towing in overdrive?

[cruisertom]

Ok I have a 96 f350 cc lb powerstroke auto, 3.55 gears, bone stock including tires. I bought a travel trailer, 35' weighs 8600 empty. I towed it home and not even realizing it was doing 75 and felt fine. I slowed it down to 65 and kept it in drive. My question is if it is not hunting for a gear is it ok to tow in OD? I always thought that was not good as it is the weakest gear and the first to go out? Thanks for any insight.

[jesilvas]

Tow it in whatever gear is best for you. Like you said, just keep it from hunting and you'll be good.
How often you gonna be towing it?

My Samsung SGH-I997 made me send this.

[ToddOH43]

My transmission guy says towing in OD is fine on the highway, as long as you're not pulling large hills.

Around town and large or several hills, you're better off being in tow mode.

[Lilfarmrboy]

I always towed with mine in OD, I had an 02 with the 7.3L. Never had a problem in the mountains of PA either. The one thing I will add is that whatever you chose, keep it either in OD or D for the entire trip. I once screwed up a tranny by switching it back and forth on the hills and the flat spots. As long as its not hunting gears its find.

[jesilvas]

There is no tow mode on an E4OD. I leave mine in OD pulling large hills as long as it can keep speed.
I also switch between OD and OD off plenty of times for deceleration and just downshifting. But not back and forth every 10 seconds. Just watch your temps, you should be fine.

[ToddOH43]

Originally Posted by jesilvas

There is no tow mode on an E4OD.

Tow mode/OD off same difference.

Don't be so nit picky

[jesilvas]

Originally Posted by ToddOH43

Tow mode/OD off same difference.

Don't be so nit picky

Well, just saying what it is/isn't. There is a tow mode on 5Rs and 6Rs cause they have a TCM that changes actual shifting strategies.
Just making sure no new ppl are confused

[nitrogen]

I'm not real familiar with the 7.3 setup, but if its not designed to pull that weight in OD you can shorten life, or have a roadside failure. what has ford said over the years in reference to this? two things can fail, the actual gears being used in OD, or the lockup clutch. if the torque on the lockup clutch is too high it will begin to creep/slip by the time you actully feel it, or see the heat from that on the tranny temp gauge its just about fubar. at higher speeds like 75 toqrue is less critical but at 65 or less with that much weight you're pretty close to lugging it, and that is where you start getting into trouble. as a guide i would say if you can climb modest hills without an instant downshift, or you can accelerate gently without it dropping a gear, it prob ok to run that gear.