7% Grade

Yes that sounds right. As you drop to 25/30 mph you will be shifting to first gear.
The real fun is when you continue losing speed in low gear ;)
Holding RPM at 3000/3500 is the correct zone for your truck when max climbing.

Thanks All

I see nothing wrong with the rpm's or the speed or what can you do anyway but sit and enjoy view.
chevman

R will always depend on which gear you are using to tow. Sounds like your truck needed second gear for the pull and nothing wrong with that. Put truck in second gear and drive 40mph anywhere when not towing and you should see the same rpm

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

Sounds about right to me. That ole 360 is only pushing around 230 HP. That is over 100 HP less than the current V8s.

I had a 360 in my Ram 1500 back around 1999. Your speed is similar to what I remember pulling my 4000 pound boat up Eisnehower.

3000rpm @ 40mph is 2nd gear. I am not familiar enough with the 5.9L and your trans gearing, but you might be able to run first gear at higher engine speed at 40mph. This is a primary problem of 4-spd trans, the relatively wide gear spacing.

If you want to go faster uphill, I recommend towing in 3rd gear, let the speed drop to about 55mph in 3rd gear and force a downshift to 2nd. Engine will be closer to 4000rpm, but that's where it's power is and you'll be less likely drop down to 40mph.

I had the OD off and it did drop in another gear but i don't know what gear.

More than likely that's the best your truck could do. Did you happen to notice what gear it dropped to?

Getback wrote:
Does 3000 RPM at 40 MPH sound about right ??

Sure, as good as any other RPM or speed? :h