2016 Ford chassis with new 6 speed transmission.

[Gary CA]

Thinking about the 2016 class A gas powered RVs. What will be the benefits of the the new Ford 6 speed as compared to the 5 speed.
Thanks


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[TeJay]

The 5 speed was an improvement over the 4 speed and so will the 6 speed be an improvement over the 5 speed.

More gears means better fuel mileage. Less down shifting when climbing hills. Also most manufacturers are using torque converter lock up or TCLU to essentially improve the overall operation of the transmission. TCLU is simply locking up the torque converter (TC) eliminating the normal slippage present in all automatics. Here's as simple as I can say it. You are at 2,000 RPM's going 60 MPH. You encounter a hill. You can't climb the hill unless down shifting occurs. Or if the computer unlocks the TC giving you an increase in RPM's of about 300 to 400. So now the engine is working easier and moving the RV up the hill. There was not an actual gear change but the unlocking of the TC. If the hill is steeper it may do the unlock or maybe an actual down shift. In essence you really feel like you have about an 8 or 10 speed transmission instead of a 5 or 6 speed.

This idea of TCLU has been around for some time. You know it as this. When your car/truck reaches cruise speed the last thing that happens is TCLU. It feels like another shift but it's not. It's the elimination of the slippage in the transmission. That's how or why we have XXXXX miles CITY and XXXXX (better) fuel mileage highway.

TeJay

[Scarab0088]

There is actually 2 things happening with the 2016 F53...new 6 speed Torqshift...and...
Detuned Triton V10...was 362HP...will be 320HP
See: 2016 Ford Stripped Chassis Work Trucks | View Full Specification Library | Ford.com

The detune is most probably due to EPA MPG requirements...but I am no expert.

The extra gear will allow the engine to stay in the "best" RPM for a given speed.
I have not seen specific gear ratios, but the SuperDuty truck got a lower 1st gear and 2 OverDrive gears in the 6speed.

More here:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/f53-5...ed-262124.html
And
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/2016-...ed-250432.html
And others.

Safe travels

[Gary CA]

I appreciate the quick and thorough responses. Great information.


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[Skripo]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

There is actually 2 things happening with the 2016 F53...new 6 speed Torqshift...and...
Detuned Triton V10...was 362HP...will be 320HP
See: 2016 Ford Stripped Chassis Work Trucks | View Full Specification Library | Ford.com

The detune is most probably due to EPA MPG requirements...but I am no expert.

The extra gear will allow the engine to stay in the "best" RPM for a given speed.
I have not seen specific gear ratios, but the SuperDuty truck got a lower 1st gear and 2 OverDrive gears in the 6speed.

More here:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/f53-5...ed-262124.html
And
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f23/2016-...ed-250432.html
And others.

Safe travels

It's not a detune nor has the power changed. The new rating is at 4,000 RPM VS the old one at 4,700 and torque is actually up a 3 pounds. Same engine, more power.

[Scarab0088]

With your first 2 posts since joining in 2014...


The ECM has a "tune". This tune can be manipulated like 5 Star and UltraPower offer in the aftermarket.
From all accounts, the mechanical pieces and parts in the 3V Triton V10 have not changed for MY2016, BUT, the peak HP has been lowered by 42...I call that a detune. And, I read here that the rev limiter cuts the RPM at just over 4200RPM...anyone have specifics on that?


If it were me, I would like the extra gear -AND- the 362 peak HP.

Safe travels

[z3406]

As far as I can tell it's not a rev limiter rather it just shifts a lot earlier than the 5 speeds did. Holding the gas all the way down from a dead stop I got about 42-4300. At highway speeds I haven't been able to get it above 4100. That's a gear shift while its still pulling not hitting a rev limit.
A stock 6 speed will outperform a tuned 5 speed easily. I traded a 2014 5 Star tuned Bounder in on a 2016 and the 6 speed pulls better everywhere and is a LOT quieter in the process.

[Scarab0088]

Thanks for the details

Safe travels

[LVRVLUVR]

Originally Posted by z3406

As far as I can tell it's not a rev limiter rather it just shifts a lot earlier than the 5 speeds did. Holding the gas all the way down from a dead stop I got about 42-4300. At highway speeds I haven't been able to get it above 4100. That's a gear shift while its still pulling not hitting a rev limit.
A stock 6 speed will outperform a tuned 5 speed easily. I traded a 2014 5 Star tuned Bounder in on a 2016 and the 6 speed pulls better everywhere and is a LOT quieter in the process.

same here... my 2016 has more usable power stock... pulls the same trailer up the same hill faster that the tuned 2015..

the motor is the same but turns less rpms... the torque is higher.... that's what gets you up the hills...

[Grey Ghost I]

Now I was perfectly happy with my 4 speed tranny until you guys started this conversation. well, I will just keep reminding myself---Mine is what I can afford and it is paid for.

[Dennis Dean]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost I

Now I was perfectly happy with my 4 speed tranny until you guys started this conversation. well, I will just keep reminding myself---Mine is what I can afford and it is paid for.

I know how you feel Ghost. I have a 2016 bounder but its on a 2015 Chassis (5 speed, 362HP). I get anxiety ever time LUV and Z post about their Darn 6 speed.

[Skripo]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

With your first 2 posts since joining in 2014...


The ECM has a "tune". This tune can be manipulated like 5 Star and UltraPower offer in the aftermarket.
From all accounts, the mechanical pieces and parts in the 3V Triton V10 have not changed for MY2016, BUT, the peak HP has been lowered by 42...I call that a detune. And, I read here that the rev limiter cuts the RPM at just over 4200RPM...anyone have specifics on that?


If it were me, I would like the extra gear -AND- the 362 peak HP.

Safe travels

Scarab, thank you for the nice warm welcome, especially with it's ad hominem insinuation.

I used to hang out on RV.net because I had a TT. I'm back now because I just purchased a 2016 Georgetown 364TSF with a 2016 F53 6 speed chassis.

I used to modify ECUs and install piggy back computer so I am intimately familiar with tuning. The 2016 F53 the engine is not detuned. It is exactly the same engine making the same power as last years.

The reason you see the different power rating is that they probably made the most torque at that RPM (which is 3ft lbs MORE than last year). I imagine that they did this because it is more realistic and it also is a good marketing move when comparing to diesels.

So not only do I get the same power, I also get the 6 speed.

[Skripo]

After looking over my last post I realized that I was a little harsh.

Maybe we should call it a "re-tune". They retuned the engine to match the six speed which gives it what seems more usable power at a lower RPM:

2015
Horsepower: 362 @ 4,750 (no wonder it seemed loud!)
Torque: 457 @ 3,250


2016
Horsepower: 320 @ 3,900 RPM
Torque: 460 @ 3,000 RPM

You cannot really compare the 2 ratings if one is at 4,750 RPM and the other is at 3,900 until you see the full torque and HP curves.

Moral of the story, the 2016 has as much power as last year but available at a lower RPM range. This and the extra gear explains why it is much more quiet and seems to have more power to those who have owned both.

[NC25T]

Correct not really a de tune, it's just the engine is tuned better for the new trans. No need having max power above 4,500 rpm's when it won't go much above 4,000 rpm's.

When I was shopping back in 09, the ford was a lot louder vs the workhorse I went with. Great to see they are finally adding a 6spd. Probably will not affect mpg very much but noise/comfort it should help.