Towing with Overdrive Off
Hi, I just bought my first travel trailer. It's not too big or heavy, a 1970 Fleetwood Wilderness, 16' single axle. My truck, a 97 Ford F250 has plenty of muscle to tow it, and I can hardly tell th...
Forum Discussion
APT wrote:
Most automatic transmissions are not designed to operate very long with the torque converter unlocked. That generates heat which lessens life. Every time the transmission shifts a gear, the torque convert unlocks, gear change, then relocks. Also, many transmissions will stay unlocked which offers a little more torque without a whole gear change.
You want to stay in the highest gear with trans locked that holds your desired vehicle speed. If the trans is unlocking every couple miles or more frequently, it's probably wise to force it into a lower gear.
This what I adhere to. I'm pretty maxed out every time I tow. I can hold OD on flats and rolling hills usually, but when I see a hill coming or the tranny starts hunting, I lock it out of OD and stay in drive till I can unlock again down a hill or flat. If terrain is a lot of back and forth, I lock it out and forget it.
I also pedal it or pull it down a gear when I see a need before I get into a hill and it shifts under high load/rpm. This lessens the shock load of shifting while already into the hill. 112K miles and still like new (knocking wood).
