Question about flat towing an 08 F250 PSD - Diesel Forum

frankdt · 09-20-2009, 10:22 PM

I'm flat towing (behind a motorhome) a PSD 4x4 with manual transfer case and got everything completed. Even the Brakemaster Air brake system! Nice...

Question: The key needs to be in the #2 position to unlock the steering. There are no lights showing on the dash but I can hear a high pitch whine in the engine compartment. Is this the glow plugs I'm hearing? This will run down the batteries quickly.

Will they time out? Do I need to remove a fuse?

Thanks

Stymie · 09-20-2009, 10:54 PM

the glow plugs on teh truck only run if the computer detects they need run. if you are worried about battery run down, i'd just disconnect them

**95DRW4x4** · 09-20-2009, 11:02 PM

Does your transfercase have a pump driven by the rear output shaft?

I know the smaller manual transfercase for the Ranger does and allows for towing.

Some transfercase don't and have limited towing times or distances.

SmokeyWren · 09-21-2009, 06:23 AM

If you mean you have the key in the "accessories only" position, so the radio and windows will work, but not the engine or glowplugs, then there shouldn't be much electrical drain if you turn off the sterio and HVAC fan and any other items that have an on/of switch, such as heated seats, DVD player and navigation system.

10 years ago, the Owner's Guide for my '99 said all I had to do was put the tranny and manual transfer case shifter in the neutral position to tow my pickup behind a motorhome. So that should still work. What does the '08 Owner's Guide say?

The electrical connection between motorhome and toad runs lights and turn signals on the toad, but it could also contain a 12-volt hot wire. When towing an RV trailer, the 6-wire or 7-wire trailer connector includes a hot wire that is used as the battery charger/maintainer, so I would think you could hook it up to have the motorhome altenator also charge the batteries in the toad. If I had that much money tied up in a motorhome and toad, I think I'd probably figure out a way to do that.

senix · 09-21-2009, 07:03 AM

I was reading the owners manual and best I can determine it does not address this situation. I talks about emergency towing only, and even then it refers to max speed of 35 and max miles of 50.

I am sure it is somewhere else though

frankdt · 09-21-2009, 10:19 AM

Thanks for all the replies... I'll have to include some pixs.

The manual does state, "Transmission in Neutral, Transfer case in Neutral and hubs set to free" That's it. I'll try turning off everything else, like the AC. That could be what I was hearing but the interior fan is not running.

Any idea who's a good contact with Ford to discuss this with?

Thanks Again!

senix · 09-21-2009, 10:37 AM

I think your big issue no matter what is the auto trans. If that driveshaft is turning, is the trans or transfer case getting any lube? Should just be the transfer case to worry about I would think.

Mark Kovalsky · 09-21-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankdt

I'll try turning off everything else, like the AC.

If the key is in the correct position none of that will run, and the steering wheel will be unlocked.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankdt

Any idea who's a good contact with Ford to discuss this with?

Good luck with that. When I worked there I tried to get manglement interested in running towing tests and developing ways to tow four down. None of the manglement in transmission engineering Rv'd so they had no interest.

I do know that the TorqShift trans does not like spinning without the engine running. We failed several transmissions on dynamometers when the dyno had a problem and reset. The trans would spin from the dyno and the one way clutch would get trashed from lack of lube flow.

frankdt · 09-21-2009, 12:55 PM

Mark, With the manual transfer case in Neutral and the auto in park I can push the truck around without any issues. Isn't the automatic disconnected with the transfer case in neutral?

Mark Kovalsky · 09-21-2009, 01:41 PM

Yes it is. I think that is the way to tow it, but I've never tried it. You don't want the rear of the trans to be turning if the engine isn't running. Even with the transfer case in neutral there is some drag that could turn the trans.

I don't know enough about the transfer case to offer an opinion.

senix · 09-21-2009, 01:45 PM

I wonder if someone could instal an aftermaket pump to lube it. I also wonder if the manual tranfer case is turn is there a pump in there or is it lubed simply by the rotation of the gears.

In the end you may have to pull the driveshaft.

frankdt · 09-21-2009, 08:11 PM

I believe the whine is the injectors (or whatever drives the injectors) and it's only when you shift from P to neutral. Once in neutral no matter what position the key is in this continues.

Looks like the solution is to put the key in the first position (accessory) and use the manual shift override. Move it to neutral and no whine!! steering unlocked, trans in neutral and nothing is powered up! Problem solved.

Not many F-250s being pulled around behind a motorhome but roadmaster makes all the brackets and adapters. I did pull it around town on Sunday and pulled fine... Don't even know it's there! 18 ton vs 4 ton = truck? What truck?

**95DRW4x4** · 09-22-2009, 09:07 PM

Check a diagram of your transfercase (T/C) to see if it has a small pump and pick-up tube attached to the rear output shaft. Or call a transmission shop that rebuilds T/Cs and ask them.

From what I understand you want the trans in gear so it doesn't turn even when the T/C is in nuetral. I know on my ZF, in my Ranger, the lower part of the gears will not turn if the engine is off and clutch in gear. So if the trans output shaft, into T/C, spins the upper part of my trans gears can spin unlubricated. So when I tow my Ranger I put the trans in 5th gear and T/C in nuetral.

md18 · 09-22-2009, 09:18 PM

You don't want to tow with the transmission in neutral, there could be enough drag from the fluid to turn the transmission output shaft which has no lubrication without the engine running. You should however, run a charge wire from the 7-way connevtor to your trucks batteries, this will keep your batteries from draining if there are any parasitic loads with the key in that position.
Wouldn't it be a little more "economical" to tow the E320 though? lol

frankdt · 09-23-2009, 02:09 PM

The owners manual specifically states to put the trans in neutral but I understand what you are saying.

As for "economy" a few thousand pounds one way or the other won't make much difference in this case.... Diesel is made to BURN!! (no flames please

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