Using a 2011 Ford F150 as a tow truck???

[baitboy]

I have a 2011 F150 that I am using as my tow truck and I was wondering if any of you who use the newer F150's as tow truck----do you lock out 6th gear when you are towing?

[Tystevens]

Atlee wrote:
I haven't figured out how to lock out 6th gear yet.

On mine, if the Tow/Haul is NOT engaged, and I go from D to M on the shift lever, I have 6 gears to manually choose from. However, if I'm in Tow/Haul mode and select M, I only have 3 gears to choose from, 3-2-1.

Shadow_Grey wrote:
I don't know about prior years but with the '11s and up you have "tow/haul" on the end of the shift lever and a rocker switch about 2/3 up the stalk to lock upper gears out or shift the gears manually if in "M".

Like others have explained, leave it in "D" and just hit the +/- toggle. That will "lock" out any gear not illuminated on your display, eg., if 6 is not lit up, the truck will use gears 1-5 as normal.

In this way, the transmission operation is different from GM's.

[Hybridhunter]

Atlee wrote:
I haven't figured out how to lock out 6th gear yet.

On mine, if the Tow/Haul is NOT engaged, and I go from D to M on the shift lever, I have 6 gears to manually choose from. However, if I'm in Tow/Haul mode and select M, I only have 3 gears to choose from, 3-2-1.

I think you are a bit confused here. When the shifter is in the M position, you have full manual control over gear selection in all 6 gears, (the exception being it will downshift to avoid stalling). The gear selected will display in the instrument cluster.

The rest of the time, you can limit the top gear it will shift in to. The gears available will display in the instrument panel.

I always lock out 6th (I have the 3.7), I find that in rolling hills I lock out 5th as well, or I let it shuffle gears, 5th down hills, 4th, sometimes 3rd going up. I assume it's designed to be left to it's own calibrations, as everyone knows that the correct gear for going downhill is not the correct gear for going uphill, although there are exceptions to that.

[Tvov]

The new transmissions certainly are different than my 2008. I have the 5 speed "Torque-Shift", that just has the tow/haul button.

[OH48Lt]

On my 2011 with EcoBoost, I lock out 6th when towing our 6000# TT. It will hold 6th when towing unless going into a real bad headwind, but it improves fuel mileage by over 1 mpg by using 5th. That puts the engine RPMs right at 1900, which is where 80% of the 420 ft lbs of torque becomes available.

Atlee: There are 2 switches on the drivers side of the shift lever. The bottom one is the tow\haul, the upper one triggers the gear indicator display on the dash and allows you to select gears. While in D, that switch will allow you to lock out gears starting from the top. If you lock out 6th, (the 6 light will go out), the truck will use gears 1-5. If you lock out 6 and 5, it will only use gears 1-4, and so on. Great for engine braking too. Doesn't matter if you have tow\haul engaged or not. If you put the shift selector lever in M, it operates differently. I think you will only get 1-2-3, and you have to manually upshift using the side gear selector button, IIRC.

[Shadow_Grey]

You do have the rocker switch about 2/3s the way up the shift stalk correct?

[Atlee]

I haven't figured out how to lock out 6th gear yet.

On mine, if the Tow/Haul is NOT engaged, and I go from D to M on the shift lever, I have 6 gears to manually choose from. However, if I'm in Tow/Haul mode and select M, I only have 3 gears to choose from, 3-2-1.

Shadow_Grey wrote:
I don't know about prior years but with the '11s and up you have "tow/haul" on the end of the shift lever and a rocker switch about 2/3 up the stalk to lock upper gears out or shift the gears manually if in "M".

[Shadow_Grey]

I don't know about prior years but with the '11s and up you have "tow/haul" on the end of the shift lever and a rocker switch about 2/3 up the stalk to lock upper gears out or shift the gears manually if in "M".

[Tvov]

So... with some Ford transmissions, you have "tow/haul" mode AND you have the option of locking out overdrive (or top gear)?

[Tystevens]

I leave mine in D unless it is 'hunting' a lot -- shifting back and forth every couple minutes or so. I've found that in T/H, both my F150 and my GM do a pretty good job of eliminating hunting. Of course, the Ecoboost can tow along in 6th in most conditions, speed permitting, so it has been less of an issue w/ my F150. My GM never even gets to 6th gear when towing anyway, unless I'm going downhill, so it isn't much of a problem there, either.

Good luck.

[brulaz]

How fast you're towing may affect how often it shifts from 5th to 6th and back.

With my 7500# trailer, we pretty much travel at 62mph (100km/h), and it's never been necessary to lock out 6th (it's an EcoB though). Cruise control and Tow/Haul pretty much handle everything without a lot of back and forth. That's across the continent, all around Ontario, and to Florida and return.

But cruising with our 64sqft sail at 70mph might be a different story.

And I expect the 5L V8 would be happier if 6th were locked out.

[baitboy]

Thank you for the input. You all have been a lot of help. We just bought a 240MK Laredo made by Keystone. On the way home I noticed that as we went through the rolling hills that we kept going in and out of 6th gear so I locked out the 6th gear. Just wanted your input to see if I was doing it right. Thanks again.

[pappcam]

APT wrote:
Tow/Haul lock out 6th gear is what I recommend and do with my similar power and weight combo.

Unless I've got a good tail wind and I'm on driving on fairly level terrain, I also put it in tow/haul and lock out 6th. If I do have a tail wind I check to see if it moves a lot between 5th and 6th and if it stays consistently in 6th I don't lock it out.

[Shadow_Grey]

Dave H M wrote:
Actually, I am not sure if my trans technically has an "over drive".


I have heard "rumors" that the top two in the 6 speed ford are over driven. I don't know though.

Yes Dave, 5th and 6th are overdrive.

I also lockout 6th when running thru the rolling hills but out on the flats it is 6th gear and cruise control all the way.

[badercubed]

I have a 2013 Ecoboost and lock out 6th gear when towing. It bumped me 1.5mpg from when I didn't lock it out.