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02-22-2012, 10:30 AM
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#1
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 1,202
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Tow/haul vs. downshifting
First impressions of this fancy new (to me) thing called tow/haul: it seems okay for long and gentle grades but doesn't work on curving, steep or steepish mountain roads. It seems to require too much braking for my tastes and its downshift from 3rd to 2nd kicks the rpm up towards 3k on my v10. Or do I find myself reverting to downshifting because I haven't used tow/haul enough to understand it? I also haven't seen it upshift though that, too, may be from lack of practice. As discussed in some other threads, downshifting lets you drop into a lower gear and cruise and I haven't experienced it in tow/haul. (Maybe it's like converting to automatic transmissions????)
__________________
-Don-
Life and baseball both sometimes are not fair, but it is how you play the hops that counts. —Scott Miller, NYT Sports
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02-22-2012, 10:59 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Arcata, CA
Posts: 623
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Re: Tow/haul vs. downshifting
Please pardon my ignorance, but WTF is Tow/haul?
__________________
2002 E350 7.3 PSD
Quigley 4x4, EB50 floorplan
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02-22-2012, 11:35 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 1,202
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Re: Tow/haul vs. downshifting
It's a gear ratio adjustment on newer (I presume) Fords that uses the transmission to slow the vans on downhills.
__________________
-Don-
Life and baseball both sometimes are not fair, but it is how you play the hops that counts. —Scott Miller, NYT Sports
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02-22-2012, 12:23 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Tow/haul vs. downshifting
And it will change the upshift points so the trans doesn't 'hunt' between gears, and so it has enough rpm's to pull hills.
Mike
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Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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02-22-2012, 02:02 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 233
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Re: Tow/haul vs. downshifting
My manual (2011 E-350 w/ TorqShift) says (paraphrased) that tow/haul has the following effects:
1. Shift points will occur at higher vehicle speeds
2. The torque converter will lock up at lower speeds
3. Upshifts are delayed during hill cresting
4. Engine braking is provided without moving the selector lever
5. Manual 1, 2, and 3 still available
6. Automatic "grade braking downshift"
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02-22-2012, 02:13 PM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,179
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Re: Tow/haul vs. downshifting
Sounds like a good way to control transmission heat buildup.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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02-22-2012, 04:05 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 1,202
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Re: Tow/haul vs. downshifting
Quote:
Originally Posted by Advanturetrek
My manual (2011 E-350 w/ TorqShift) says (paraphrased) that tow/haul has the following effects:
1. Shift points will occur at higher vehicle speeds
2. The torque converter will lock up at lower speeds
3. Upshifts are delayed during hill cresting
4. Engine braking is provided without moving the selector lever
5. Manual 1, 2, and 3 still available
6. Automatic "grade braking downshift"
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All of which is consistent with my experience. I just seem to take greater comfort in winding and steepish mountain roads using the manual gears where I can lock in a speed and roll down the hill. Tow/haul seems to gain speed between turns, causing too much braking, IMO. I guess I'm wondering if I'm not giving it enough of an opportunity.
__________________
-Don-
Life and baseball both sometimes are not fair, but it is how you play the hops that counts. —Scott Miller, NYT Sports
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02-22-2012, 04:42 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Arcata, CA
Posts: 623
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Re: Tow/haul vs. downshifting
Sounds great - I want one. I mean - I want one of what the manual promises, not one of what rionapo seems to have.
__________________
2002 E350 7.3 PSD
Quigley 4x4, EB50 floorplan
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02-22-2012, 07:29 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 19
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Re: Tow/haul vs. downshifting
I don't understand what it is. Hardware, software? Google didn't help to much
http://www.towhaul.com/
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02-22-2012, 07:35 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Southern New Mexico
Posts: 10,179
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Re: Tow/haul vs. downshifting
Quote:
Originally Posted by SMoaB
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Tow/Haul is a control on the end of the transmission lever stalk. Believe it was only available on the V10's in the vans. Diesels had the overdrive deselect on the end of the transmission stalk.
Herb
__________________
SMB-less as of 02/04/2012. Our savings account is richer, but our adventures are poorer.
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