What does your truck do on steep inclines?

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by Kenny kustom

But at least the dirty max won't stretch the timing chain, while heading up the mountain.


2016 Sabre 36QBOK
2015 Ram 3500 CUMMINS

Time to give the old timing chain post a rest. I guess I could say something about the injector issues of past Dmaxes, but you'd just point out that the injector issue is no longer a problem while ignoring the fact that the EB timing chain issue is also no longer an issue.

[fanrgs]

Be interesting to hear some towing experiences with the new Nissan Titan XD with the 5L Cummins V8 turbo diesel. It has 100 less lb-ft of torque than the "low-torque" 6.7L Cummins, but the truck weighs only 100 lbs. less than a Ram 2500 crew cab diesel. So I'm not sure what advantages it will provide.

[mjbenedict]

Diesels, noisy?
Guess too many have had that late night experience in the state park campground where the neighbor's diesel HAD to idle for ½ hour.

[MCTroy]

I bet your hubby has already thought about this but we ran into a similar situation when we had a suburban. Going through WV mountains we had it floored and dropped to just 37 MPH! Turns out the fuel pump gave up. We were losing fuel pressure big time! Replaced the fuel pump and a couple years later replaced the truck. Look for a lightly used 3/4 ton. We love our Ram but stayed with a gas engine.

[B and B]

Originally Posted by MilCop4523

have you noticed the fuel mileage decrease in the past few years on the truck in general?
i have a buddy that is a professional hauler that was watching his drop like a rock and stopped at a service rest area and was talking with an 18 wheel hauler and was told to power wash his rad and transmission cooler annually. and be prepared to watch his mileage increase like a balloon...
so he tried just that.

Apparently the fan pulls dust through where the fan is situated but the sides get clogged with dust and reduce cooling and cause mileage to suffer...

That makes a lot of sense. In my business we used to pressure wash HVAC units for the same thing used soft water to prevent lime scale buildup. My F 250 pull a lot air in the big front grill while towing.

Cooler engine, cooler trans and less fuel worth a try for sure.

[Too Tall]

A 6 % grade at altitude will humble just about anything. This is why Diesel turbocharged has such an advantage.

[The Big Toe]

Originally Posted by ApexBunk

Hey all!

We pulled our 35' Apex 300bhs, 5900 lbs through the mountains 2 weeks ago and were surprised at the amount of power the truck lacked on the steeper passes. We watched our temp climb as we went up a 6% grade, and the 7% grade later was just pitiful. We have a 2005 5.7 Silverado Z71 4x4 with the tow package. The truck was floored and losing speed.
Is this normal? Husband is now on a truck shopping binge, but I think many may experience this, just not sure. We stayed in the right lane and just kept it floored. We made it, though our alternator decided it was time to go. (That's another story).

What do you drive? What does your trailer weigh? What are your experiences? What are your thoughts on this?

P.S. The truck has 4:10 gears.

I'm not aware of a 5.7L being available in that truck for that year.

But......

There's a lot of things I'm not aware of

[leefl]

Originally Posted by DocGTO

Without a doubt, it is a great motor. Ford needs to do a V8 ecoboost!!! LOL

Too right, and I actually heard from a Ford mechanic that such a thing might be coming for the 2018's.

I don't know how well informed he really is, and he didn't mention specifically whether a V6 or V8, but he indicated that a 4.2L ecoboost is in the works.

Considering that the 3.5L V6 ecoboost has similar hp and torque to the 6.2L V8 (albeit with a very different torque curve), I'd love to see a larger ecoboost in the F250/350.
A 4.2L-5.0L twin turbo in the F250/F350 with per-cc efficiency similar to the current ecoboost would be a force to be reckoned with.
It's obviously not happening in the 2017's since Force has already announced the (largely unchanged) engine line-up, but I'd love to see that in the 2018's

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by ApexBunk

Hey all!

We pulled our 35' Apex 300bhs, 5900 lbs through the mountains 2 weeks ago and were surprised at the amount of power the truck lacked on the steeper passes. We watched our temp climb as we went up a 6% grade, and the 7% grade later was just pitiful. We have a 2005 5.7 Silverado Z71 4x4 with the tow package. The truck was floored and losing speed.
Is this normal? Husband is now on a truck shopping binge, but I think many may experience this, just not sure. We stayed in the right lane and just kept it floored. We made it, though our alternator decided it was time to go. (That's another story).

What do you drive? What does your trailer weigh? What are your experiences? What are your thoughts on this?

P.S. The truck has 4:10 gears.

IMO, keeping it floored on a 6% grade is the last thing you want to do. Pushing your equipment to the limit like that is going to break something. Better to back off and ease up the mountain at the truck's pace.

[Riccochet]

Elevation and the thin air are not conducive to producing power with a naturally aspirated engine. Any motor with forced induction, turbo or supercharger, is going to fare much better in those situations.

So, either diesel or a F/I gasser like the Ecoboost. Even the bigger 6.4 Hemi is going to struggle. The engine needs air. If it's not being forced in it's not going to get it.

[CWSWine]

I think this guy had a bad hill day...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyXgMal3C1U

[jlgail4309]

I pass a lot of gassers in the mountain passes. If you plan on a lot of trips to the mountains. Might look into a diesel. If not just ease up on the truck a little. Let it down shift to a lower gear and slow down. I have passed trucks must have been running 25 but they get to the camp site. Relax and enjoy the view. You could buy a lower gear for the rear end.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by tragusa3

Maybe so, but he's a good guy that sounds genuine. I typed that for dramatic effect mostly...

I think there are lots of diesel owners with their nose in the air. When, in fact, they are not having the dramatically different experience that some think they are.

Sure, a half ton would be a dog with those weights and couldn't do it without breakdowns. But that's not what the OP is doing, and therefore the suggestions to 'go diesel or go home'. Sound like an 'Ego-boost' to me.

I stated my perspective from the experiences I've had. In the end, comparing to anything else is not important. If we are satisfied with what we're doing, then fine.

Hooray, I agree 100%. They can crow all they want, I do as I please...(As long as TOWTA says I can) and tow with what I already had and don't have to make payments.

[DocGTO]

Originally Posted by fanrgs

Be interesting to hear some towing experiences with the new Nissan Titan XD with the 5L Cummins V8 turbo diesel. It has 100 less lb-ft of torque than the "low-torque" 6.7L Cummins, but the truck weighs only 100 lbs. less than a Ram 2500 crew cab diesel. So I'm not sure what advantages it will provide.

I looked at one the other day. Sticker was almost $60K.....

I just got my new 16 GMC 3500 Denali fir $58,5K. WAY more truck.

[DocGTO]

Originally Posted by tragusa3

Belaboring this point is going to look like it DOES matter (too much) to me. But I'd like to hear someone else's take on this logic.

Duramax 397hp and 765 torque
Ecoboost 365hp and 420 torque

Duramax pulling 12,500 and Ecoboost pulling 7500.

If my math is correct, the Ecoboost is pulling 60% of the weight with 55% of the torque and 92% of the horsepower.

In addition, it looks like his truck is roughly 1500 pounds heavier.

Is it that silly to expect these two towing experiences to be similar?

I can tell you this, the Guramax is way under quoted for the power numbers. it makes almost 400 rwhp which equates to 474 crank bhp. In its current power levels (397/765), it still be at the new Ford 440/860 and Dodge 385/900 up the Ike Gauntlet again.


I know my current 2014 D max that is deleted and tuned makes about 600/1024 crank power so we really don't experience any issues, ever. LOL . Heavy tow tune is about 540/900. It will get the job done. ;-)

I tow 12K and get 12.5 on the flats and 11.2 in the lowly hilly stuff in north Florida and Georgia. This is with the cruise set at 70-72. I do not run ST tires so not fear of blowing them up.

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by DocGTO

I looked at one the other day. Sticker was almost $60K.....

I just got my new 16 GMC 3500 Denali fir $58,5K. WAY more truck.

A the Nissan Titan XD Diesel with goose neck adapter in the bed had a 1490 payload at our local dealership. The sales guy said it tow 99% of the 5ers on the market today - you know because it has diesel engine.

[leefl]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

A the Nissan Titan XD Diesel with goose neck adapter in the bed had a 1490 payload at our local dealership. The sales guy said it tow 99% of the 5ers on the market today - you know because it has diesel engine.

Haha, our "ultralite" 5er pin weight is over 1490 lbs

[jheacox1]

Originally Posted by leefl

Haha, our "ultralite" 5er pin weight is over 1490 lbs

Right on brother. 1500 pin and all loaded to travel I'm right at max payload of 2700. My sticker says 2761 payload. It's a 2015 F250 6.2 gasser and I have never had any issues even up the 6% grades into Wheeling, WV. Pulled it going 50-55. Engine at 4500 rpms the whole time. Gas mileage was around 2.7. LOL Would a diesel be nice. Heck yeah. But I just couldn't afford the payments on a 350 diesel.


2015 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8281WS
2015 F250 Crew Cab

[Stovebolt]

You are correct about thin air. Just think back to the older aircraft, many were supercharged or turbocharged in order to accept thin air.

[leefl]

Originally Posted by jheacox1

I have never had any issues even up the 6% grades into Wheeling, WV. Pulled it going 50-55. Engine at 4500 rpms the whole time. Gas mileage was around 2.7. LOL

Wow, guess I'll have to fill the tank before driving any of the longer climbs on our summer trip!
And be prepared for a slow climb