I am getting a new toy hauler which is pretty heavy when loaded a little over 10k. Its a bumper pull. The truck is a 1999 2WD 7.3 Auto trans with 373 gears and 275 tires. Should I keep it out of OD all the time when towing?

 

You just have to pull it & see how it does. What I use as an indicator is if it starts shifts in & out of OD, then put it in direct. The key in my opinion is to have a GOOD trans cooler. I personally really like the B&M SuperCoolers. I run them on a Blazer 4x4 & our Jeep 5.9 Limited Grand Cherokee. I tow with both. My 86 F250 4x4 460, C-6 uses the stock Factory external cooler. But it is built with a Hughes Tow Converter. If I was ever have to change it out a B&M would go in.
Craig

 

Good trans cooler is suggested and a trans guage, EGT guage if you don't have one.

 

Ditto Craig and Scott,

Steve

 

Thats some great advice to follow. with that much weight your egts can climb real fast, along with your trans temps.

I also pull a 11,000 lbs toybox and pull it in overdrive until I start to climb grade.

You may also need to install some air bags to help handle the 1,000lbs +/- tongue weight.

 

[QUOTE=maevans;8913397]Thats some great advice to follow. with that much weight your egts can climb real fast, along with your trans temps.

I also pull a 11,000 lbs toybox and pull it in overdrive until I start to climb grade.

You may also need to install some air bags. I run a set of #5000# AirSprings from AriLift. I real like the stability they provide. Just a thought.
Craig

 

Well the 10K rig seems to be towing pretty nicely. I have load equalizer hitch... Truck is not squatted much. I have been towing out of overdrive. I have to say the truck does seem to be working at it. (1999 F250 2WD Auto with 99K miles) at 55 about 2200 rpms and at 60 would be about 2400 rpms... 373 gearing.... What would be a recommended rpm range? Only real thing I have noticed when towing out of Texas with a temp in the upper 90's my clutch fan seems to be coming on.(well thats the only thing I think it could be.) Just starts roaring under the hood. Stays on for about 3 or 4 minutes then just shuts off. Coolent temp is good somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 on the gauge. I do want to get a bigger trans cooler and exhaust and trans temp gauges... I was thinking of air bags or getting some overloads off one ton.....

 

trans and temp gauges would be good. air bags work well, clutch fan will do exactly what you are saying, sounds like maybe an airplane under the hood. Just towing with the OD locked out is what I would do.

 

You can tow in OD. I do all the time at anything over 55 MPH. When you start climbing a hill, take it out of OD. If you tow out of OD your mileage will suffer also. I use air bags with my TT and it make a huge differance in the ride. Tranny temp gauge a must but if your truck is all stock or mostly stock but unchiped you can get away without an EGT gauge, but again its nice to have...

 

I think for the time being I will keep it out of OD till I get a transmission temp gauge.. That way I wll know for certain what is going on.

Great bunch of advise...