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Old 04-23-2017, 04:17 PM   #1
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Need help in maintaining speed on inclines

We have a 2016 (early) 30DS. While others have spoken of plenty of power while driving up hills, this is not what I am experiencing. I am not towing but still on steep inclines it is not unusual for me to be chugging along at a top speed around 30 to 35 mph. How are all of you able to maintain speed on inclines?
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Old 04-23-2017, 04:42 PM   #2
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More motor with LOTS more torque. The other choice is to reduce weight.
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Old 04-23-2017, 05:55 PM   #3
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5 star running program made a big difference in my E450
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Old 04-23-2017, 10:53 PM   #4
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5 star running program

Not sure what you mean by "5 star running program." I do know the way my FR3 is "running" up hills is definitely not 5 star!
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Old 04-24-2017, 06:38 AM   #5
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They're speaking about a computer tune for the Triton V10 ECU. It comes down to torque when climbing hills. I'm not sure how steep the inclines are, but when we go over some of the steep passes in the Rockies, we'll drop down to 35-40 mph going up them. We don't get too concerned about it and just let the V10 sing. Only other option is to get a diesel, but thats $$$ for a small percentage of time that you actually need that torque.

Got a 1997-2010 V10 6.8L? - 5 Star Tuning
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Old 04-24-2017, 07:58 AM   #6
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Thanks Mike and Kenny!
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Old 04-24-2017, 08:56 AM   #7
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If you are not around 3500 RPM (or higher) step on the gas. The V10 makes a lot of power, but only at higher RPM's.
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Old 04-24-2017, 09:43 AM   #8
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If you are not around 3500 RPM (or higher) step on the gas. The V10 makes a lot of power, but only at higher RPM's.
Yup. Many a times on big hills i'm pushing 4 plus with the engine screaming but make it up no issue. Even towing a car. The V10's dont mind pushing the RPMS
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Old 04-24-2017, 01:47 PM   #9
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Notice a big difference on hills depending on how much gas and water on board. Like to have them close to full when windy.
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Old 04-24-2017, 03:14 PM   #10
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More power

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5 star running program made a big difference in my E450
Not a M/H but my F-150, 5.0 was helped by a 5 Star economy tune for towing.
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Old 04-24-2017, 03:25 PM   #11
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We installed the 5 star Tuner a few weeks ago. Wish I had done it sooner. Not noticed any MPG changes, plus or minus. Just definitely enjoy the smoother shifting when going on overpasses. Hill climbing in Missouri was also a lot smoother.
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Old 04-24-2017, 09:37 PM   #12
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V-10 Power

If you have the 2016 Chassis, then you likely have the "detuned" motor. The quick way to tell is if you have a 6 speed transmission, then your engine puts out 225 hp instead of 265 in the previous models.

This is due to smog regs which did not apply to motorhomes prior to 2016.

Now that you have it, the best way to get up the hills, is to immediately shift into fourth gear on any moderate to steep incline. This will allow the engine to do its work and lock out fifth and sixth gear, which are useless during a hill climb.

The more you get used to it and learn to shift down prior to starting to lose speed you will be more satisfied with the power. The upside to the detuned motor is that it only revs to 42-4400 rpms instead of 5200 rpms on the pre-2016 motors, making it much quieter in the cab.

Happy Trails, Forrest
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Old 04-25-2017, 07:45 AM   #13
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Glad my E450 has 305 HP!
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Old 04-25-2017, 06:44 PM   #14
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We have the gasser V10 in our van @ 300 hp. Towing our 12,000 lb trailer uphill on I 70 passes we go 15 mph and have no concern. If you want to go faster uphill you simply need more horses. Diesel options typically offer more horsepower but we prefer to live with the slower speed of the gasser for the convenience and simplicity.
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Old 04-25-2017, 07:23 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by fbconsults View Post
If you have the 2016 Chassis, then you likely have the "detuned" motor. The quick way to tell is if you have a 6 speed transmission, then your engine puts out 225 hp instead of 265 in the previous models.



This is due to smog regs which did not apply to motorhomes prior to 2016.



Now that you have it, the best way to get up the hills, is to immediately shift into fourth gear on any moderate to steep incline. This will allow the engine to do its work and lock out fifth and sixth gear, which are useless during a hill climb.



The more you get used to it and learn to shift down prior to starting to lose speed you will be more satisfied with the power. The upside to the detuned motor is that it only revs to 42-4400 rpms instead of 5200 rpms on the pre-2016 motors, making it much quieter in the cab.



Happy Trails, Forrest


This is not entirely true. The HP and torque curve were changed to make better use of the 6 speed transmission. While it's true that the horsepower is lower, the torque was increased (which makes a bigger difference in a motorhome). So while the HP is not there, its not because it was "de-tuned", it was to increase the torque curve.
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Old 04-25-2017, 07:43 PM   #16
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I have further proof that the engine is not "de-tuned". Drove 5000 miles last summer with an identical 364TS following me the entire time. Mine being a '16 on a '16 chassis, his being a '16 on a '15 chassis. I would walk away from him on every incline running 3500-4000rpms while he was running close to 5000rpms. It wasn't until after the first day in the mountains that we realized what was going on.
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Old 04-25-2017, 08:21 PM   #17
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My Isata did a 0-60 time tonight of 20 seconds! [emoji1360]
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Old 04-26-2017, 08:34 AM   #18
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The quick way to tell is if you have a 6 speed transmission, then your engine puts out 225 hp instead of 265 in the previous models.
Are these wheel numbers or something? My stats says the motor puts out 320hp...


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Old 04-26-2017, 09:45 AM   #19
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I dunno about the v10 gasser, but I had a custom tune for my 7.3 diesel (Jody at DP tuners did a great job) and it makes a literal "night-and-day" difference in how the big diesel runs. I can shift tunes on the fly and to go from stock to the 80hp "economy" tune (I usually run in that one) feels like a extra bank of cylinders have been turned on.


I highly recommend a tuner. 5-star is the pros at tuning the v-10. You won't be disappointed.

Tim
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Old 04-26-2017, 02:12 PM   #20
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Anybody use this on 2014 v10 with the 5 speed?
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