Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

[Chaz7R]

I have my ski boat I tow up to my wifes familys cabin 2 or 3 times a year. It is about 190 mile drive. I am towing a 2200lb boat with full tank I would say the trailer is no more than 400lbs. with about 100lbs of crap in the boat. So total trailer weight is no more than 2700lbs. I think the tow rating on my truck is between 6800-7000lbs 2007 F-150 4x4 4.6l. Should I use the o/d lockout on the highway at 70 mph? The rpm is about 2100 but the trans doesnt seem to downshift or search on flat to semi hilly terrain. If I encounter a steeper grade I hit the lock out but that only occurs twice on my route. Am I endangering my trans at all by trying to get the better milage on a 190 mile trip? Or should I tow at 3000 rpm the whole way there? Or maybe just slow down to 60mph lol. Thanks

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

If its not hunting between gears, I don't see a problem leaving it in OD. When I had a 2004 F-150 with the 5.4 towing a 7000lb boat, that is what I used to do.

As far as towing at 70MPH, that is another story. Trailer tires are not rated over 65MPH and you will defiitely get better gas mileage towing slower as well as being much safer. If a trailer tire blows out at 70MPH, you could have problems.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

I think your fine, sounds like your driving yours the same way I drove my F350 in Colorado, the only time I used the lockout is when it seemed to search for the right gear, I would however add a tranny temp gauge for just a few dollars, could save you money in the end...


Slow down???? WTF???

 

[Chaz7R]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

My trailer has very stylish Chrome rims with 14" firestone GT4 radials on it. lol Kind of a pain in the *** because its a low riding trailer and will scrape pavement with my rudder leaving my driveway unless im on an angle. But she tows like a dream. 1G on the skidpad lol!

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

If the trans. isn't hunting between gears there's no reason to lock out O/D. Unless, of course your owner's manual says otherwise.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

R.t.m.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

R.t.m.

X2...... To ask this question on the net to a bunch of strangers when the manufacturer has plain instructions in the owners manual is silly. If you don't have a manual, contact the dealer or look on ford's website.

I DO however concur with the info given above but read what ford says and do that.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

This is from the manual:

Use when driving conditions cause excessive shifting from O/D to
other gears. Examples: city traffic, hilly terrain, heavy loads, trailer
towing and when engine braking is required.

 

[N3UP]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

You're best to run with O/D off.
The 4.6 makes it's power fairly high in the RPM range.
It'll run all day long at 3K rpm happily.

To properly determine your tow capacity you need to weigh your truck and subtract that figure from the GCWR listed in the owners manual for your body/engine/transmission/gear combination.

In my case with my 97, my GCWR is 115000. Supercab, 4X4, Auto, 3.55, 4.6L.
My truck weighs 5100 with a full tank of gas, cap and all the tools and such that live in the truck.
This leaves me with a max tow rating of 6400. Additional passengers, cargo, gear whatever will lower that number.

On an 07, I think you have a PI motor, so you have a smidge more power available than I do.

My camper is about 3K lbs, and I can tow on the flat in O/D, but my transmission temp runs higher that way, so I run with the O/D off.

 

[Philster]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

::SIGH: Refer to the manual. End of story.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

If the trans. isn't hunting between gears there's no reason to lock out O/D. Unless, of course your owner's manual says otherwise.

Over the years my manuals have said just that. I will deactivate it if anyway if in hilly terrain and especially if I am using cruise and in hills or highway traffic.

Mark

 

[Chaz7R]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

Nevermind I will go find my manual and just do what it says no questions asked! Sorry to take up your time with a stupid question, but considering you could reply "Just check your manual to about 80% of discussions on this forum I guess they should just switch the name of this forum to Check your manual, your topic is silly forum. I just thought the weight of my boat and tow rating of my vehicle might fall into a gray area instead of being a cut and dry yes or no answer. Some things in real world driving situations might be debatable to some people.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

WOW you really missed the boat here..... You GOT your answer...... what is in the manual is correct....

FWIW I didn't say YOU were silly and I for one am sorry if you took it as a personal attack... it wasn't.... Honestly "silly" was more for the benefit of those who answered with anything other than "read the manual" Nobody here said anything with the intention of making you feel bad..... We get a LOT of debate here on cut and dried subjects such as " my car is rated for 1200 lbs, can I tow 4000 lbs?" answer "of course not" Or "my car is rated to tow 4000 lbs, can I tow 1200 lbs?" answer "yes of course"

I for one also try to answer questions in such a manner that someone searching in the future will get their answer without having to ask the question. I'm here to help folks but not to answer the same question once a week if I can help it.

You have recieved quite a bit of very good info on more than one question here.... no reason to get snappy with us.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

If you're looking for economy then keep the speed down. If you are looking for peoples opinions (which includes "check the manual") then be prepared for a variety of responses.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

The only reason the manual says to run with OD locked out is to prevent constant shifting; if it's not downshifting/upshifting all the time, it will be fine in OD.

I write technical manuals as part of my job and they are always written with the stupidest typical user in mind. No harm will come from locking OD out, and it may prevent excessive wear, so the manual will say to lock it out. That does not mean it's the only option. Operating a tow vehicle is not a Boolean operation, and the owner's manual can't possibly cover every possibility you will encounter. The writer will always err on the conservative side.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

Excellent point. It should be user judgement up to a point.

The only reason the manual says to run with OD locked out is to prevent constant shifting; if it's not downshifting/upshifting all the time, it will be fine in OD.

I write technical manuals as part of my job and they are always written with the stupidest typical user in mind. No harm will come from locking OD out, and it may prevent excessive wear, so the manual will say to lock it out. That does not mean it's the only option. Operating a tow vehicle is not a Boolean operation, and the owner's manual can't possibly cover every possibility you will encounter. The writer will always err on the conservative side.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

The overdrive is so high in my 3.9L Dodge Dakota that I have to lock out O/D on some hills to keep the trans in third gear with the T/C locked. And that's with just me in the truck and no trailer. :redface:

 

[Philster]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

O/D can contribute to overheating in certain models, under certain conditions, even if not hunting, because under a given load the slow rate of churn and turn might not cool the fluid fast enough....

So....

Refer to your specific manual.

My modern Dodge Ram Hemi with all the bells and whistles locks out O/D when towing (in tow/haul mode). Now... it's not to prevent hunting; it can adapt to that very, VERY easily by delaying shifts into O/D or learning/adapting. It's because it runs hotter in O/D and will shorten the life of the trans.

So....

Refer to your manual.

Lock out O/D when you don't know what your manual says. If your manual says you can use it under certain conditions (like no hunting), then go for it.

Did I mention: Refer to you manual.

 

[N3UP]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

My manual (97 F150) says lock out when towing to prevent excessive shifing and to aid in transmission cooling.

My transmission does run hotter in O/D......

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Overdrive lockout- Need it or no?

My manual (97 F150) says lock out when towing to prevent excessive shifing and to aid in transmission cooling.

The manual I was quoting from was from the OP's model year, not a 97.