Hi, I just purchased a 2005 Ranger Edge (3.0 V6, automatic transmission with OD). Although I read the user's manual, I still don't quite understand when I should engage my OD and when it should remain disengaged. For example, if I'm highway driving between 50-65, the OD should be engaged, around town (under 45) it should be disengaged. Is this correct? What about towing my small boat/trailer (<1200 pounds) and my small sports car/trailer (<3000 pounds)? I really would appreciate yall's help/advice. Thank you. Nancy

 

leave it on and it will shift properly on its own
if the engine is slogging up hills when you are towing, or you are towing up and down hills turn it off
you can also use it to engine brake on long down hill runs
keeps the truck out of top gear

 

I just leave mine in OD pretty much all the time except if Im towing. When Im towing my dads small fishing boat I usually dont even turn it off. The only time i HAD to turn off the OD was when I had a bed full of stuff and a U-Haul trailer full of furniture when I moved.. other then that its pretty much always on.

 

Far as I know it should be on all the time except when towing.

 

OD isn't a problem when towing anymore on these trucks.

However, when it is a problem is when the vehicle hunts between OD and 4th gear, going back and forth between them. You'll find that particularly on hills and what not. And ESPECIALLY not when towing.

But if you are on the straight and level, OD is not a problem for towing. In hilly country it is probably best off when towing.

I turn it off in the mountains even when not towing because it's more responsive to the constant change in throttle on the switchbacks.

 

When you say "keep it out of top gear", are you suggesting to operate in D2 most of the time? If so, which conditions would be best for switching to D? Thank you, Nancy.

 

Sorry, please disregard my last post for I misread "Neil LIL BLUE"'s reply. Nancy

 

that cant be right John, my tranny will get excessively warmer (heat kills a trans) when i am in OD and will bog like no other with the trailer. kick OD off and the tranny temp is consistent and lower better mpg and the truck is more responsive. dont try and throw in the bigger tire thing either because it has always done that since it has been new.

maybe you are just pulling a little boat or empty trailer? but my OD gets turned off when i hook up.

 

Agree 100%. Cancel O/D when there is a benefit (to provide engine braking or reduce shift busyness). Otherwise, let it use all of the gears.

 

I wouldn't have a transmission any more if i did like you guys are saying. Most of the time I listen to what you guys say but this just seems out of this world

 

I thought that with overdrive, it uses 4/4 gears, and it drive, it really only uses 3/4? Or maybe I'm on crack?

 

modern (not sure of the first year) automatic transmission Rangers have '5' forward gears
I '5' because Ford put the 5th gear between the orginal 1st and 2nd gears
that is why they still get crap HWY miles

anyway - I tow small boats (about 1250 pounds w/ trailer) and generally leave the OD on
unless - as John states the transmission is hunting for that top gear or I can see a long up hill ahead where I know it should be in a lower gear
also have used it (turned it off) on some long down hill runs (comming out of the mountains) where the lower gear kept my speed down
I called it slogging up the hill, mainly due to the natural hesitation of the tranny to down shift out of top gear above 55 MPH

 

Turn it off whenever you want. That's why Ford gave you a button. The heavier the trailer, the more likely it is that it would be a benefit to cancel the O/D. Lightweight trailers with low frontal area tow fine in 5th on flat terrain w/o a headwind.

 

ti just seems under all the conditions mentioned I might as well just turn the OD off.

things that warrant turning it off-

-in the mountains
-headwind
-heavy trailer
-hilly land
-tranny temp
-engine braking (helps when pulling a trailer)
-vehicle hunts between OD and 4th gear
-In hilly country it is probably best off when towing

All quoted from above^^

Leave OD on
-normal driving (without trailer)
-lightweight trailers > 2000lbs give or take (your choice)


I'm just adding up what I'm reading here, and seems like your safest bet is to turn OD off when hooking up to a trailer.