Miscellaneous / Off-topic: TOWING

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TOWING

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Miscellaneous / Off-topic
Forum Discription: Pull a chair up to the campfire and chat. No religious, political or weapons talk, please.
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16384
Printed Date: 20 May 2026 at 3:20pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: TOWING

Posted By: hogone
Subject: TOWING
Date Posted: 14 Feb 2026 at 1:02pm

For those that have the beast F150 3.5 eco.........do you pull in tow mode or just

normal;;;;;;;or any other adjustment to the truck engine/tranny........F150 rocks.....Jon

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Jon & Pam
2025 GD 17MKE
2013 RP177(sold Nov 25)
2023 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
CHEESEHEAD

Replies:

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2026 at 12:02pm

If the terrain is flat & straight, I just leave it in normal mode. When I encounter curvy and or hilly terrain, I switch to tow mode.

We live in the mountains west of Silicon Valley at 2400'. When we go up one of the the main mountain roads going home, I will switch it to tow mode (even when not towing), because tow mode selects one lower gear, and it avoids lugging (or what I perceive as lugging).

When we are going downhill, I will use the +/- on the shifter to lock out the upper gears. This gives me a little more engine braking and avoids overusing the brakes.

The only complaint I've had with our truck is that compression braking is not the greatest. That said, the disc brake rotors are extra large, and the braking has been excellent.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2026 at 6:21am

Thanks GlueGuy.

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Jon & Pam
2025 GD 17MKE
2013 RP177(sold Nov 25)
2023 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
CHEESEHEAD

Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2026 at 7:09am

I only tow in tow/haul mode. Keeps the transmission in lower gears and retards timing for engine braking. Also engages the transmission cooling fan quicker. At least, that's what the features are on our '22 F150 XLT.

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Gpokluda
2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023)
2022 Escape 5.0TA
2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB
Honda SCL500

Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2026 at 8:05am

Thanks Gpokluda

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Jon & Pam
2025 GD 17MKE
2013 RP177(sold Nov 25)
2023 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
CHEESEHEAD

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2026 at 6:21pm

On expressways I leave the tow mode off as my experience shows a gain a small increase in mpg, about 0.5 - 1.0 mpg. Any other time tow mode is on for the same reasons GlueGuy and gpokluda give above.

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2026 at 6:10am

Thanks jato

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Jon & Pam
2025 GD 17MKE
2013 RP177(sold Nov 25)
2023 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
CHEESEHEAD

Posted By: ppine
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2026 at 9:58pm

The Rpods are easy to see around at 7 wide, and easy to pull.

I have a Ram diesel because it is a great truck. I pull a large trailer and some boats with it.

The Ram gets around 17 mpg pulling in the mountains.

I mostly use the paddle shifters to control the speed with the transmission. For really steep mountains I would use the tow haul mode.

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Forester
2022 Ram diesel
2019 Nash 26N
2015 rpod 177