"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