Towing with steep grades
OK, basically looking for opinions here. I have a Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab with the 5.9L Cummins - 2004.5. I pull a 2016 Rockwood 8329SS, which is a 35 foot, 8900 lb TT. I have no real concerns with...
Forum Discussion
When you see that sign on the side of the freeway that says 'trucks use low gear', use it!
So if you have a 4 speed auto, then shift out of overdrive at the top of the hill. If you start the top of the hill at 45 MPH, it will probably coast up to around 55, and then apply the brakes to slow back to 45, then give them time to cool off.
While it is difficult to describe, you do not want to apply the brakes 'hard' or extra firm, but more like light firm application, like when you are getting close to a stop sign, not when a motorcycle pulls out in front of you hard braking.
Also you mention it is a 2004. Have you changed the brake fluid lately? IT should be replaced every 6-7 years, as it absorbs moisture over time, and 'wet' brake fluid can boil at say 355F while new and dry brake fluid will not boil until around 400F.
What does your transmission fluid look and smell like? It should not smell, and should be clear red, not dark brown. It gets dark brown by being heated above 275F on a climb. If it is dark brown, a change right away is in order, along with a new in the pan filter.
When I last changed my motorhome transmission fluid, I removed one of the lines going to the cooler, and put a hose from each side into a 5 gallon bucket. Then started the engine. It will pump out most of the fluid in about 2 minutes. Stop the engine when it stops flowing out freely, and most of the fluid from the torque converter will be in the bucket. (you can never drain it all out). Then taking off the pan, there is 'no' mess, as you will not have 10 quarts of fluid dripping down your arms as you loosen the bolts on one end, to the other.
With the pan off, you can get to the internal filter and a magnet in the pan bottom. Clean all the metal shavings off this magnet, it can collect a teaspoon full of metal in 15,000 miles, fairly normal. Do not let a transmission shop worry you about a small amount of metal in the pan on the magnet.
I put a transmission digital gauge on my 1985 GMC 3500 based motorhome. It ran way to hot, about 235 when going up interstate 15 from LA to Las Vegas. This was on level ground at 95F outside. Hills took the temp up beyond 255F, so I would slow down to keep it somewhat under control.
When I got home, I installed a much larger transmission cooler, and it never got above 200 on flat land, or 225 racing up a mountain. It also helped keep the radiator a little cooler too.
When I bought a new 1997 Ford motorhome, it stayed cool all the time, and never reached above 225 on the mountain grades.
If you need a larger cooler, then check out DeRalle at your local auto parts store or JcWhitney.com
Good luck,
Fred.
So if you have a 4 speed auto, then shift out of overdrive at the top of the hill. If you start the top of the hill at 45 MPH, it will probably coast up to around 55, and then apply the brakes to slow back to 45, then give them time to cool off.
While it is difficult to describe, you do not want to apply the brakes 'hard' or extra firm, but more like light firm application, like when you are getting close to a stop sign, not when a motorcycle pulls out in front of you hard braking.
Also you mention it is a 2004. Have you changed the brake fluid lately? IT should be replaced every 6-7 years, as it absorbs moisture over time, and 'wet' brake fluid can boil at say 355F while new and dry brake fluid will not boil until around 400F.
What does your transmission fluid look and smell like? It should not smell, and should be clear red, not dark brown. It gets dark brown by being heated above 275F on a climb. If it is dark brown, a change right away is in order, along with a new in the pan filter.
When I last changed my motorhome transmission fluid, I removed one of the lines going to the cooler, and put a hose from each side into a 5 gallon bucket. Then started the engine. It will pump out most of the fluid in about 2 minutes. Stop the engine when it stops flowing out freely, and most of the fluid from the torque converter will be in the bucket. (you can never drain it all out). Then taking off the pan, there is 'no' mess, as you will not have 10 quarts of fluid dripping down your arms as you loosen the bolts on one end, to the other.
With the pan off, you can get to the internal filter and a magnet in the pan bottom. Clean all the metal shavings off this magnet, it can collect a teaspoon full of metal in 15,000 miles, fairly normal. Do not let a transmission shop worry you about a small amount of metal in the pan on the magnet.
I put a transmission digital gauge on my 1985 GMC 3500 based motorhome. It ran way to hot, about 235 when going up interstate 15 from LA to Las Vegas. This was on level ground at 95F outside. Hills took the temp up beyond 255F, so I would slow down to keep it somewhat under control.
When I got home, I installed a much larger transmission cooler, and it never got above 200 on flat land, or 225 racing up a mountain. It also helped keep the radiator a little cooler too.
When I bought a new 1997 Ford motorhome, it stayed cool all the time, and never reached above 225 on the mountain grades.
If you need a larger cooler, then check out DeRalle at your local auto parts store or JcWhitney.com
Good luck,
Fred.
