Towing and 10 speed transmission

[Jskane125]

I'd put this in the towing forum, but I want to focus on 2018+ and 10 speed transmission. I have a 2020 XLT with max towing package. My current trailer is 3700lb. unloaded. New trailer ordered is 5700lb unloaded. The older trailer pulls very easily. I typically just switch to the tow feature and leave it at that. I get between about mpg and 13mgp depending on hills, etc. I do like it it automatically gears down for hills.

The new RV will be a fair bit heavier. I don't anticipate a problem with towing power. My question is about the tow mode. Does everyone just leave it in tow mode always for towing? Or does anyone cheat to improve mileage and switch to normal and 4wd when on long, relatively flat highways.

I doubt I'd try that, but I'm curious what other people have found.

 

[Molaf]

I only use tow haul mode when driving in the mountains. On flat terrain I leave it in default.

 

[mwl001]

I've towed almost 10k miles with my 2020 Expedition Max w/3.73. Tow mode is fantastic for downhill. You really won't need the brakes except around corners, it's phenomenal. I've tried with and without tow mode at other times, and honestly what saves you fatigue and MPG in my opinion is locking out the OD gears (8/9/10) almost all the time. For me, towing about what you will be (5700lb max on mine), I find that unless I've got a really great tailwind, the truck just can't use those gears without a little or a lot of boost. And when the boost kicks in your MPG will go way down. In rolling hills the truck almost never leaves 7th gear and stays around 2500-2600 rpm, which is still relaxed and you get less turbo whine of course. It seems like the truck has access to plenty of torque in 7 without needing the turbos, which is your optimal MPG scenario. I'm not sure why Ford programmed tow/haul like this (to optimize RPM) but it's perplexing. Good luck!

Other advice is stay at 65 or under, and make sure WDH is dialed in. I love my Gen Y hitch too but that's because we tow a lot of miles. Heavy and $$$.

 

[Matthew Marlowe]

Nothing keeps you from putting in 4wd and tow mode at same time .... I put in tow mode always when trailer attached, and switch to 4A immediately if stressing expedition at all...then back to 2H when towing done.

As far as transmission goes, it's braking and shifting down to lower gears to limit speed 40-45mph and make frequent turns on steep 1 lane downhill passes that stress transmission, on any major road or normal grade downhill with 50-60mph speeds...the transmission will handle effortlessly.

 

[MHay]

Nothing keeps you from putting in 4wd and tow mode at same time .... I put in tow mode always when trailer attached, and switch to 4A immediately if stressing expedition at all...then back to 2H when towing done.

What’s the benefit of switching to 4A when towing? First I’ve heard of this.

 

[Goclmbmnt]

What’s the benefit of switching to 4A when towing? First I’ve heard of this.

+1

 

[Squark]

I was towing our travel trailer up the West Virginia Turnpike in the rain. I gave it some gas going up a steep hill, the transmission downshifted, and instantly my rear wheels broke loose and put the Expy sideways. Thankfully the trailer stayed straight and I was able to countersteer out of it, but after that scare I engage 4A when towing in the rain.

 

[Waterbeach]

We are towing a 5500 lb travel trailer with Expy Max 2020. New to towing this weight and I was aware of how much extra work the engine was doing after being used to it being effectively in quiet idle mode at any cruising speed when not towing. Agree that 65mph kills mpg. Tow mode seems to be best. My main concern is that, despite WD being properly dialled in (100% FALR even) and god sway control it is still very "floaty" going over bumps and humps in the road, and I would not want to do an emergency swerve at speed. I am considering better sway bars and shocks. I tried using Sport mode to stiffen up the suspension but it made little difference from tow mode and used even more gas - about 20% more! Interesting the comment about 4A - I will try it but expect even worse mpg. On rolling country at steady 60 mph I get 11-12mpg in tow mode; at 50 mph I get 14-15. Cruising without tow at 60mph I get an amazing 26 mpg. Shows what tow weight and windage will do.

Curious to hear others experience especially with handling.

 

[lobsenza]

I usually put my SUV in 4A in the rain, even without a trailer. It feels more stable and never slips at an intersection. If it is dry, I use 2H

 

[Anerbe]

Any rain, I'd put it on 4A. My wife spun out on a 4 lane leaving a gas station in the rain in 2H. The concrete was very smooth, and it was a 4 lane turning into an expressway.

The high torque and 3.73 gears can spin out the car before the ESC kicks in.

 

[Deadman]

Any rain, I'd put it on 4A. My wife spun out on a 4 lane leaving a gas station in the rain in 2H. The concrete was very smooth, and it was a 4 lane turning into an expressway.

The high torque and 3.73 gears can spin out the car before the ESC kicks in.

The factory tires are useless in the rain....

 

[ColoradoJon]

Hi, I was towing this weekend and thought about something related to this thread and wondered what the forum thought. First, I tow in Colorado mountains and probably one of the most grueling passes is the pass along I70 that goes through Eisenhower tunnel down into Silverthorne/Summit County from Loveland Ski area. I find myself wondering if the manual shift mode or locking out gears is preferred to folks when braking downhill. The previous comment about tow mode and letting it work, doesn't work for me at the speeds and sharp turns that are on this route. I put it in tow mode and found the engine working to slow down for too long at times, probably just my preference but I left it in that mode. I have to intervene and worry about heating my brakes up to much. My TT is a 27 ft weighing in around 7500 lbs loaded. I generally would use the Manual mode other times but I was locking out gears this weekend and it seemed to work well. I think I was even more aggressive about keeping the RPM's in the 3-4K range going up the hill as it seems to be not feeling bogged down at those RPMs when climbing. What do people find themselves most often using when braking downhill? Average MPG out from Denver was 7.3... total average after coming back was 9 something. We camped near Leadville at twin lakes, beautiful spot

 

[Lou Hamilton]

Hi, I was towing this weekend and thought about something related to this thread and wondered what the forum thought. First, I tow in Colorado mountains and probably one of the most grueling passes is the pass along I70 that goes through Eisenhower tunnel down into Silverthorne/Summit County from Loveland Ski area. I find myself wondering if the manual shift mode or locking out gears is preferred to folks when braking downhill. The previous comment about tow mode and letting it work, doesn't work for me at the speeds and sharp turns that are on this route. I put it in tow mode and found the engine working to slow down for too long at times, probably just my preference but I left it in that mode. I have to intervene and worry about heating my brakes up to much. My TT is a 27 ft weighing in around 7500 lbs loaded. I generally would use the Manual mode other times but I was locking out gears this weekend and it seemed to work well. I think I was even more aggressive about keeping the RPM's in the 3-4K range going up the hill as it seems to be not feeling bogged down at those RPMs when climbing. What do people find themselves most often using when braking downhill? Average MPG out from Denver was 7.3... total average after coming back was 9 something. We camped near Leadville at twin lakes, beautiful spot

TFL Trucks did a video on the 2018 Expedition and towing (I think) 8000 up and down the Gauntlet, which I think is the same pass you are traveling.

If you have not seen it, you may want to just check it out. Some people hate that YouTube channel, others don't. I personally don't mind it. They are sort of campy at times, but that is just entertainment purposes, IMO.

I do tow, but I have not had to in any sort of grueling mountain conditions. I am usually along the Atlantic Ocean coastline so it is very flat.

 

[ColoradoJon]

Thanks Lou- I actually watched that video and it is what lead me to buy the Expedition. https://youtu.be/iotsvKYMOCU

Yes that is part of the journey I had this weekend in that TFL video, I actually did have a relatively similar experience coming down the pass in the video. The issue I have right now is that the pass is only two lanes out of the tunnel down to Silverthorne. It is hard to work with other people and trucks having to go different speeds... the roads are so jacked from the snow and plowing that there are huge pot holes everywhere. I re-watched that video to compare what they do and I think they utilized the tow/haul automated downshifting to control speed. I think in that test and probably normally I would have been fine to do that but I had a moderate amount of traffic to work around with people passing and then slowing down after coming back into my lane. Makes for a little bit of fun I suppose... There is a more harrowing decline coming up the mountains called Floyd hill, it is shorter but feels as steep or steeper with a significant turn at the bottom over a rickety bridge where HWY 6 merges onto the interstate. I feel more anxious with that part of the drive than the drive around the tunnel. Coming back up floyd hill, I was able to lock out gears down to 2 at about 20 MPH and accelerate to pass a line waiting behind a bogging motorhome. The shear power of that engine with the different gear ratios is just mind boggling, I don't feel like I stressed it that bad but I was probably getting 1MPG while doing it.

I think there may be MPG's to be gained in how you manage that inclines/declines with the engine braking with manual or locking out gears. Feels like locking out gears gives more versatility cause manual shifting only offers 7 speeds. Curious what others think, but maybe it is only specific to Colorado driving.

 

[Gumby]

I wondered this when I hooked up to my new tow boat a few weeks ago (6200lbs with trailer)...in tow mode does it adjust the suspension stiffer or does it leave it as is? I know Sport mode will stiffen it up and was curious if I should switch it from TOW to SPORT in order to get a better suspension setup. I found the Expy struggled with inclines but on flat towing seemed ok.

 

[5280tunage]

Speaking of this thread, getting ready to tow a pretty massive trailer soon, not super far but far enough. Curious what everyone's experience is when using tunes. Specifically, I right now have an adaptive 87 daily drive/tow tune from 5star. Good idea to leave it or remove it prior to towing? Just curious, in the past I've never had issues with previous vehicles and tunes/towing but I know these are pretty sensitive.

 

[ColoradoJon]

I wondered this when I hooked up to my new tow boat a few weeks ago (6200lbs with trailer)...in tow mode does it adjust the suspension stiffer or does it leave it as is? I know Sport mode will stiffen it up and was curious if I should switch it from TOW to SPORT in order to get a better suspension setup. I found the Expy struggled with inclines but on flat towing seemed ok.

I have been curious about this, I think suspension matters a lot more with heavier loads and really has the biggest impact on ride quality vs acceleration/deceleration. I could see where a WDH isn't dialed in or significant tongue weight, it provides additional ride stability. I have wondered if there are other benefits. I certainly feel the trailer and have felt it in strong winds in Wyoming pulling the truck around but not really having an impact on steering or feeling stable. My first tow trip (Wyoming) I did toggle sport and eco and tow to see how I felt about each mode while towing. Honestly I didn't feel they made a huge difference that was more favorable than the towing mode and it's auto shifting to engine brake. Now, I think I may try having sport mode and lock out gears to control when it shifts when I want to so that I can verify the impact of tougher suspension/4wd. Probably more opinions than certainty on this but I appreciate the conversation!

 

[ColoradoJon]

Speaking of this thread, getting ready to tow a pretty massive trailer soon, not super far but far enough. Curious what everyone's experience is when using tunes. Specifically, I right now have an adaptive 87 daily drive/tow tune from 5star. Good idea to leave it or remove it prior to towing? Just curious, in the past I've never had issues with previous vehicles and tunes/towing but I know these are pretty sensitive.

I don't have a tune yet, I managed tunes on my E350 7.3 PSD and really appreciated being able to adjust on the fly. Sounds like you don't have that option, I would do a trial run before your big trip to see what you like/feel about the tune and towing. I think if you are watching gauges (tranny temp, engine temp, boost, mpg) to see the impact, it would be fine to use it and be mindful of the stress you may be causing.

 

[duneslider]

I don't have a tune but have done a fair bit of towing and I doubt a tune will cause a problem at higher speeds. The only issues I have seen are a result of not going fast enough. There is one particular camping spot we go to with a steep winding uphill with a posted speed of 25mph. This gets the engine and transmission HOT. If I am not stuck behind drivers going 25mph I may or may not increase the speed to 35+ and at that point there is enough air movement that the issues disappear. Once we hit the dirt I put it in low range and the temps drop to normal and I can go as slow as needed.

 

[Pawpaw]

Pretty impressed with my FX4 towing our 7500 lb Cougar. I've been using the normal mode and it locks out 9 and 10. Flat roads and the winds have died down so towing this past week has been a breeze. The 10 ply BFG's aired to 65 psi have really took some sway out of the rig. Limit my speed to 60-62 mph range.