Our Mountaineer has been a great family vehicle, whether towing or not. Very capable for it's size, and handles our travel trailer very well (~5200 lbs loaded).
What I can't stand is that the OD lockout button forces the 6sp-auto down to 4th gear (locks out 5th and 6th). The majority of the time when towing, 5th gear would be perfect. If I lock into 4th gear, the rpms seem too high, and from my Scangauge, I know I have more available torque, and could get better gas mileage. Left in 6th (full-auto), it may or may not start hunting, forcing me to allow the speed to reduce to avoid downshifting on even small hills. In the end, I usually leave OD functioning, and avoid using cruise control unless it's a calm day and very flat.
What I've never asked is:
Has anybody ever looked into a transmission reprogram that would allow locking out ONLY 6th gear?
a. Change programming so that the OD lockout button only locks out 6th gear, or
b. Pull a fuse or some other item such that 6th is locked out regardless of OD lockout position.
c. other?
What I can't stand is that the OD lockout button forces the 6sp-auto down to 4th gear (locks out 5th and 6th). The majority of the time when towing, 5th gear would be perfect. If I lock into 4th gear, the rpms seem too high, and from my Scangauge, I know I have more available torque, and could get better gas mileage. Left in 6th (full-auto), it may or may not start hunting, forcing me to allow the speed to reduce to avoid downshifting on even small hills. In the end, I usually leave OD functioning, and avoid using cruise control unless it's a calm day and very flat.
What I've never asked is:
Has anybody ever looked into a transmission reprogram that would allow locking out ONLY 6th gear?
a. Change programming so that the OD lockout button only locks out 6th gear, or
b. Pull a fuse or some other item such that 6th is locked out regardless of OD lockout position.
c. other?
