Threshold to use tow haul mode?

[tony72cutlass's']

I use tow haul for anything above 1/2 my payload so 1,000lb and above

The transmission just feels better at that threshold, this is not scientific by any means.

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[Grafx36510]

That was my thought. My payload per the sticker is 1600ish so I figured it best to use tow/haul.

 

[Samson16]

What would be a reason not to change the mode to Tow/Haul early on in the decision making process?

 

[amschind]

I have found with flat terrain, no wind or tailwind, my PB seems to do very well towing a 7,100 Airstream trailer in Normal Mode with a slight increase in milage. With head winds and/or mountainous terrain, I go to Tow/Haul mode. Make sense?

I think that says more about Airstreams than the truck. Measure the pavement to rooftop height of your Airstream, and then try to eyeball that same measure for any comparable length travel trailer. Even with a roof tumor AC, the front surface area of the AS that isn't "covered" by the tow vehicle is VERY small compared to other travel trailers. If you go nuts and replace the rooftop AC with a minisplit on the tongue, the front surface area of the AS falls to a very low number. Out of curiosity, what's the make and model for your AS?

 

[turbopilot]

Out of curiosity, what's the make and model for your AS?

It's a 2022 Globetrotter 25' FB. Front AC does gather a lot of bugs, so it is messing up the aerodynamics.

 

[Samson16]

I think that says more about Airstreams than the truck. Measure the pavement to rooftop height of your Airstream, and then try to eyeball that same measure for any comparable length travel trailer. Even with a roof tumor AC, the front surface area of the AS that isn't "covered" by the tow vehicle is VERY small compared to other travel trailers. If you go nuts and replace the rooftop AC with a minisplit on the tongue, the front surface area of the AS falls to a very low number. Out of curiosity, what's the make and model for your AS?

It’s nearly a foot lower than the InTech Terra I’m saving up for. Substantial but without TV/Trailer setup drag coefficient data ?‍. The interior height of the Terra is 4” higher so there’s that.

 

[amschind]

It's a 2022 Globetrotter 25' FB. Front AC does gather a lot of bugs, so it is messing up the aerodynamics.

Ah, that's pretty new to be doing major surgery. I started with a 1978 Tradewind 25 FB because I knew that I was going to rebuild from the ground up. Here's the pioneer from the AS forums.

AS Forums Minisplit

 

[turbopilot]

Ah, that's pretty new to be doing major surgery. I started with a 1978 Tradewind 25 FB because I knew that I was going to rebuild from the ground up. Here's the pioneer from the AS forums.

AS Forums Minisplit

My 22 Globetrotter has 15k and 13k BTU roof AC units. Just finished a trip with pretty continuous 100F to 105F temps. Airstream was able to hold around 75F inside. I was pretty impressed.

 

[Samson16]

Ah, that's pretty new to be doing major surgery

The man is a Turbo Pilot. He laughs at fear!

Doesn't mean he wants to damage his $140k travel trailer just yet I suppose. Nevermind...

Further edit: Dual AC means I have no idea what that bad boy runs lol. So again nevermind.

 

[Snakebitten]

You should see his build thread.
He's a meticulous madman.

 

[Newman]

I use tow/haul when I'm hauling skid steer 10k+ but with boat 3-4k I lock out 9th and 10th gears when I'm going 60mph and open them back up in the 80mph. Really the only reason I don't use tow/haul is the EXCESSIVE engine braking when coming to a stop sign. It's ridiculous.

 

[22redrocket]

Just finished a 300 mile round trip with a 5k lb camper. Hilly 55mph terrain in central NY. Tow haul the entire time. I believe with the amount of tech in these engines(powerboost here) that it’s smart to let the engineers at Ford do the thinking for us(not to say they’ve been perfect in the past) and use tow haul.

It’s apparent to me coming from a first gen ecoboost, to a second gen Raptor, now powerboost, that they’ve figured out it’s a bad idea to overload the engine at low RPM and create extreme cylinder pressures. This current tow haul mode was great at keeping rpm’s in a safe range, staying running at a stop(unless put in park), and locking out 9th and 10th gears ubless over about 63mph. Also was pleased with downhill engine braking.

 

[Chilibball]

What app is this? I’m interested in a dashboard like that.

 

[turbopilot]

What app is this? I’m interested in a dashboard like that.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/obdlink-mx-is-on-sale-today.13217/post-370706

 

[Calson]

With my GM diesel pickup the recommendation was to use tow/haul mode when the load was at least 75% f the GCWR of the truck. My truck had a GCWR of 22,000 lbs and the truck had a weight of 7200 lbs and so tow/haul mode was most effective with a trailer load of 9,300 lbs or more.

The purpose of tow/haul mode is to keep the ATF as cool as possible by changing transmission shift points and by keeping the torque converter locked longer. That is all that it does and with today's trucks most have a ATF temp gauge so we know when the fluid is "hot". Flash point of ATF is 350 degrees or greater which even with heavy towing on 100 degree days at 7,000 ft of elevation my truck never came close to approaching, much less exceeding.

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