Can 4-Wheel Drive Low be Used without Front Hubs Locked when Towing with a 2002 Ford F-350 V10

Question:

Recently towed and had an issue going uphill in the mountains in North Carolina with my F350. It had a tough time getting up a steep hill. My question is can I use 4-wheel low without the front hubs locked in to get myself out of a pinch like this next time?

asked by: Sal

Expert Reply:

I checked the owner's manual for your 2002 Ford F-350 and it states to turn off the speed control feature when towing and that it may automatically turn off when towing up steep grades. But if it doesn't automatically turn off then manually turn it off.

A lower gear is recommended to eliminate excessive shifting. Usually there is a tow/haul mode or button that you can press and it will adjust these things automatically for the optimum configuration when towing.

Using 4-wheel low is fine if you are going at low speeds but should not be used for regular speed towing operations.

I don't know the exact nature of the problem you had but this is a good place to start. You might also consider using a programmer such as the Flashpaq # SU1845. It has a towing tune that will optimize the engine and transmission tuning when towing. And when not towing it has tunes for fuel economy and performance.

expert reply by: Michael H