to use 6th. It sounds like I shouldn't. ****!

    The thing is, we are taking within 5km/hr difference. I would rather go 5km/hr slower and save fuel.
  • skiles wrote:
    I've notice the same thing on my truck at times. How does one go about "locking out" 6th?


    Look for the "+/-" button on your gear selector. Press "-" to lock out or keep your transmission fro shifting into a certain gear and press "+" to unlock that gear.

    For example, when driving down the road you should all gears available. If you hit the "-" button then it should take out the highest gear you are in. Some makes might display the current gear on the first press of the button if the current gear is not visible so it will take two presses of the button to actually lock out a gear in those instances. You will notice that the gear you locked out will no longer be displayed until you unlock it again.
  • I've notice the same thing on my truck at times. How does one go about "locking out" 6th?
  • You need to lock out sixth, hunting is hard on the transmission it creates a lot of heat.
  • I have the 6.2 in my 2013 F350 I use for my landscape business. Locking out 6th when pulling my equipment trailer has become the norm for me. As mentioned, it just keeps the shifts down to a minimum.
  • What Spud said. It was gear hunting and the CC couldn't pick which one it liked to maintain set speed. In this case lock out the highest gear. Even with a trailer light as the one your towing, pulling in 6th isn't a good idea IMO anyways. 6th gear is your 2nd OD on that truck and is very tall which means it's not gonna like pulling. Turn on the OD like you did and lock out 6th gear and let that 5.0 rip!
  • When that happens, lock out 6th. May have been a bit of a head wind.

    S