(How to) Persistent Tow Mode

[4wheelfurry]

I have seen this question asked several times and I prefer to drive in Tow mode. **Note** this will prevent from going back into "normal" mode unless you cut a wire put an actual switch inline.

So I discovered if you press and forever hold the switch it will start and stay in town mode with no other adverse effects to any other system (everything continues to work as intended). So after doing some digging all of these switches ground on a main wire which is black/blu stripe. On my plug it is the third wire from the tow button side. The tow button wire is the second wire which is green/brn stripe. So the two wires that need jumped are side by side. I pulled the switch and incerted a wire across these two pins in the plug (see pic)

The best way to test the buttons is pull the switch and check the pins with a OHM meter. But I suspect all 5g will be the same placement. As I said this has not affected any other function of any system.

To pull the switch, use a plastic pry tool and start behind the shifter at the cup holders and work your way up each side. It will not come completely out but it will lift high enough to depress the clips on each side of the switch (see pic) Then the switch lifts out of the plate.

This is all that is needed, I have been driving with this for some time with no issues whatsoever. This mod is very easily reversible and as I said earlier if you wanted to be able to still switch drive modes just cut the Grn/Brn and run through a switch. That will allow consistent normal mode or consistent tow mode.

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[Chris M]

Or you could push the button every time you drive?

I say it that way because that's how I deal with the Auto Stop/Start...and I do THAT because I see folks on the forum that have begun toying with electrical components and systems who later have to pose questions about why something quit working or has thrown a code or has caused another kind of issue.

I admit electrical mods scare me, so dont take this personally. It just seems easier to "push the button", to borrow a competitor's ad phrase.

Good luck. I hope it holds up for you!

 

[Stevedbvik1]

Or you could push the button every time you drive?

I say it that way because that's how I deal with the Auto Stop/Start...and I do THAT because I see folks on the forum that have begun toying with electrical components and systems who later have to pose questions about why something quit working or has thrown a code or has caused another kind of issue.

I admit electrical mods scare me, so dont take this personally. It just seems easier to "push the button", to borrow a competitor's ad phrase.

Good luck. I hope it holds up for you!

Yes, It’s part of my pre-flight routine also

 

[21rangerCactus]

Or you could push the button every time you drive?

I say it that way because that's how I deal with the Auto Stop/Start...and I do THAT because I see folks on the forum that have begun toying with electrical components and systems who later have to pose questions about why something quit working or has thrown a code or has caused another kind of issue.

I admit electrical mods scare me, so dont take this personally. It just seems easier to "push the button", to borrow a competitor's ad phrase.

Good luck. I hope it holds up for you!

Auto start stop was one of the reasons for me buying a tuner the first month owning my ranger. I use my ranger to visit my customers and make multiple stops a day... Between 10 to 15 stops. Pushing the button got old very fast.

The added power and better transmission manners were an added plus.

 

[4wheelfurry]

My previous trucks all had tuners right from purchase. This truck as well as my other were ordered just after the chip shortage so I had the option to delete start/stop which I did! As for pressing the button yes I do each time I start however this truck along with my other two are driven by several drivers and that is not even a thought for them. The type driving they do, they are much happier in tow mode so if I can make it so that no one even has to bother then the better hence the reason I posted this mod in the first place.

 

[NotBudule2]

That's pretty slick ! I'm in tow mode 95% of the time anyway, but i do need to turn it off on certain downhills and would like better switch placement.

 

[corendurance]

I have seen this question asked several times and I prefer to drive in Tow mode. **Note** this will prevent from going back into "normal" mode unless you cut a wire put an actual switch inline.

So I discovered if you press and forever hold the switch it will start and stay in town mode with no other adverse effects to any other system (everything continues to work as intended). So after doing some digging all of these switches ground on a main wire which is black/blu stripe. On my plug it is the third wire from the tow button side. The tow button wire is the second wire which is green/brn stripe. So the two wires that need jumped are side by side. I pulled the switch and incerted a wire across these two pins in the plug (see pic)

The best way to test the buttons is pull the switch and check the pins with a OHM meter. But I suspect all 5g will be the same placement. As I said this has not affected any other function of any system.

To pull the switch, use a plastic pry tool and start behind the shifter at the cup holders and work your way up each side. It will not come completely out but it will lift high enough to depress the clips on each side of the switch (see pic) Then the switch lifts out of the plate.

This is all that is needed, I have been driving with this for some time with no issues whatsoever. This mod is very easily reversible and as I said earlier if you wanted to be able to still switch drive modes just cut the Grn/Brn and run through a switch. That will allow consistent normal mode or consistent tow mode.

I have seen this question asked several times and I prefer to drive in Tow mode. **Note** this will prevent from going back into "normal" mode unless you cut a wire put an actual switch inline.

So I discovered if you press and forever hold the switch it will start and stay in town mode with no other adverse effects to any other system (everything continues to work as intended). So after doing some digging all of these switches ground on a main wire which is black/blu stripe. On my plug it is the third wire from the tow button side. The tow button wire is the second wire which is green/brn stripe. So the two wires that need jumped are side by side. I pulled the switch and incerted a wire across these two pins in the plug (see pic)

The best way to test the buttons is pull the switch and check the pins with a OHM meter. But I suspect all 5g will be the same placement. As I said this has not affected any other function of any system.

To pull the switch, use a plastic pry tool and start behind the shifter at the cup holders and work your way up each side. It will not come completely out but it will lift high enough to depress the clips on each side of the switch (see pic) Then the switch lifts out of the plate.

This is all that is needed, I have been driving with this for some time with no issues whatsoever. This mod is very easily reversible and as I said earlier if you wanted to be able to still switch drive modes just cut the Grn/Brn and run through a switch. That will allow consistent normal mode or consistent tow mode.

New

I have seen this question asked several times and I prefer to drive in Tow mode. **Note** this will prevent from going back into "normal" mode unless you cut a wire put an actual switch inline.

So I discovered if you press and forever hold the switch it will start and stay in town mode with no other adverse effects to any other system (everything continues to work as intended). So after doing some digging all of these switches ground on a main wire which is black/blu stripe. On my plug it is the third wire from the tow button side. The tow button wire is the second wire which is green/brn stripe. So the two wires that need jumped are side by side. I pulled the switch and incerted a wire across these two pins in the plug (see pic)

The best way to test the buttons is pull the switch and check the pins with a OHM meter. But I suspect all 5g will be the same placement. As I said this has not affected any other function of any system.

To pull the switch, use a plastic pry tool and start behind the shifter at the cup holders and work your way up each side. It will not come completely out but it will lift high enough to depress the clips on each side of the switch (see pic) Then the switch lifts out of the plate.

This is all that is needed, I have been driving with this for some time with no issues whatsoever. This mod is very easily reversible and as I said earlier if you wanted to be able to still switch drive modes just cut the Grn/Brn and run through a switch. That will allow consistent normal mode or consistent tow mode.

New to this, but what are some reasons why you’d want yo use tow mode all the time?

 

[Jason B]

New to this, but what are some reasons why you’d want yo use tow mode all the time?

I did it because of the shift pattern in tow mode. In normal mode I found it shifted to quickly and was in 7th or 8th gear at 40MPH when driving city streets. Tow mode has shift points at higher RPMS.

 

[Grumpaw]

I use tow mode almost 100% of the time (occasionally hit the sport mode), solo and towing.
Truck responds better and gets rid of the stop/start.
Just easy for me to hit the button....I refuse to cut or "jump" connections....Truck just has to much in electronics to mess with it.....something, somewhere is bound to eventually fail.....

 

[4wheelfurry]

^ Same reason.
Tow mode alters transmission shift pattern and deletes skip shifts. And extends top gears further out to higher speeds. IMO they go into 8-10th way to low RPM and stress the converter.

New to this, but what are some reasons why you’d want yo use tow mode all the time?

 

[Jason B]

"Deep South Louisiana"
Then you must know this:

 

[JoeF]

^ Same reason.
Tow mode alters transmission shift pattern and deletes skip shifts. And extends top gears further out to higher speeds. IMO they go into 8-10th way to low RPM and stress the converter.

When I am towing my camper, sometimes I remember to press the Tow switch, sometimes I forget. Not sure that I notice a difference. Also do not know what gear I am in at any given time nor what the engine RPM was when the tranny shifted.

Maybe I am not very observant.

 

[johnitahoe]

When I drive in the mountains I like to use tow mode because of the shift patterns. However, when I'm slowing or coming to a stop I don't like the way it down shifts. I find myself driving with the finger on the tow/haul button. Tow/haul up hills and turn it off when coming to a stop.

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