Posted 2005-11-15 11:55 AM (#33051) Subject: get a kick in the tow mode
Member
Posts: 9
Location: Vernon, FL
I have a F350 2006 and when I am in Tow/haul mode if I brake quickly the whole rig jerks as if I am down shiffing immediatey to first gear. Is that the way it's supose to be?
Posted 2005-11-15 12:37 PM (#33055 - in reply to #33051) Subject: RE: get a kick in the tow mode
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
When you have it in Tow/Haul you will experience this feeling. The transmission is downshifting for you. You will know how to tell by watching your RPMs. They will increase when it downshifts at first. This will also happen when you go down a hill and the truck senses it as well.
Posted 2005-11-15 2:12 PM (#33073 - in reply to #33051) Subject: RE: get a kick in the tow mode
Member
Posts: 9
Location: Vernon, FL
The kick happens if I'm pulling an emply trailer or a full heavy load. I love the auto down shiffing coming down a mountain but if I brake hard from say 40 to 10mph it kicks hard.
Posted 2005-11-15 8:49 PM (#33082 - in reply to #33051) Subject: RE: get a kick in the tow mode
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 500 Location: West TN
Mine will do the same thing as well. I have noticed on my 06 that the harder you push the brake, the more out put you have. This is different than the aftermarket brakes I was used to. You set how much braking the trailer had and it would remain constant. With the new controller, it seems that the brake pedal is changing the amount of braking the trailer has, just like it would the truck. This can be monitered by seeing how many bars you have on the output when braking.
Posted 2005-11-16 1:55 AM (#33093 - in reply to #33051) Subject: RE: get a kick in the tow mode
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1160 Location: Denver Colorado
Grade down shifting is nice on the Ford 5R110 and the GM T1000 Allison, in tow mode. It locks up the torque converter so you are locked up mechanically like a manual transmission, giving you 100% power transferred from engine to transmission instead of the auto tranny fluid coupling slipping like we are use to with automatics. Drive a two ton truck with the Allison and it jerks even more. That's the characteristic of lockup down shifting. Plus you have more line pressure which causes some jerk too. It's takes more brake pressure on the Ford to downshift than the Allison.
The new Ford TowCommand trailer brake controller does change with the trucks brakes as it's activated by the trucks hydraulic brake pressure. Very fast reaction time and it does brake more with higher speeds. Hardly any brake when driving slow, which can cause problems in the mountains when you want brake pressure at slow speeds. I hope Dodge and GM come out with a factory trailer brake controller also. I think this is an option that's here for good, like cruise control heated seats. I love heated seats.
Posted 2005-11-16 11:07 AM (#33112 - in reply to #33073) Subject: RE: get a kick in the tow mode
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by redcow on 2005-11-15 2:12 PM
The kick happens if I'm pulling an emply trailer or a full heavy load. I love the auto down shiffing coming down a mountain but if I brake hard from say 40 to 10mph it kicks hard.
In addition to what has already been said,
a) Braking HARD is probably a key clue
b) the speed range 40 to 10 is the other one.
Between 40 and 10 means you're going through the normal downshifting range. You're getting grade braking - a FEATURE ! as well as downshifting. On GMs (Fords are similar) those downshifts will be at higher sppeds when in tow/haul than when not. It shouldn't be HARSH, but you should expect to feel it.
I have a LOT of harsh criticism about getting oneself into situations that need hard braking on downgrades with a trailer in tow, especially when horses are on board - I guess I should save that, or I'll get moderated (-:
Nahh, free advice is worth every penny; Drive down that mountain road in a low enough gear to not need hard braking in the 40 to 10 range. Your horses will thank you and you can stop worrying about this symptom.
get a kick in the tow mode
