Coachmen: Tip! ...or perhaps everyone else knows and I'm slow

[Roll]

Discovered that when bringing my Ford F53 chassis to a stop, if I turn on "Haul/Tow", the transmission will work down through the gears to slow the vehicle. Like a poor mans diesel engine brake.

It will not do this in standard mode.

If this is old news, disregard and cut me some slack, I apparently need it.


Roll

[Rodneykrantz]

I found that out also but it kills your gas millege when I drive in town I push the tow button

[puttin]

That is the way it should work. It holds onto the lower gear longer before upshifting or downshifting in order to keep the torque higher. As the name implies- it is for "tow/haul". I personally don't use it much because I don't like the higher revs/noise and don't normally need this extra torque- it does very well in "od".

[Roll]

Quote:

Originally Posted by puttin That is the way it should work. It holds onto the lower gear longer before upshifting or downshifting in order to keep the torque higher. As the name implies- it is for "tow/haul". I personally don't use it much because I don't like the higher revs/noise and don't normally need this extra torque- it does very well in "od".

Sorry I didn't elaborate. Of course you are right. My intent was to share that you can, if you choose, use this feature to effectively downshift, slowing your vehicle without brake pressure while not towing. As with most vehicles, this saves brake lining over the long period. Keeps breaks cool too.

To Rodney, just using it for downshifting should not affect mileage since the system is inherent to the transmission only and there is no rev matching function during downshifting. Up shifting is entirely different as we all know, higher revs for longer periods, (thus holding the engine in its higher torque range), will naturally burn more gas. If I am motoring through the neighborhood at a crawl then there is no point; however on the road I push the tow button on long stops or grades and then again to turn it off after I stop. I might apply light brake or not but I'm always ready to brake.

It works for me..... won't work for everyone.
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I

[62_inrightlane]

I use the tow / haul while traveling in the mountains. When not in mountainous terrain my brake buddy works just fine.