F250 towing in overdrive

Submitted: Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 16:28

ThreadID: 122636 Views:6340 Replies:5 FollowUps:13

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MuzzaJ

We have a 20ft BT and tow with an F250 t/d 7.3lt. If we tow with overdrive off over flat country and down hill it sounds as if it wants to change into overdrive.We think it revs too high in the lower gear ie 2200rpm at 100kph. When we do change up it does it without any apparent strain and the revs go back to about 1800rpm at about 100kph. Should we be towing a 20ft BT loaded (at a guess about 3000kg) in overdrive? We qualify the 100kph by saying only ever on good open road ... we haven't a death wish.
We would appreciate any comment by those who tow with an F truck. Thanking you in anticipation.
Murray and Judy

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Reply By: Macs - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 16:57

Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 16:57

Not an expert but I was told that towing at slightly higher RPM is better for gearbox cooling, higher oil flow etc which reduces chance of gearbox damage ??

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Reply By: Bushtracker - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 17:14

Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 17:14

Hello Murray and Judy,
With both my F-350 years ago before Ford was back in Australia, and my F-250 that I have now, having studied the transmissions I think the answer is inbetween... Since the OD switch is on the end of the shifter, it is effortless to change in and out. What I do is run on the flat at the lower RPM, and when in the hilly country I shift out of the OD and run at the higher RPM...

On temperatures, that is the killer of the transmissions. I have been very active on a few of the Ford Forums in the U.S. and the engines seem to run about 500,000 to 600,000 miles, that is about 850,000 kms. One Mechanic on the Powerstroke Forum has reported one running in original condition at 960,000 getting regular service... However, when towing and working hard, the transmissions are the weak point and if you abuse them they will die. I think with care, one can expect at least 300,000 kms before an automatic rebuild. My F-350 had been abused, and I had to rebuild it at less than that and it cost about $3500 for a towing package rebuild... Read my preventative Tip on Automatics Tranmissions and the higher boiling point Synthetic oils. As in the extreme, mineral based oils can boil running big work on soft sand in the heat, then the tranmission can munch itself... The synthetics prevent this with a much higher boiling point and better functional properties. For advice, the Powerstroke Forum is a wonderful resource and we now have an Australian spot there courtesy of the Lone Ranger....

Cheers

"The Last Stand In Open Country"

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Follow Up By: Kingy - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 20:46

Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 20:46

Steve, can you post the web address

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Follow Up By: Kingy - Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 20:47

Thursday, Apr 27, 2006 at 20:47

Cancel that, just found it on the other post

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Follow Up By: Maximus - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 04:37

Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 04:37

Steve

I have a manual 7.3L , so what are yours thoughts on overdrive in this situation. Is the manual tougher?

Cheers

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Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 18:04

Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 18:04

Hello Maximus,

With the Fords in extreme duty all over the world as the primary workhorse, manuals are alway the choice. The reason is probably not so much the longevity, but cheaper to rebuild one, and a little more reliable.... What you need to do with it, is keep up the maintenance and use the absolute correct fluids in the manual. If you do that, then yes it is probably a little better. However, for me, driving and living in town, I would opt for the automatic. In truth, even in travel, the automatic is more user friendly and easier to drive obviously, with one hand free, etcetera.... However, for the extreme duty, yes you are probably better off with the manual for fuel economy and reliability.

On the top gear in the transmission, if it is weak like the 5 gear in Toyota with smaller bearings and such, it would usually say so in the Manual with a warning about big towing in that gear.. I have not heard anything, but would probably ask on the Powerstroke Forum www.powerstrokeforum.com . And all of our trucks are the 99-03 Powerstroke (PSD) as they went to a 6 litre after that. Ours stayed in the 2003 format with the 7.3 psd... So go to the 99-03 Powerstroke Problem part of that Forum which is HUGE....

Regards from the Ranger...

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Reply By: F Troop - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 03:02

Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 03:02

I have towed a 20' about 80k in 3 years I use a mix, most of the time in over drive.
I will turn OD off if you are in terain that has the system changing every 5 minits.
Or with the cruse control on and you know when it slams back and revs it head off, then I try to preempt the change and turn off cruse control
I have tran temp and engine temp guages and the truck runs hotter out of OD at 2200 rpm than 1800 in OD.
I think the best advice is feel the truck ( through your butt and ears ) and give her what she wants.
I think Ford got it prety right its an auto so let it bee.
Graham

AnswerID: 568438

Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 23:15

Friday, Apr 28, 2006 at 23:15

Graham, I agree.

Having towed with the same OD button on the end of the shifter with both Fords, I will let it do it by itself unless in some real up and down hilly country.... Once in while in the hilly country it would annoy me as it shifted in and out too much so I would click it out.
Nice trucks, glad I got another... But I miss the bigger gear of my CrewCab dually, wish I could get another Dually rear wheeled F-350 custom in 4x4..... Know what I know now I probably would have kept my old one... Oh well, hind sight... I will keep my eyes open for another in Dodge or Ford...

Maybe Conrad will give me his dual rear wheel Dodge... Ha! ...Yea right...... LR

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Follow Up By: Turist - Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 00:41

Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 00:41

Maybe next year Steve.
Dodge will be releasing a bigger motor in an attempt to keep up with the superior power and technology of the Chevy.
Now Conrad couldn't let that go on to the keeper could he!!

Just to remind you;
F250 7.3 = 175Kw, 680Nm. 4 spd auto
Dodge = 231Kw, 820Nm. 5 spd auto.
Chevy = 270Kw, 881Nm. 6 speed auto with grade braking, tap shift & auto 4wd engagement if required.

Reckon Ford might come up with something better around 2010, maybe.

Regards
Bob

PS. Did I mention the auto climate control with individual comfort zones, leather heated power seats and........and......and............

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Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 00:54

Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 00:54

Awww, quit bragging Turist... Trying to bait up the Lone Ranger, shame on you...

But, why not.. Chevy also has an independent front suspension and lower ground clearance as most buyers of them wear skirts... Big on the girl comforts...
And Fords take them every time chipped up on the Dragstrip... Ford 7.3s are turning the 11 second quarter mile now...
I will stick with the Effie, with a thousand of them here in parts and wreckers and Dealers for ease of backup.. There are even engines available now from wrecks.

If I get a new one it will be the new Ford 6.4 coming out in 2007, it has 350 HP and Twin Turbos, the specs and pictures are already on the Net intelligence network...

Look, it will be OK Bob, just hunker down in the seat so no one sees you driving a Sheila truck. Come on, really, might as well let her drive, its a girls truck anyway...

Ha! Ha! LoL... da Ranger

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Follow Up By: Turist - Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:36

Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:36

Keeping in mind that the requirement for such items is most likely greater with a Frod, oops, Drof, try again, Frood, ah shucks (ranger saying) Chev is easier to spell.

And just to keep you up to date with curent specs, Chev 2500/3500 HD have more ground clearance than the F truck. (See, I spelt it that time)

Bob

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Follow Up By: Bushtracker - Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:45

Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:45

Bob, Bob, Bob....

Having owned many Chevs in the past with all their fancy plastic widgets, I would say it is not too late for you to order a second one... You can fall back and pick up the little pieces that fall off and put them in your purse (necessary for all Chevy drivers, a handbag)... And the second Chevy can follow you around to stop and pick up the bigger bits.. Ha! Laugh out Loud... Ha! Thank you, I'll stick with my Effing Truck.. Ha!

Ranger will now go out and fire up his chipped up, 4" lifted, dual difflock, four inch straight exhaust, Monster Truck, and go look for Chevys and rice grinders to smoke... Ha... Lol... Nothing like a chipped up big 7.3 International V-8 Turbo Diesel. We will stay with the Man's truck thankyou... Ha! LOL.....

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Follow Up By: Turist - Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:53

Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:53

No need to "Chip" 'em when they have it to start with.

I did forget to mention, auto diff locks with torque transfer to wheels that require the most.

Regards
Bob

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Follow Up By: Turist - Sunday, Apr 30, 2006 at 02:43

Sunday, Apr 30, 2006 at 02:43

Hey Steve!
Come back, the game's just started.
I got lotsa more good Chevy stuff.
Bob

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Reply By: F Troop - Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:30

Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:30

What was it you said about the F Truck ???

Thats it " She don't drive my truck an I don't drive her Hover "

I think Da Ranger just changed it.

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Follow Up By: Turist - Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:39

Saturday, Apr 29, 2006 at 01:39

Hoover Graham, Hoover. It sucks.
Wont go further with that one, 140 F truck owners on the BOG and only 3 Chevy's.
Might gang up on me at the rally.

Bob

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Reply By: F Troop - Sunday, Apr 30, 2006 at 01:24

Sunday, Apr 30, 2006 at 01:24

Can't you just tell when I'm not at home hovering over my hoover............ the husbands' posts don't get edited. I taught Diesel to spell better than that - wouldn't you think he'd get him to spell check.
And can't you just tell that the husband is not home at the moment, 'cause I can now post up sarcastic little digs in his direction....... snigger snigger snigger.
The boss and editor - Jan

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