Tow haul for daily driving safe?

[FunInTheSun]

Did you ever figure this resonance out? I have this higher pitched resonance or vibration/rattle at certain accelerating rpm
Reminds me of an exhaust shield rattle.

No. I haven’t really out any effort into tracking it down, because just keeping the engine rpm out of that range is good enough for me.

If I wanted to track it down, I’d probably start with an audio function generator wired into the Aux input andnturn up the volume while slowly sweeping the frequency range.

I don’t know if there’s even an Aux input on the stereo…

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[FunInTheSun]

I've tried the Tow mode a few times, but it's too inconvenient being soooooo far away from the shifter, lol.

S and D are right in my hand, and interchangeable as required without having to hunt for the tow button in the cluster. If the lock button is depressed it's in S, if the lock button is free, it's in D. No looking, no big moving, just right there and a flick of the wrist for swapping.

Also plays a roll in why I don't bother with ASS button, or nightlight, etc. Leave it in D and use brake pedal pressure to control ASS, or slip to S if multiple unwanted ASS interventions are expected.

I hear you on the complication factor. But the truck remembers the Tow/Haul mode when you shift in and out of S mode. So you really only have to do it once at the beginning of any given trip.

i like Tow mode for higher speed /highway cruising, ans S mode for low speed traffic (<45 mph).

 

[Ranger_Rocks]

Tow-Haul Mode... never start driving without it. Way betterer than D-Lug Mode.

Occasional fun with Sport Mode on the mountain back roads . . .

 

[pismo1]

When in tow haul mode does the transmission down shift a little rough when cold?In the other modes mine shifts fine.Just wondering if I should be aware of anything or its the norm.

 

[Msfitoy]

Driver, Sport, Tow/haul...all good at 83K miles...just don't put it in 4WD on dry pavement and stop worrying... ?

All good until you reach 95K miles...

 

[pismo1]

When in tow haul mode does the transmission down shift a little rough when cold?In the other modes mine shifts fine.Just wondering if I should be aware of anything or its the norm.

Anybody.

 

[Fawnbuster]

Yes sure we can just put it in drive and not worry too much but it just seems to feel/ sound better over 1700RPM. IDK maybe I'm a little paranoid and baby it too much. BTW my wife also has the CVT and just had another trans flush for erratic rpm surging in that car.

How has tow haul all the time affected your MPG.

 

[Big Blue]

I totally agree. Bigger 4 cylinder engines (by which I mean >2 liters) are not smooth. This is especially noticeable at lower rpm, and in the Ranger, there's some kind of resonance at about 1200 rpm or so, and there seems to be some kind of additional resonance from the tires or something at about 30-35 mph. So 1200 rpm at 30ish mph makes a noticeably loud vibration, especially if you are slightly accelerating, but not enough to trigger a downshift. I never leave it in D (around town driving) for this reason. Over 1700 or so, it settles right down.

I use Tow mode or S mode for in-town traffic driving, as either one of these raises the rpm in the 30-40 mph speed zone, and like you said, the engine just "feels" and "sounds" better at a little higher rpm. It isn't really the engine that makes the noise. It's more like the vibration excites some body panel, like the roof or hood, or the floor, or the doors, Hell, maybe it's the bed or the fucking windshield for all I can tell. I don't know, but it's something big, and it just makes me dizzy. Makes my eardrums feel like they are pulsating. I "have to" make it stop...

Not here to flame anyone. What you say about four cylinder engines is entirely true. They are very difficult or impossible to balance especially at lower speeds. It is inherent in there design. They have only two power pulses per revolution. At 1200 RPM that is only 40 Hz. And yes some people are more sensitive to lower frequencies than others. And usually lower frequencies are felt as well as heard. I won't even bother with resonances or harmonics. But those can happen between many things as was said. In a vehicle those can and will very from vehicle to vehicle for an infinite number of reasons. So if you are one of those sensitive people, there is not much that can be done, but to try and find a different vehicle, make or model that does not affect you. Or, find a driving style that works for you.

I personally have found my Ranger to dive very smooth and do not have have any issues driving around town in D. I have only really used tow/haul when towing my TT, but have not found it much different than D except for not skipping gears and the higher RPMs. Also, I personally do not like S mode In town, and do not use it. I find the responce too touchy for my taste.

Full disclosure, I am over 70 and in my driving career I have had various 4 cylinder vehicles, 6 cylinder both online and V, and one V8. Many manuals and some automatic. The V8 was a 340 in my '70 'Cuda. That did not end well, but that is a story for another time. Suffice it to say when a engine is lugging, I know what it feels like and what it sounds like. If the transmission in our truck is operating properly, which mine apparently is, it does not lug.

 

[FunInTheSun]

Not here to flame anyone. What you say about four cylinder engines is entirely true. They are very difficult or impossible to balance especially at lower speeds. It is inherent in there design. They have only two power pulses per revolution. At 1200 RPM that is only 40 Hz. And yes some people are more sensitive to lower frequencies than others. And usually lower frequencies are felt as well as heard. I won't even bother with resonances or harmonics. But those can happen between many things as was said. In a vehicle those can and will very from vehicle to vehicle for an infinite number of reasons. So if you are one of those sensitive people, there is not much that can be done, but to try and find a different vehicle, make or model that does not affect you. Or, find a driving style that works for you.

I personally have found my Ranger to dive very smooth and do not have have any issues driving around town in D. I have only really used tow/haul when towing my TT, but have not found it much different than D except for not skipping gears and the higher RPMs. Also, I personally do not like S mode In town, and do not use it. I find the responce too touchy for my taste.

Full disclosure, I am over 70 and in my driving career I have had various 4 cylinder vehicles, 6 cylinder both online and V, and one V8. Many manuals and some automatic. The V8 was a 340 in my '70 'Cuda. That did not end well, but that is a story for another time. Suffice it to say when a engine is lugging, I know what it feels like and what it sounds like. If the transmission in our truck is operating properly, which mine apparently is, it does not lug.

The higher rpm is exactly why I use T/H mode. Solves the problem with zero downside.

i think would be very interesting to have an opportunity to drive someone else’s truck to see if this booming / rumbling is unique to my truck, or if they all do it, but it just doesn’t bother some people.

 

[dtech]

Just to add DI injection also is known to be less smooth at lower rpms than port injection, another reason makers incresingly employ both mpfi and di on engines

 

[Cabose-1]

I usually drive in sport mode around town. Tow for hauling or towing. And regular d for highway

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