7% Grade

I have had days when my gasser rarely saw less than 3000 rpm.
There should be no diesel comments in this thread, JMHO.
Plenty of other diesel threads to voice opinions.

Mine has never seen 3000RPM. :-)

Hey! I never said anyone had to spin their diesel at 3k rpm, but it does on occasion happen. If anyone can honestly say that their diesel has never seen 3k rpm please let me know. I find it hard to believe any diesel will just loaf along at 2k rpm going up a 7% grade! Unless it were empty!

After going back and rereading it looks as if there is only one person turning this into a gas vs. diesel thread and it's not Hannibal or me!

Enough now back on topic.

Back to the topic. 3000 RPM at 40 MPH would sound about right for 2nd gear, but. I don't think the OP's torque converter locks in second, so his engine RPM would vary some with how much throttle he is using and not be directly related to vehicle speed.

Terryallan wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

Getback wrote:
In July i went up the Green River Gorge on I-26 in North Carolina it's a 7% Grade. Coming from South Carolina. I was doing 3000 RPM at 40 MPH in the right side truck lane. My truck is a 2002 Dodge Ram with a 5.9 Liter, V8, 2WD Magnum Gasser engine . The Camper i was pulling was 3,925 lb.( NADA Guides) 1986 Prowler, 25 ft. Does 3000 RPM at 40 MPH sound about right ??

Just a question, what is the Minimum speed on that section of I26? It is my brief that a TV should be able to carry its max GCVWR at the Minimum interstate speed, should that be a requirement?

What do you do on two lane state highways with hills in the 5% to 7% range, just watch the traffic stack up behind you? Sure hope the trailer weighs closer to 6,000# that would help me understand why only 40.

The MAX speed up is 55, and there is a slow lane for trucks to use, and a sign telling trucks no to use the other 2 lanes. Many folks go up in the slow lane because they are afraid to use their trucks. On the other hand. I have no problems letting it rev.

however 40 at 3000 seems pretty high RPM to me. It must be geared pretty low, or went all the way to first gear. Either way. You got to the top, and that is all that matters.

I've seen "minimum speeds" posted on interstates before, but don't recollect seeing a min speed on I26, along with max speed, (ie, min 45 mph, max 70mph)..

Going UP the mountains on I26 from TN into NC, the speed limit is ONLY 50 mph...never have figured that one out and there are lot's of people, including myself at times, that will run 60, (not towing)....only two lanes, but again, posted speed limit on this part of I26 in TN is only 50 mph, and the TN States really monitor this part of the interstate....going up and coming down, (makes sense going down this very long, 6 to 7% grade...)

I came back and stated i was wrong and that it is a 4 speed, the trans is a 46RE

Bionic Man wrote:

Getback wrote:
Yes, the 5.9 is a 360 with 245HP at 4000 RPM and 335 Torque at 3200 RPM. The Trans. is a 6 speed, OD off its 4 Speeds. All i have read it states that you tow with the Trans. out of OD. It can tow 7,350 lbs. Axle Ratio is 3.55

6 speed transmission? Should be a 4 speed if auto, 5 speed if manual. Dodge didn't go to a 6 speed in a 2500/3500 until 2007. I think the 1500 was even later to get a 6 speed.

That's what I thought. Unless someone else replaced the tranny. My 99 had a 4sp and pulled a heavier trailer @ 3500 rpm up and down hills

Bully? Jeez! And I drive a wimpy gas powered 250. You seem to be somewhat of a braggart. Your insecurity is fun to rattle. You've said yourself that a downshift with the 5.4 scares you. That's not an engine weakness. That's a driver perception problem. How do you drive around town with all that scary shifting going on? Yes diesels are stronger engines that make towing at lower rpm easier. They're not necessarily faster and they carry the potential for $10,000+ repair bills over a drop of water. I've owned six diesels and got over it. The OP asked about 3k rpm with his 5.9 gas engine. That's normal cruising rpm. Up a grade is great! Nobody asked about your little diesel pickup truck. We already know it can't rev that high. But it gets pretty close if it wants to get the job done.

rhagfo wrote:

Getback wrote:
In July i went up the Green River Gorge on I-26 in North Carolina it's a 7% Grade. Coming from South Carolina. I was doing 3000 RPM at 40 MPH in the right side truck lane. My truck is a 2002 Dodge Ram with a 5.9 Liter, V8, 2WD Magnum Gasser engine . The Camper i was pulling was 3,925 lb.( NADA Guides) 1986 Prowler, 25 ft. Does 3000 RPM at 40 MPH sound about right ??

Just a question, what is the Minimum speed on that section of I26? It is my brief that a TV should be able to carry its max GCVWR at the Minimum interstate speed, should that be a requirement?

What do you do on two lane state highways with hills in the 5% to 7% range, just watch the traffic stack up behind you? Sure hope the trailer weighs closer to 6,000# that would help me understand why only 40.

The MAX speed up is 55, and there is a slow lane for trucks to use, and a sign telling trucks no to use the other 2 lanes. Many folks go up in the slow lane because they are afraid to use their trucks. On the other hand. I have no problems letting it rev.

however 40 at 3000 seems pretty high RPM to me. It must be geared pretty low, or went all the way to first gear. Either way. You got to the top, and that is all that matters.

Hannibal wrote:

transamz9 wrote:



I have never had to have my truck hit 3000 rpm to hold my speed and I am well over my GCVWR. There's no need in it . Besides, I don't know if the 2002 5.9 in the OP will turn 4500 rpm.

transamz9 wrote:

I'm not going to do this with you in this thread. There's already a thread for that. You and Dodge guy are trying to turn this into a gas verses diesel thing and that's not what it is. The OP wanted to know if his speed and RPM were about right for his engine. Someone says something about thinking it was slow for the weight the OP posted and makes a comment about in his opinion there should be a minimum speed a truck should be able to tow its load and you guys automatically take offence because the OP has a gas motor. If it were a diesel with the same power you would have never said a thing.

Yet the post by you that I was replying to contradicts yourself. Don't jump in and start it if you don't want it. And then don't accuse others of doing exactly what you alone did.:W

Speed limits on interstate mountain grades are much lower than flat land interstate speed limits. Those who actually travel up the grades know this. Those who don't speculate from their keyboards. It appears you're the one who takes offense anytime someone doesn't dance the diesel jig with you. Because your groaning diesel "can't" turn 3k rpm doesn't mean one that easily can is struggling. So wipe the tears away and get over it.:B

I'll tell you what Hannibal, you are just a bully. I never said anything about a diesel truck verses a gas truck in my post. I was responding to Dodge Guy stating that people have to turn 3000 RPM with a diesel.

I pull loads daily that make these little campers we pull look like grocery haulers and do it in some very tough places. Do it with gas and diesel trucks. (If you would like a list of the trucks I will be more than happy to provide) Do the gas trucks do the work? Yes they do. Do they do it as well as the diesel? NO they do not.

This is not what this thread is about and to the OP I am sorry. Hannibal, we could argue back and forth day in and day out but I do pull with trucks that are the same vintage and same HP rating daily and the diesel wins has down when it comes to handling heavy loads. Gearing has a lot to do with it also. Our F550 with 4.88 gears will not pull with my F350 with 4.10 gears on the interstate. Do they turn over 3000 rpm? Yes they do. When you are grossing close to 38,000 and the power is at or above that rpm they will turn that when needed. Are they screaming? No, not compared to the F350 that I use for a service truck that has a 5.4 that can't hold OD at 75 mph not towing anything. I have proven the gas verses diesel thing to my FIL many times towing the same load with his Chevy 325 hp gas truck and my Dodge 325 hp diesel truck. If you want me to prove it to you then name the place and you can pick the load and the road we travel and I will be more than happy to wipe you tears. The trucks have to be equal hp ratings.:B