Community Forums

twinboat · 02-08-2021, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heatseaker

Thanks everyone, this was very helpful. I read my 2008 Express owners manual and it didn't explain " tow haul " as good as this one. It appears it's similar to a jake brake which I am used to. When the winter weather is coming to a close I'll take it for a ride in the Colorado I-70 mountains for a test.

So when I get to the top of the hill I activate the tow haul before it up shifts to keep my speed equal to going up the hill............??

You leave Tow/Haul on all of the time, your driving in the mountains.
There is no benefit to switching it on and off. The downside is not switching it on in time.

You really can't use the same gear going down a mountain as you used going up, unless both sides of the mountain are the same. Not sure how you will know it is the same and the chances are slim that it is.

You have to learn to judge what you need to do, and as long as Tow/Haul is on, the brake pedal will help you do it.

heatseaker · 02-08-2021, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

You leave Tow/Haul on all of the time, your driving in the mountains.
There is no benefit to switching it on and off. The downside is not switching it on in time.

You really can't use the same gear going down a mountain as you used going up, unless both sides of the mountain are the same. Not sure how you will know it is the same and the chances are slim that it is.

You have to learn to judge what you need to do, and as long as Tow/Haul is on, the brake pedal will help you do it.

Got it twinboat. Thanks. Practice practice

chs · 02-09-2021, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heatseaker

Thanks everyone, this was very helpful. I read my 2008 Express owners manual and it didn't explain " tow haul " as good as this one. It appears it's similar to a jake brake which I am used to. When the winter weather is coming to a close I'll take it for a ride in the Colorado I-70 mountains for a test.

So when I get to the top of the hill I activate the tow haul before it up shifts to keep my speed equal to going up the hill............??

I believe it should be on when your towing, not just intermittently. That said, I sometimes shut it off when it becomes annoying. (Erratic Shifting and too high engine rpm)

twinboat · 02-09-2021, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chs

I believe it should be on when your towing, not just intermittently. That said, I sometimes shut it off when it becomes annoying. (Erratic Shifting and too high engine rpm)

Its not to high RPM, you just perceive it as to high. It won't overspeed.

I have watched the RPMs hover above 5300 RPMs on a steep downhill. The engine can take it but I was ready for the brakes if it upshifts on me. It held its own.

chunker · 02-13-2021, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinboat

Its not to high RPM, you just perceive it as to high. It won't overspeed.

I have watched the RPMs hover above 5300 RPMs on a steep downhill. The engine can take it but I was ready for the brakes if it upshifts on me. It held its own.

On the F-450 with either the 6.8 or 7.3 is there a gear selector? On the Ram 3500 truck I can select the top gear the transmission will shift to regardless of tow-haul or not.

chunker · 02-14-2021, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgvtexan

Down Shift.

a Jeep GC is a lot of TOAD for most class Cs

Too much for a sprinter and 350 but recent E450 have 7500# tow capacity and flat towing a GC curb weights are listed as 4500-5300# which is within range. 2021. Wangler at 38-4900# 2016.

CharlesinGA · 02-15-2021, 11:20 AM

A motorhome is ALWAYS a load for the chassis, the tow-haul should be on anytime you are driving the MH whether towing or not, flat land or mountains. It will reprogram the shifts and also provide for downshifting on decent on hills.

charles

Phil G. · 02-15-2021, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlesinGA

A motorhome is ALWAYS a load for the chassis, the tow-haul should be on anytime you are driving the MH whether towing or not, flat land or mountains. It will reprogram the shifts and also provide for downshifting on decent on hills.

charles

The transmission in our E450 Class C failed just after 60K miles. Up to that point I rarely used it with the Tow/Haul mode engaged. I wonder if the tranny was burnt up due to excessive clutch slippage generated heat from all our trips in the mountain parts of the U.S. because Tow/Haul mode wasn't engaged?

Now I travel almost exclusively with the Tow/Haul mode engaged! The transmission replacement ran around $5400.

heatseaker · 02-16-2021, 07:33 AM

CharlesinGA and Phil G that pretty much solidifies it for me. I just hope I didn't do any damage to the tranny during the 650 miles I drove pulling my jeep without it on.