What gear for towing -- Ford? - Montana Owners Club

ols1932 · 10-08-2005, 10:40 AM

Have had a lot of transmission problems in the last two years. Some of it due to bad rebuilds by AAMCO. The last rebuilt cost me $3400 and lasted 10 months/10,000 miles. Am presently waiting for another transmission. My question, what gear do you all recommend for towing? I usually tow in OD at 58 mph. When the rig slows down and drops out of OD I lock it out. Somehow my tranny overheated this last time. So, I'm going to have a larger than stock cooler added along with a temp gauge. I understand that the tranny oil should run under 200 degrees.

Any Ford owners with advice? I know the Duramax is good but I have a Ford.

palebluedot · 10-08-2005, 03:07 PM

I know a lot of folks just love their auto transmissions, but the real solution to towing a heavy 5er is a 6 speed and a clutch. JMHO.

ols1932 · 10-08-2005, 04:03 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by palebluedot

I know a lot of folks just love their auto transmissions, but the real solution to towing a heavy 5er is a 6 speed and a clutch. JMHO.

Yes, I've heard that. However, I'm stuck with what I've got right now. And, I'm wanting this next transmission rebuild to last a while--at least until I can save up enough money for a new truck.

palebluedot · 10-08-2005, 04:37 PM

You are on the right track Orv. Excessive heat is what gets most auto transmissions. The larger cooler will certainly help and the gauge will let you know whats going on. One other thing you may consider is a larger transmission oil pan. Mag Hy-Tec makes one for your Ford that adds 8 more quarts of fluid which will help keep the temps down. Check it out - http://www.genosgarage.com/CoastalDa...ID=332&CATID=2

Glenn and Lorraine · 10-08-2005, 04:47 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by palebluedot

I know a lot of folks just love their auto transmissions, but the real solution to towing a heavy 5er is a 6 speed and a clutch. JMHO.

Bill, 20 or 30 years ago I would have agreed with your statement 100% but after many years of truck driving and having used both standards and automatics today I would never want to have to bother with a clutch ever again. Today's automatics are truly better than they were years ago and will stand up to all sorts of loads and conditions. My Allison's have performed flawlessly in all road conditions with and without the Monty.

In answer to olds1932 question...
I know I have a Duramax/Allison combo but unless I am on an incline or going down the other side I am in O/D. If it is a fairly flat surface I am also on Cruise Control in O/D.

Bob Pasternak · 10-08-2005, 05:58 PM

I'd guess part of the problem is spelled "BANKS"!

Fordzilla · 10-08-2005, 06:01 PM

I have always had tranny temp gauges on all the trucks I pull with. Great indicator of how your internal parts are doing. If it gets above 210 I changed the fluid at the next service. Most of the time it runs from 140-150 empty to 170-185 pulling. I have only seen temps over 185 once with my last truck and changed fluid before I towed again with it and it had a burnt smell to it. Otherwise I would do as mentioned above a larger cooler and a deeper pan will help. But you need to monitor the temps and downshift and back out of it if needed pulling those long mountain passes.

drhowell · 10-09-2005, 03:43 AM

Many of the mid 90's Ford transmissions have had problems. Do a search on some of the Ford truck forums. We had a fleet of F250's and F350's with the 7.3 engine and the automatic transmission. Most were repaired or replaced more than once. Finally, the Ford dealership came up with a permanent fix. There is a kit available for around $400 that will modify the oil flow and the torque converter to prevent the problem. Ford would warranty the transmission repair but not the additional $400 for the kit. But we tried it and it seems to work so the $400 expense was pretty cheap in the long run.

I think Ford changed the transmissions and went to a 5 speed Tow Haul automatic in 2002 or 03. When I needed a heaver TV for my 5er, I waited for the 2004 F250 with the 6.0 and new 5 speed automatic. I did not want to deal with the earlier Ford transmission and all its problems. Very happy with my 2004 F250. The 6.0 and transmission have performed beyond my expectations.

5rvers · 10-09-2005, 04:16 AM

Ols1932,

Visit this web site: http://forums.thedieselstop.com/. You will get tons of information.

steves · 10-09-2005, 04:16 AM

Good advice in the above Ford posts - Heat is a killer to the transmission. If you are using under heavy loads or modified
power you need to install that trans temp gauge and back off the power when the temp starts to rises. Other modifications to consider is a high performance torque converter, larger trans cooler and the higher capacity transmission pan (most of these mentioned above).Fords new trans with the 5 speed tow-haul mode has virtually eliminated these issues and is considered one of the better transmissions in todays light trucks.

ols1932 · 10-09-2005, 06:53 AM

I appreciate all your inputs. I'm going to try to go with the larger cooler and the temp gauge and see where that takes me. I do think that I was the victim of some bad rebuilds.

Thunderman · 10-09-2005, 07:24 AM

When the trans temp. gauge is installed, do you put the line from the gauge to which location on the vehicle?
1. Line carrying fluid from cooler to transmission
2. Line carrying fluid to cooler from transmission
3. In the oil pan
4. In a port on the side of transmission

I guess all would be sufficient if you knew what the temperature range should be for each location. Does anyone have the different temp. ranges? Thanks

Weldon

ols1932 · 10-09-2005, 08:15 AM

I don't know where they put it. I'm leaving that up to the transmission specialist who is doing the work. I think it goes directly into the transmission. That's where the transmission fluid would be the hottest, I think.

trukdoc · 10-09-2005, 02:36 PM

Number one get away from AAMCO. they used to be #1 in the business. However they franchised out and focused on profit so needless to say what made them big in the business "Quality" was put on the back burner for the money. Bigger cooler and pan will help as well. OD is a cruise gear only. At any time you are accelerating or on a hill drop out of OD. City driving is a killer as well. I used to have my transmissions built with Red Line clutches and a heavy duty torque converter. Also add a in line filter that attaches to the cooler lines. I had a auto transmission in a truck I used to have that was bulletproof. Had a built up 460 engine and would pull a house down. There is nothing wrong with Automatics preped properly.

ols1932 · 10-09-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by trukdoc

Number one get away from AAMCO. they used to be #1 in the business. However they franchised out and focused on profit so needless to say what made them big in the business "Quality" was put on the back burner for the money.

I got fooled by AAMCO twice, the third time was under warranty and that failed also. It was my fault. I only used them because of their nationwide warranty. Now, I'm having difficulty with a 3 year, 36,000 mile warranty by another transmission shop in California. Will keep you posted on the outcome.

I'm seriously thinking about the deeper pan, temp gauge, and inline filter.

Montana_4759 · 10-10-2005, 04:31 AM

You may be overloaded. What does your trailer weigh and what is your truck rated to tow? I thought the earlier trucks like yours were not rated to tow such a heavy rig. Just a thought.

John

ols1932 · 10-10-2005, 08:43 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by FalconLover

You may be overloaded. What does your trailer weigh and what is your truck rated to tow? I thought the earlier trucks like yours were not rated to tow such a heavy rig. Just a thought.

John

I'm overloaded. My rig, loaded is 14,100 lbs. My truck is rated to tow 12,500 with a GCWR of 20,000 lbs. However, there are a lot of people out there with similar vehicles, in fact the same year, who are towing up to 16,000 lbs and they have had no tranny failures.

I think my multiple failures are mainly due to bad rebuilds by AAMCO and the last rebuild I had by another shop. Up to 75,000 miles I had no difficulty at all. Not until I was in the mountains in California.

The guy doing the transmission work on my truck now tells me that I should be able to tow what I have as long as I put in a larger cooler and use a temp gauge to watch the tranny temps. Also, he says that he tows his rig (same size truck as mine) and shifts the automatic transmission manually. Although you can tow in OD, it is not recommended by him. I've towed in OD for over 5 years and only now I'm finding out that I shouldn't? I've got to go back and look at the book!

sreigle · 10-10-2005, 07:04 PM

I don't have the heat in the transmission problem but I do watch both the trans temp gauge on the dash and the one I added on the pillar very closely. But the TorqShift is a different transmission than you are dealing with. I'd highly recommend that gauge you mentioned. I tow in OD all the time and let the transmission do the gear selection.

However, Banks makes the TransCommand module that's an easy connect for your transmission. At least they do for the 4R100 transmission. It's supposed to really reduce heat buildup and might be worth a look.

Also, make sure your trans cooler and lines are not plugged up and restricting fluid flow.

ols1932 · 10-11-2005, 04:26 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by sreigle
However, Banks makes the TransCommand module that's an easy connect for your transmission. At least they do for the 4R100 transmission. It's supposed to really reduce heat buildup and might be worth a look.

Also, make sure your trans cooler and lines are not plugged up and restricting fluid flow.

Thanks Steve, I do already have the TransCommand Module installed. When my transmission went south in December 2004, Olson's Transmissions in Blythe, CA put in a heavy duty rebuilt transmission. I asked him (Tommy White, owner) about a temp gauge and larger cooler, but he said I didn't need either one. I believe he is wrong and I'm now going to use a larger cooler and a temp gauge.
My problem right now is that we're stuck in Livingston, TX (Rainbow's End Escpaee Park) until we receive another transmission from Olson's. The bad transmission has to be pulled and shipped to Olson's (for inspection) and then they will ship us another one. Seems like a lot of problem to fulfill a warranty that is 36,000 miles, 36 months. Only had 10,000 miles in 10 months before the tranny failed. The front seal blew, tranny free wheeled and wouldn't pull. First thing the mechanic in Livingston (Frank's Transmissions) said was "the front seal is gone." There was oil all over the top of the engine. I had never seen anything like that before. It got way too hot. I'll sure be watching that temp gauge from now on.

pud2 · 10-13-2005, 05:06 AM

try using the synthic blend fluid i used it and it helps with temps. Mercon v i think it was. Also banks has a trans command that builds the pressure up and makes the trans shift better without the car like shifting.

You may also like: