"Don White" wrote in message
...



Even my little Ranger 4x2 had a tow mode button in the auto transmission
lever.
I used it all the way on my 5000 kilometer round trip towing a 2330 lb
load last year.


Ford, GM and Chrysler used to have auto transmissions in their full sized,
heavy duty trucks (250 and 2500 series and up) that had a button to simply
disengage overdrive for towing purposes. That wasn't ideal, but it helped.

Now-a-days GM uses the Allison transmission in their 2500 series. Beautiful
transmission for towing or hauling a heavy rig.
Ford came out with it's "Torqueshift" transmission that acts very similarly
to the Allison. Both do more than simply disengaging overdrive. They both
change the shiftpoints, holding the vehicle in gears longer under heavy load
and provide significant engine braking when slowing down. Ford's
transmission uses a different gear set on downshifts than it does on
upshifts.

When towing, these transmissions make the vehicles much more safe and
controllable and also reduce strain on the engines.

Eisboch

On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:27:52 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Don White" wrote in message
.. .



Even my little Ranger 4x2 had a tow mode button in the auto transmission
lever.
I used it all the way on my 5000 kilometer round trip towing a 2330 lb
load last year.


Ford, GM and Chrysler used to have auto transmissions in their full sized,
heavy duty trucks (250 and 2500 series and up) that had a button to simply
disengage overdrive for towing purposes. That wasn't ideal, but it helped.

Now-a-days GM uses the Allison transmission in their 2500 series. Beautiful
transmission for towing or hauling a heavy rig.
Ford came out with it's "Torqueshift" transmission that acts very similarly
to the Allison. Both do more than simply disengaging overdrive. They both
change the shiftpoints, holding the vehicle in gears longer under heavy load
and provide significant engine braking when slowing down. Ford's
transmission uses a different gear set on downshifts than it does on
upshifts.

When towing, these transmissions make the vehicles much more safe and
controllable and also reduce strain on the engines.

Let me tell you - that is a BIG difference between the heavier duty
pickups and the POS F-150 that I bought.

BIG difference.

My truck is a nice truck - all leather, options up the wazoo but it
just doesn't tow for crap. Even with the 5.4.

I've revised my opinion - if your going to tow anything over 2,500
lbs, step up to the 3/4 or 1 ton class pickup.

Once I get back in decent shape, I'm looking for a good used F-250
diesel to tow my boats with.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:27:52 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Don White" wrote in message
. ..



Even my little Ranger 4x2 had a tow mode button in the auto transmission
lever.
I used it all the way on my 5000 kilometer round trip towing a 2330 lb
load last year.


Ford, GM and Chrysler used to have auto transmissions in their full sized,
heavy duty trucks (250 and 2500 series and up) that had a button to simply
disengage overdrive for towing purposes. That wasn't ideal, but it
helped.

Now-a-days GM uses the Allison transmission in their 2500 series.
Beautiful
transmission for towing or hauling a heavy rig.
Ford came out with it's "Torqueshift" transmission that acts very
similarly
to the Allison. Both do more than simply disengaging overdrive. They
both
change the shiftpoints, holding the vehicle in gears longer under heavy
load
and provide significant engine braking when slowing down. Ford's
transmission uses a different gear set on downshifts than it does on
upshifts.

When towing, these transmissions make the vehicles much more safe and
controllable and also reduce strain on the engines.

Let me tell you - that is a BIG difference between the heavier duty
pickups and the POS F-150 that I bought.

BIG difference.

My truck is a nice truck - all leather, options up the wazoo but it
just doesn't tow for crap. Even with the 5.4.

I've revised my opinion - if your going to tow anything over 2,500
lbs, step up to the 3/4 or 1 ton class pickup.

Once I get back in decent shape, I'm looking for a good used F-250
diesel to tow my boats with.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)


I am finding that the F-250 Superduty with the same engine you have (the
5.4L) is more than adequate for towing, but I think it is more due to the
TorqueShift transmission. The 5.4L is not a powerhouse like the diesel I
had, but you don't need it. The transmission in tow/haul mode picks the
correct gear, holds it as required under load, and makes towing a breeze.
In other words, it acts like a truck. It does not prevent going into
overdrive, although it rarely shifts into OD when towing, unless on the
straight and level and above about 65 mph. I love how it downshifts
through the gears when slowing down, very much like the Allison
transmission.

If you like Fords (as I do), you might want to try out a gasser F-250
before spending the extra bucks for the diesel.
The F-150's, last I knew, do not come with the TorqueShift transmission.
They have a "tow/haul/ mode, but it's not the same. I believe the light
duty F-150 trucks use the standard, 5 speed electronically controlled
transmission, the same one used in Mrs. E's Navigator. My son has an '08
F-150. Both his truck and Mrs. E's '08 Navigator drive and shift the same
way .... more like a car. Works fine, but for towing the TS is better.

Another benefit is this: Ford originally designed the TorqueShift
transmission for use in their diesel powered pickups in order to handle the
additional low end torque. They worked so well, Ford decided to also use
them in the rest of the SuperDuty series, including the gas engines. It
means you have a very durable and heavy duty transmission .... an important
consideration if you intend to tow much.

Eisboch

Eisboch wrote:
"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:27:52 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

"Don White" wrote in message
...

Even my little Ranger 4x2 had a tow mode button in the auto transmission
lever.
I used it all the way on my 5000 kilometer round trip towing a 2330 lb
load last year.

Ford, GM and Chrysler used to have auto transmissions in their full sized,
heavy duty trucks (250 and 2500 series and up) that had a button to simply
disengage overdrive for towing purposes. That wasn't ideal, but it
helped.

Now-a-days GM uses the Allison transmission in their 2500 series.
Beautiful
transmission for towing or hauling a heavy rig.
Ford came out with it's "Torqueshift" transmission that acts very
similarly
to the Allison. Both do more than simply disengaging overdrive. They
both
change the shiftpoints, holding the vehicle in gears longer under heavy
load
and provide significant engine braking when slowing down. Ford's
transmission uses a different gear set on downshifts than it does on
upshifts.

When towing, these transmissions make the vehicles much more safe and
controllable and also reduce strain on the engines.
Let me tell you - that is a BIG difference between the heavier duty
pickups and the POS F-150 that I bought.

BIG difference.

My truck is a nice truck - all leather, options up the wazoo but it
just doesn't tow for crap. Even with the 5.4.

I've revised my opinion - if your going to tow anything over 2,500
lbs, step up to the 3/4 or 1 ton class pickup.

Once I get back in decent shape, I'm looking for a good used F-250
diesel to tow my boats with.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)


I am finding that the F-250 Superduty with the same engine you have (the
5.4L) is more than adequate for towing, but I think it is more due to the
TorqueShift transmission. The 5.4L is not a powerhouse like the diesel I
had, but you don't need it. The transmission in tow/haul mode picks the
correct gear, holds it as required under load, and makes towing a breeze.
In other words, it acts like a truck. It does not prevent going into
overdrive, although it rarely shifts into OD when towing, unless on the
straight and level and above about 65 mph. I love how it downshifts
through the gears when slowing down, very much like the Allison
transmission.

If you like Fords (as I do), you might want to try out a gasser F-250
before spending the extra bucks for the diesel.
The F-150's, last I knew, do not come with the TorqueShift transmission.
They have a "tow/haul/ mode, but it's not the same. I believe the light
duty F-150 trucks use the standard, 5 speed electronically controlled
transmission, the same one used in Mrs. E's Navigator. My son has an '08
F-150. Both his truck and Mrs. E's '08 Navigator drive and shift the same
way .... more like a car. Works fine, but for towing the TS is better.

Another benefit is this: Ford originally designed the TorqueShift
transmission for use in their diesel powered pickups in order to handle the
additional low end torque. They worked so well, Ford decided to also use
them in the rest of the SuperDuty series, including the gas engines. It
means you have a very durable and heavy duty transmission .... an important
consideration if you intend to tow much.

If I remember correctly the F-150's have a 4R75 mated with the 5.4L V8
and the F-250's have a 4R100 mated with the 5.4L V8. 4R100 is a much
better tranny.

On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:01:34 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

If you like Fords (as I do), you might want to try out a gasser F-250
before spending the extra bucks for the diesel.

Yeah - I'm pretty much a Ford guy.

Well, I can't do anything about it now - another couple of weeks
maybe.

I do know they are getting desperate - maybe it's time to go looking
at a new truck.

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:01:34 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

If you like Fords (as I do), you might want to try out a gasser F-250
before spending the extra bucks for the diesel.

Yeah - I'm pretty much a Ford guy.

Well, I can't do anything about it now - another couple of weeks
maybe.

I do know they are getting desperate - maybe it's time to go looking
at a new truck.


You can try mine out if you want. Bring your boat and you can compare.

Eisboch

On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:45:09 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:01:34 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

If you like Fords (as I do), you might want to try out a gasser F-250
before spending the extra bucks for the diesel.

Yeah - I'm pretty much a Ford guy.

Well, I can't do anything about it now - another couple of weeks
maybe.

I do know they are getting desperate - maybe it's time to go looking
at a new truck.

You can try mine out if you want. Bring your boat and you can compare.

I will.

Thanks.

Eisboch wrote:
"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:27:52 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:

"Don White" wrote in message
...

Even my little Ranger 4x2 had a tow mode button in the auto transmission
lever.
I used it all the way on my 5000 kilometer round trip towing a 2330 lb
load last year.

Ford, GM and Chrysler used to have auto transmissions in their full sized,
heavy duty trucks (250 and 2500 series and up) that had a button to simply
disengage overdrive for towing purposes. That wasn't ideal, but it
helped.

Now-a-days GM uses the Allison transmission in their 2500 series.
Beautiful
transmission for towing or hauling a heavy rig.
Ford came out with it's "Torqueshift" transmission that acts very
similarly
to the Allison. Both do more than simply disengaging overdrive. They
both
change the shiftpoints, holding the vehicle in gears longer under heavy
load
and provide significant engine braking when slowing down. Ford's
transmission uses a different gear set on downshifts than it does on
upshifts.

When towing, these transmissions make the vehicles much more safe and
controllable and also reduce strain on the engines.
Let me tell you - that is a BIG difference between the heavier duty
pickups and the POS F-150 that I bought.

BIG difference.

My truck is a nice truck - all leather, options up the wazoo but it
just doesn't tow for crap. Even with the 5.4.

I've revised my opinion - if your going to tow anything over 2,500
lbs, step up to the 3/4 or 1 ton class pickup.

Once I get back in decent shape, I'm looking for a good used F-250
diesel to tow my boats with.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)


I am finding that the F-250 Superduty with the same engine you have (the
5.4L) is more than adequate for towing, but I think it is more due to the
TorqueShift transmission. The 5.4L is not a powerhouse like the diesel I
had, but you don't need it. The transmission in tow/haul mode picks the
correct gear, holds it as required under load, and makes towing a breeze.
In other words, it acts like a truck. It does not prevent going into
overdrive, although it rarely shifts into OD when towing, unless on the
straight and level and above about 65 mph. I love how it downshifts
through the gears when slowing down, very much like the Allison
transmission.

If you like Fords (as I do), you might want to try out a gasser F-250
before spending the extra bucks for the diesel.
The F-150's, last I knew, do not come with the TorqueShift transmission.
They have a "tow/haul/ mode, but it's not the same. I believe the light
duty F-150 trucks use the standard, 5 speed electronically controlled
transmission, the same one used in Mrs. E's Navigator. My son has an '08
F-150. Both his truck and Mrs. E's '08 Navigator drive and shift the same
way .... more like a car. Works fine, but for towing the TS is better.

Another benefit is this: Ford originally designed the TorqueShift
transmission for use in their diesel powered pickups in order to handle the
additional low end torque. They worked so well, Ford decided to also use
them in the rest of the SuperDuty series, including the gas engines. It
means you have a very durable and heavy duty transmission .... an important
consideration if you intend to tow much.

Eisboch


Ford's new transmission was designed by Allison. It's not a copy but a
brand new 5 speed that Ford has all the rights to. I drove one that was
behind a V10. What a racket that combo made. Shifted nice though.

"Jim" wrote in message
. com...


Ford's new transmission was designed by Allison. It's not a copy but a
brand new 5 speed that Ford has all the rights to. I drove one that was
behind a V10. What a racket that combo made. Shifted nice though.


Never knew that. Having had both, no wonder my impression was that the Ford
transmission behaved very similarly to the Allison.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Tom Francis - SWSports" wrote in
message ...
On Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:27:52 -0400, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Don White" wrote in message
.. .



Even my little Ranger 4x2 had a tow mode button in the auto
transmission
lever.
I used it all the way on my 5000 kilometer round trip towing a 2330 lb
load last year.


Ford, GM and Chrysler used to have auto transmissions in their full
sized,
heavy duty trucks (250 and 2500 series and up) that had a button to
simply
disengage overdrive for towing purposes. That wasn't ideal, but it
helped.

Now-a-days GM uses the Allison transmission in their 2500 series.
Beautiful
transmission for towing or hauling a heavy rig.
Ford came out with it's "Torqueshift" transmission that acts very
similarly
to the Allison. Both do more than simply disengaging overdrive. They
both
change the shiftpoints, holding the vehicle in gears longer under heavy
load
and provide significant engine braking when slowing down. Ford's
transmission uses a different gear set on downshifts than it does on
upshifts.

When towing, these transmissions make the vehicles much more safe and
controllable and also reduce strain on the engines.

Let me tell you - that is a BIG difference between the heavier duty
pickups and the POS F-150 that I bought.

BIG difference.

My truck is a nice truck - all leather, options up the wazoo but it
just doesn't tow for crap. Even with the 5.4.

I've revised my opinion - if your going to tow anything over 2,500
lbs, step up to the 3/4 or 1 ton class pickup.

Once I get back in decent shape, I'm looking for a good used F-250
diesel to tow my boats with.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)


I am finding that the F-250 Superduty with the same engine you have (the
5.4L) is more than adequate for towing, but I think it is more due to the
TorqueShift transmission. The 5.4L is not a powerhouse like the diesel I
had, but you don't need it. The transmission in tow/haul mode picks the
correct gear, holds it as required under load, and makes towing a breeze.
In other words, it acts like a truck. It does not prevent going into
overdrive, although it rarely shifts into OD when towing, unless on the
straight and level and above about 65 mph. I love how it downshifts
through the gears when slowing down, very much like the Allison
transmission.

If you like Fords (as I do), you might want to try out a gasser F-250
before spending the extra bucks for the diesel.
The F-150's, last I knew, do not come with the TorqueShift transmission.
They have a "tow/haul/ mode, but it's not the same. I believe the light
duty F-150 trucks use the standard, 5 speed electronically controlled
transmission, the same one used in Mrs. E's Navigator. My son has an '08
F-150. Both his truck and Mrs. E's '08 Navigator drive and shift the same
way .... more like a car. Works fine, but for towing the TS is better.

Another benefit is this: Ford originally designed the TorqueShift
transmission for use in their diesel powered pickups in order to handle
the additional low end torque. They worked so well, Ford decided to also
use them in the rest of the SuperDuty series, including the gas engines.
It means you have a very durable and heavy duty transmission .... an
important consideration if you intend to tow much.

Eisboch


They must of improved the 5.4L from the 1999 Expedition I had. Dang gas
hog, without a lot of mountain tow power. Most milage I got was 16.5
returning from Los Angeles on I-5 and lots of slow traffic. Do not think I
ever got over 65 mph in a 350 mile trip. My Duramax gets about the same
mileage towing at 55 that the Expedition got in normal freeway driving.
About 15.5 mpg. Just returned from a trip to Burney, Calif last Thursday.
Towing boat (4400#), and the popup slide in camper (1400#) and going over
some 3000' hills, I got 13 mpg for the trip.