TWhaylen
Colorado
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I am just curious about getting some advice on a couple issues when you are towing a TT. I am trying to make it so I take a little more care of my TV.
My first question is when you are on a hill (up or down) hooked up to your TT and you are parking your TV what is a good order of putting the vehicle into Park so that when you take off again you don't "clunk" the transmission shifting into Drive? In other words I have tried a few combinations of shifting to N then apply the e-brake then into Park but each time I shift from Park to Drive on an incline or downward slope my transmission does a heavy clunk into gear from all the weight of the TV and TT. Maybe this can't be avoided though.
Second, when you are backing your TT up a slope and have to really rev the engine to get it up the hill are you damaging anything like the torque converter?? I have wondered this as my storage place for the TT is on a slope and I really have to nail the gas when I let off the brake in order for my TV and TT to not start rolling down the slope. I am hoping that this really isn't doing much damage to the TV.
I have a 2004 F-150 Supercrew with the 5.4L V8 and 3.73 gears (Auto)
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NGRRFan
Colo. Spgs., CO
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IMHO... If your emergency brake isn't holding the deadweight of the truck and trailer it needs to be adjusted.
That being said, and assuming the e-brake is working fine, I think the clunk you are hearing may be from the gears in the rearend turning to take up any slack that they may have.
As for backing up in reverse, get a transmission temp gauge and watch it. It is possible to harm the tranny, but most times that is from spinning the wheels while not moving, i.e. stuck in snow or high centered.
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adondo
Pasco, Washington
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My method with the Durango on steep off-road hills is to set the parking brake and allow all movement to cease before shifting to park. The keeps the pressure off the parking pawl.
But, I’m thinking that your clunk when it’s put in drive, is more likely U-joints, the axle’s pinion to ring gear lash, and everything else in the drive train taking up the slack. Make sure your engine idle is set correctly, if it’s a bit too high, things are spinning too fast when they engage.
Your reverse gear is typical of automotive automatics… the gear ratio is higher than the first gear ratio. And, yes, the torque converter is going to heat up because it’s absorbing the high engine RPM verses the mostly stalled transmission. Not much you can do there, except let it high idle a couple-three minutes in neutral after you finish backing up to allow the transmission fluid to circulate in the transmission cooling coils.
Also, while backing up, use both feet – gas and brake at the same time. Do NOT let it roll forward and then use engine revs to move backwards again. That will add even more pressure on the torque converter. They can ‘’balloon’’ and fail if over pressured. Let the brake off when the RPM is up so it moves only backwards.
You would/should probably get an underdrive unit installed. That will give you split gearing. You’ll have a lower reverse ratio, and better mountain/hill climbing power because you end up with 8 instead of 4 forward gears.
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TWhaylen
Colorado
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When I set the e-brake and put the transmission in Park the truck does stay still. I am just wondering from what you all are suggesting if I put the e-brake on while in Neutral allowing all movement to settle before shifting to Park, will the TV and TT roll forward or does the e-brake hold steady fairly well with all that weight? I did also try and use the two foot method because I was getting a lot of roll switching from the brake to the gas when I had my first go at backing the TT up the hill. That worked very well.
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cp1971
Martinsville, IN
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When I park I apply the parking brake while the trans is still in gear nd my foot is on the service brake. Then I take my foot off the service brake let the movement settle then put the trans in park. Havent had any problem yet. You have to make sure your parking brake is adjusted pretty tight though.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Set brake before entering park Enter drive before releasing brake
Others have commented on the need to have the brake properly adjusted, this may or may not apply
NOTE: on some vehicles applying regular service brakes first makes E-brake easier to apply,, Others it does not
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
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adondo
Pasco, Washington
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You can tell while you're still in the driver's seat. If it doesn't roll after your foot's off the brakes, then it's holding. 
The problem is... most e-brakes on rear drums hold better forward than reverse. If you're facing downhill, you're probably okay, but uphill? Even if Arnold Schwarzenegger himself bench pressed the e-brake pedal, it'll still keep rolling.
About the only answer there is a MICO hydraulic brake lock. A lot of tow trucks have them. But, they are NOT for parking because if the brake line pressure falls off, away the rig goes! Usually, they're used on rigs with winches to solid lock all wheels while pulling something. You could use one while placing wheel chocks. (The MICO isn't cheap or easy to install either)
Another answer might be to retrofit a driveline brake such as found on older big trucks. It's a brake drum that installs right on the output end of the transmission. They hold good and tight either direction.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Come to a stop. Set the parking brake. Put the transmission in neutral. Release your foot from the regular service brake. The parking brake should now hold the truck in position. If it is holding position with your foot off the brake put the transmission in park. Turn off the motor.
If it is very steep you may want to put some regular wedge chocks under the TT wheels and roll back against them before you set the parking brake in the above.
Full throttle in reverse will not hurt the torque converter. Although it will heat the transmission fluid fairly quickly. If you can get it parked within a minute or so you are fine.
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smkettner
Southern California
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TWhaylen wrote: I am just wondering from what you all are suggesting if I put the e-brake on while in Neutral allowing all movement to settle before shifting to Park, will the TV and TT roll forward or does the e-brake hold steady fairly well with all that weight?
The e-brake must hold all by itself while in neutral or you will still put pressure on the transmission parking pall that clunks when released. This parking pall is not designed to hold your vehicle on an incline even whithout a trailer. If the e-brake does not hold, give it an extra stomp or it needs to be adjusted/repaired.
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TWhaylen
Colorado
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smkettner wrote:
Full throttle in reverse will not hurt the torque converter. Although it will heat the transmission fluid fairly quickly. If you can get it parked within a minute or so you are fine.
Well to get it put in nicely between the other two trailer units that are next to mine it does take a few tries of maneuvering the TT back in. I would say maybe about 5 min. tops.
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