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05-25-2022, 06:01 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Palm Coast, FL
Posts: 101
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Driving in tow mode
We were just at Safe-T-Plus for the steering stabilizer & Koni shock. While on our test drive a tec asked if we drive in tow mode. My answer was no when not towing & when towing only used to down shift when stopping or on grades. He explained we should be driving in tow mode 100% of time towing or not. Claimed do to size & weight of a motorhome shifting will be more efficient & better for transmission. Shifting is based on weight. Has anyone else been told this or follow that procedure? Always learning something new. Thanks
Edd
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05-25-2022, 06:07 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 7,396
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What kind of rig--do you mean tow mode or econ mode?
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Old Scout
2015 IH45 Foretravel
2003 Alpine 40' MDTS [Sold]
New Braunfels, Texas
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05-25-2022, 07:15 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 275
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Just sharing info on my rig. I have a 2019 Winnebago Class C and it is recommended to drive in tow/haul mode 100% of the time with the Ford 6.8L V 10. We have different rigs but I thought I would just share this ....
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Southwest Michigan
2019 Winnebago Minnie Winnie 22r
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05-25-2022, 07:24 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Posts: 3,542
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In my opinion, the chassis of a motorhome is ALWAYS 'hauling' something - the 'home' part of the RV. Many motorhomes are just a few thousand pounds shy of the max weight of the chassis, and of course many are over. Just because you're not towing anything doesn't mean that the chassis isn't hauling something. It makes perfect sense to me to use tow/haul all of the time.
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2013 Winnebago Sightseer 36V
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05-25-2022, 08:02 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: North Georgia Mountains
Posts: 588
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We always use the Tow mode option because the transmission shifting points appear to result in smoother acceleration and deceleration transitions putting less strain on the engine.
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2007 Newmar Baystar; 3201; SumoSprings Front; Timbren Springs Rear; Safe-T-Plus; 2016 Fiat 500; Roadmaster Falcon 2;Demco SBS DUO Braking System;TST 507; Bilstein shocks; Garmin RV 785; Supersteer Rear Trac Bar, Thule Easyfold XT2,RVWhisper
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05-25-2022, 08:08 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 764
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Cloud buster you might want to add a signature line. As far as tow mode I use it for when I am towing. Will try using it next time not towing to see if it drives different.
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Alan & Terry 2016 Bounder 34T
Blue Ox Alpha Tow Bar, RVi brake 2system
2023 Ford Maverick Hybrid(Toad),WeBoost,Tire Minder TPMS. 1000 watts of Solar
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05-25-2022, 08:11 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 1,629
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When we had gassers we wouldn't use tow/haul unless we were going up and down hills or I was otherwise unhappy with how it was shifting. The only thing it does is slightly modify the shift points so that it won't change gears so much. It doesn't boost the power or anything. In normal highway driving, the coach spends most of its time in top gear, so it doesn't do anything at all, but it will cost you some mileage because it will spend more time in lower gears with higher RPMs. When we had the toad attached I used it more frequently, but again, not out on the open highway. If you aren't getting an unusually frequent number of shifts, you don't need it on. It can help a tiny bit going downhill or down an off-ramp, but not as much as downshifting will, and you can turn it on and off when you need it instead of just leaving it on all the time.
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2021 Holiday Rambler Armada 44LE
2021 Jeep Wrangler High Altitude toad w/Ready Brute Elite II
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05-25-2022, 10:36 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: San Jose, Ca, USA
Posts: 2,693
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We have a 2007 W22 chassis with the Allison 1000 - I don't think we have a tow mode. I just put it in D and drive it. I do keep the Grade Brake turned on all the time.
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Alan Hepburn - San Jose, Ca
2007 Bounder 35E being pushed by a 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S or a 2022 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JLU) Sport S
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05-25-2022, 10:48 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,103
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Year, make and model would really help us help you.
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2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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05-25-2022, 04:25 PM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,945
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Without the make, model driver line, etc, we can't provide much meaningful help. Kind of like you stating I have a Dog,,,,what color is it.
By the photo in your profile, it is a gasser. When we had gassers, I always used the tow/haul mode for better control on braking, deceleration and accelerating. After all, the RV is always hauling a big load with just the chassis.
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Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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05-26-2022, 05:31 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Palm Coast, FL
Posts: 101
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Scout
What kind of rig--do you mean tow mode or econ mode?
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Sorry, it is a 2021 Fleetwood Bounder 33C with the 7.3L V-8. Another question when going up a steeper grade we hear something kick in sounding like a blower. Is there something in the transmission or engine for cooling? Point taken on always hauling even when not towing. We weighted rig on our first longer trip out with only half a tank of water (50 gal) & I was shocked at only 400 under gross & we do not carry a bunch of extra stuff.
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05-26-2022, 05:41 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Watertown NY USA
Posts: 6,446
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cloudbuster
Sorry, it is a 2021 Fleetwood Bounder 33C with the 7.3L V-8. Another question when going up a steeper grade we hear something kick in sounding like a blower. Is there something in the transmission or engine for cooling? Point taken on always hauling even when not towing. We weighted rig on our first longer trip out with only half a tank of water (50 gal) & I was shocked at only 400 under gross & we do not carry a bunch of extra stuff.
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You are probably hearing the hydraulic engine fan clutch engaging as the engine temperature rises. This would be normal and a good thing.
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2002 Fleetwood Storm 30H on Workhorse P32 chassis 8.1 gas.
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05-26-2022, 05:57 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SW PA
Posts: 449
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I use tow mode 100% of the time (F53 24 K chassis with the 7.3 V8). When the engine temp gets up 215 ° the fan clutch will lock up, it sounds like a jet engine. I've never had it stay that way for more than a few seconds as the increased air flow drops the engine temp very quickly.
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2021 Newmar Bay Star 3401
Toad - 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
2017.5 Forester 3051 -7/14/2020
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05-26-2022, 06:40 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 2,133
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan_Hepburn
We have a 2007 W22 chassis with the Allison 1000 - I don't think we have a tow mode. I just put it in D and drive it. I do keep the Grade Brake turned on all the time.
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The Grade Brake on your Workhorse chassis performs a similar function as the Tow/Haul mode on Ford Chassis.
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2003 34' Georgetown on W20 Workhorse Chassis. UltraRV power mods. Doug Thorley Headers and MagnaFlow 12589 mufflers. Front Sumo Springs, Rear P32 Sumo Springs, UltraRV Track Bar.
1998 Jeep Toad.
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