ReneeG
Meridian, Idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 07/13/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
DrewE wrote:For climbing hills, don't be afraid to push the V10 and let it rev up. Its powerband is at relatively high RPMs, and it's perfectly capable of running there for quite some time, even if it sounds like it's a giant over-caffeinated bumble bee thrashing about.
ReneeG wrote:valhalla360 wrote:
Our 2008 F250 V10 does and it works great. It would be shocking if a much newer MH doesn't.
Well, I learned something new. We had a 1999 V10 F250. No tow/ haul mode, but when we bought our 2011 F350 diesel, it came with a tow/ haul mode and a tap of the break slows it down.
It depends on the transmission (and that depends on the year of the vehicle). The four speed Ford transmission did not have tow/haul, and the button on the shifter is correctly labeled "O/D off". The 5 speed and newer transmissions do have tow/haul instead, and it works well.
A motorhome is always hauling, even if it's not towing, since it's a heavy load and a lot of air resistance. As such, it's not at all unreasonable to always use tow/haul mode if you have it.
Our F250 V10 was a 6.8L.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL
2011 F350 DRW 6.7L 4x4 Diesel Lariat and Hensley TrailerSaver BD3
1992 Jeep ZJ and 1978 Coleman Concord Pop-Up for remote camping
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, Paris, Missy, and Maggie in spirit), Mica and Mabel, both Rat Terriers!
|
valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
ReneeG wrote:Well, I learned something new. We had a 1999 V10 F250. No tow/ haul mode, but when we bought our 2011 F350 diesel, it came with a tow/ haul mode and a tap of the break slows it down.
Had a 1992 with the 7.3 diesel...Naturally Aspirated (no turbo) or exhaust brake. On flat land it was great. Awesome MPG. In the mountains, it was a total pig. Going up mountains it would lose lots of power at altitude and it didn't like lots of RPM (unlike the V10). Going downhill, it offered no engine or exhaust braking.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
|
georgelesley
Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 07/29/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
ReneeG wrote:I believe the gasser doesn't have the Tow Haul mode where you can tap the breaks and slow it down like diesels. When we had a V10 truck and towed a travel trailer, we had to do the slow lane with the semi's and slow it way down, then pump the brakes at the end to keep them from seizing up.
Our V-10 gasser does indeed have the tow haul that does downshift with brake taps. Best thing the OP can do is learn to use and live the tow haul feature. Also important to start the down grade at a slow safe speed, not fast.
George 20 yr USAF & Lesley
|
DrewE
Vermont
Senior Member
Joined: 08/23/2014
View Profile
Offline
|
For climbing hills, don't be afraid to push the V10 and let it rev up. Its powerband is at relatively high RPMs, and it's perfectly capable of running there for quite some time, even if it sounds like it's a giant over-caffeinated bumble bee thrashing about.
ReneeG wrote:valhalla360 wrote:
Our 2008 F250 V10 does and it works great. It would be shocking if a much newer MH doesn't.
Well, I learned something new. We had a 1999 V10 F250. No tow/ haul mode, but when we bought our 2011 F350 diesel, it came with a tow/ haul mode and a tap of the break slows it down.
It depends on the transmission (and that depends on the year of the vehicle). The four speed Ford transmission did not have tow/haul, and the button on the shifter is correctly labeled "O/D off". The 5 speed and newer transmissions do have tow/haul instead, and it works well.
A motorhome is always hauling, even if it's not towing, since it's a heavy load and a lot of air resistance. As such, it's not at all unreasonable to always use tow/haul mode if you have it.
|
ssthrd
Vancouver Island
Senior Member
Joined: 03/23/2016
View Profile
|
Be prepared for the hills by being in the right gear just before going up/down steep slopes.
If you have to downshift on a steep downhill grade, be aware that your rear tires may drag on a slippery road surface which could be tense if the rear end starts to pass you. Ask me how I know........... Parking might be the best course of action if the roads are slippery.
Just take it easy, and you will have no problems. IMO, the biggest thing is to know your vehicle and how it reacts to your steering/braking input.
2014 Keystone Laredo 292RL
2013 Palomino Maverick 2902
2018 GMC 3500HD, 4x4, 6.5' box, SRW, Denali, Duramax, Andersen
DeeBee, JayBee, and Jed the Black Lab
The hurrier I go the behinder I get. (Lewis Carroll)
|
|
|
ReneeG
Meridian, Idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 07/13/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
valhalla360 wrote:ReneeG wrote:I believe the gasser doesn't have the Tow Haul mode where you can tap the breaks and slow it down like diesels. When we had a V10 truck and towed a travel trailer, we had to do the slow lane with the semi's and slow it way down, then pump the brakes at the end to keep them from seizing up.
Our 2008 F250 V10 does and it works great. It would be shocking if a much newer MH doesn't.
I believe what you are thinking of is an exhaust brake. Since a diesel doesn't have a throttle to choke off, it gets very little engine braking effect. An exhaust brake has as similar effect but works by restricting the exhaust rather than the inlet. This is common on most newer diesels.
Worst case, if it doesn't, just manually downshift for a similar effect.
Well, I learned something new. We had a 1999 V10 F250. No tow/ haul mode, but when we bought our 2011 F350 diesel, it came with a tow/ haul mode and a tap of the break slows it down.
|
valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
ReneeG wrote:I believe the gasser doesn't have the Tow Haul mode where you can tap the breaks and slow it down like diesels. When we had a V10 truck and towed a travel trailer, we had to do the slow lane with the semi's and slow it way down, then pump the brakes at the end to keep them from seizing up.
Our 2008 F250 V10 does and it works great. It would be shocking if a much newer MH doesn't.
I believe what you are thinking of is an exhaust brake. Since a diesel doesn't have a throttle to choke off, it gets very little engine braking effect. An exhaust brake has as similar effect but works by restricting the exhaust rather than the inlet. This is common on most newer diesels.
Worst case, if it doesn't, just manually downshift for a similar effect.
|
time2roll
Southern California
Senior Member
Joined: 03/21/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Allow extra time to go slower both up and down the hills. Enjoy the ride. Don't make it a race.
Check back in if you have any issues that did not seem to go as expected.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675w Solar pictures back up
|
wildtoad
Blythewood, SC
Senior Member
Joined: 06/05/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Get familiar with the tow haul feature. It can save your brakes and more important things too.
Tom Wilds
Blythewood, SC
2016 Newmar Baystar Sport 3004
2015 Jeep Wrangler 2dr HT
|
enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/05/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
What I do climbing steep grades, is fall behind big rig that is doing what my MH likes. Going down the hills, go slower then big rigs to save my brakes. Big rigs have exhaust brakes to help them.
In some cases, I slide over onto the shoulder to let cars and whoever go by. Don't forget to use slow vehicle turn outs.
Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow
2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker
|
|
|
