I am about to tow a 4 horse trailer with living quaters over the Rockies. I have been told the transmission will not handle such a load apporx 10,000 lbs loaded. Any advice?
Posted 2010-03-18 10:38 AM (#4944 - in reply to #4943) Subject: RE: F250 SD 7.3 Diesel towing question
Location: Colorado
I've pulled 4 and 6 horse trailers through the mountains quite a bit with the same setup- 7.3 powerstroke and automatic trans- and been OK with it. You might want to make sure your truck is equipped with a heavy duty transmission oil cooler. The other thing I will do is when running 55 or 60 MPH, especially when there is a slight incline, don't let the transmission "hunt", or shift back and forth between overdrive and direct. There is a button on the end of the shift lever you can push to lock out the overdrive. Just make sure you don't try to drive 70 mph when using it! Good luck, and go easy off the hills!
Posted 2010-03-18 11:23 AM (#4945 - in reply to #4944) Subject: RE: F250 SD 7.3 Diesel towing question
Posts: 2
Thanks, I do have the oil/transmission cooler, air bags and all. Some are telling me to get a 4 inch exhaust system, cold air induction and a power chip which I thought might fry the stock tranny? Trailer weight is about 10,000 unloaded, mules are 1000 to 1200. Sepc's say 12,500 bumper pull and 15,000 fifth wheel.
Posted 2010-03-18 12:24 PM (#4946 - in reply to #4945) Subject: RE: F250 SD 7.3 Diesel towing question
Location: Colorado
Mule Momma - 2010-03-18 10:23 AM Thanks, I do have the oil/transmission cooler, air bags and all. Some are telling me to get a 4 inch exhaust system, cold air induction and a power chip which I thought might fry the stock tranny? Trailer weight is about 10,000 unloaded, mules are 1000 to 1200. Sepc's say 12,500 bumper pull and 15,000 fifth wheel.
I wouldn't do a chip to increase power, but part of that is I'm old school, been around big trucks all my life, and I've seen what trying get a lot of horsepower out of diesel engines does to them. I want longevity, so I'm pretty conservative. There are transmission programmers that will change shift points and can help extend the life of your trans when you're towing. Also, I think your Ford dealer can program your trans for towing, too. Really, if you ever pull that trailer with a dual rear wheel 1 ton, you won't go back to a 3/4 ton. It will work with your PU, but that' a lot of trailer for single rear wheels.
Posted 2010-03-18 10:41 PM (#4947 - in reply to #4945) Subject: RE: F250 SD 7.3 Diesel towing question
Posts: 176
Mule Momma - 2010-03-18 11:23 AM
Thanks, I do have the oil/transmission cooler, air bags and all. Some are telling me to get a 4 inch exhaust system, cold air induction and a power chip which I thought might fry the stock tranny? Trailer weight is about 10,000 unloaded, mules are 1000 to 1200. Sepc's say 12,500 bumper pull and 15,000 fifth wheel.
This is my kind of deal here!
Windy is correct on your tranny and towing! You have a good set up (dual wheel would be better) turn the OD off while in the mountains if it is up and down shifting with you.
First off, what year model truck are we talking about?
1994.5 to 1997 an after market downpipe and exhaust is really needed for heavy towing.
1999 to early 2003 no downpiep needed, just a 4" exhaust system.
Exhaust, air intake, This is the BEST thing you can do for your truck and what Ford should have done to start with. I would not bother with a large downpipe, just start the 4" as close to the front as possible. As far as intakes, I have bought, sold and used MANY different trucks and intakes and found the S&B intake kit to be the best on the market.
Just these 2 add ons on you truck will make a world of difference and you will actually see better performance and fuel mileage as well.
As far as a chip or programmer goes, unless you are really carefull you could cause major tranny damage while towing.
I used a 1997 Ford F-350 for 2 years with the above mods and a TS performance chip set on 75hp and it worked GREAT and even improved the shift points in the tranny. There is a valve body upgrade for Ford trannys that also work really wheel for towing with and without power upgrades. I will look the name up and post it on Friday when I get to my office.
F250 SD 7.3 Diesel towing question
