2011 Ford E 450 V10 Chassis with a bus body on it. Purchased new in March 2011. Since day one this truck has shifted hard. (Revs high, etc) Almost seems like its always in Tow/Haul only worse. At highway speeds it also Revs high. Max speed is about 70, not because it wont go faster but because its turning 3500R or more. Feels like your beating the hell out of it. It actually does shift smoother if you use heavy throttle and beat it some. I thought in the beginning it would get better as the TCM leaned more options. Well it never did. I was resigned to the fact that it just wasnt very refined.

Fast forward to March this year. Purchased a new 2013 w same specs. Well its a totally different experience. Shifts smooth as butter, Cruises 75 loaded at 2500R and gets at least 1 MPG more than the 2011. I did consider that the 2011 could have a different final drive ratio....That still wouldnt explain why it shifts so hard though. Any ideas...Im thinking Reflash TCM?

 

It's only my opinion, but I believe you are on the right track with a reflash of the PCM.
Have you had a Ford dealership check it out? They should have all the info for that type problem if a reflash is necessary.

 

Yea has never been to dealer.....Im an employee....LOL. The owner is EXTREMELY un inclined Mechanically. The drivers have complained for two and a half years that...Gee, Its not ours, but Man, That doesnt seem right for a brand new truck to shift like that. Im more familiar with GM chassis, So I just kind of wrote it off that maybe it was "Normal"...the code dealers use for anything they cant explain. However after driving the new one yesterday, I immediately went....TCM....and this is definitely NOT NORMAL....Should still be under warranty so have to get it checked.

 

Hang in there !
The right tech will get in there and straighten it out.