7% Grade

kmwaterboy wrote:
I pull the same grade 3 or 4 times a year in my 04 f-150 with the 5.4 and 3.73 gears.My rpm' s are around 3800 at sixty mph.The truck loves pulling in this range, and sounds good doing it.I have passed many diesel trucks pulling this and the saluda grade. I wave as I go by.And smile a little.

You're not towing very much, I also run that grade quite often while towing sig 5er @ 16,000# and can also maintain 62mph easily...same with I26 from TN into NC, (7%), I64 in WV from Sandstone Falls to Beckley,(7%) only run 62 or so going up, speed limit is 70, I don't WANT to do 70 and there are 3 lanes in both directions...also Black Mountain, easily do 60 mph...

I had a 1999 Chevy 1/2 ton with 5.3 and tow package and was stupid when I went from a 27' TT to a 27' 5th wheel and came back from Myrtle Beach up the Saluda Grade, was in 3rd lane and wondering if I was going to maintain 30 mph to the top of the mountain, KNEW I was hurting that particular truck, (was a 99' and overloaded)....got home, and next business day, got an 01' 2500 8.1/A...(couldn't find a D/A at the time, was like trying to find hens teeth at the time:))

The OP's RPM sounds about right, I would prefer to use a TT or 5er's ACTUAL GVW and not a dry or empty weight, it can really fool you if you don't use the one that makes more sense.....and it's NOT the "empty" or "dry" weight..

rhagfo wrote:

goducks10 wrote:

kmwaterboy wrote:
I pull the same grade 3 or 4 times a year in my 04 f-150 with the 5.4 and 3.73 gears.My rpm' s are around 3800 at sixty mph.The truck loves pulling in this range, and sounds good doing it.I have passed many diesel trucks pulling this and the saluda grade. I wave as I go by.And smile a little.

Look what you're pulling. My CTD engine weighs more than that. No wonder you're passing diesels. They're probably pulling 3-4x what you are.

X2 LOL:R

I know my mid range 5er weighs more than your truck and trailer combined plus at least a couple thousand pounds.

This thread started out as a request about rpm at a certain speed.

I made an early comment about the speed (40 mph)which seemed slow based on the load and engine. I have climbed 7% grades with my daughters 06 Honda Ridgeline 3.5 pulling a 4,600# U-Haul trailer with three adults and two large dogs in the TV. Still managed 45 mph. Yes it was spinning pretty good.

Which reminds me of the "who's holding up traffic on the grades" thread. There are many variables yet for some it comes down to diesel verses gas. I owned a 12v Cummins with auto and 3.55 ratio. It was rated to tow 6500 lbs and struggled with our 4400 lb TT on the grades with only 160 hp. It was pathetic. The same truck with a 360 gas V8 would have easily out towed it in the mountains. I was the one holding up traffic on those trips to the Blue Ridge ripples.

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

goducks10 wrote:

kmwaterboy wrote:
I pull the same grade 3 or 4 times a year in my 04 f-150 with the 5.4 and 3.73 gears.My rpm' s are around 3800 at sixty mph.The truck loves pulling in this range, and sounds good doing it.I have passed many diesel trucks pulling this and the saluda grade. I wave as I go by.And smile a little.

Look what you're pulling. My CTD engine weighs more than that. No wonder you're passing diesels. They're probably pulling 3-4x what you are.

X2 LOL:R

I know my mid range 5er weighs more than your truck and trailer combined plus at least a couple thousand pounds.

This thread started out as a request about rpm at a certain speed.

I made an early comment about the speed (40 mph)which seemed slow based on the load and engine. I have climbed 7% grades with my daughters 06 Honda Ridgeline 3.5 pulling a 4,600# U-Haul trailer with three adults and two large dogs in the TV. Still managed 45 mph. Yes it was spinning pretty good.

kmwaterboy wrote:
I pull the same grade 3 or 4 times a year in my 04 f-150 with the 5.4 and 3.73 gears.My rpm' s are around 3800 at sixty mph.The truck loves pulling in this range, and sounds good doing it.I have passed many diesel trucks pulling this and the saluda grade. I wave as I go by.And smile a little.

Look what you're pulling. My CTD engine weighs more than that. No wonder you're passing diesels. They're probably pulling 3-4x what you are.

I pull the same grade 3 or 4 times a year in my 04 f-150 with the 5.4 and 3.73 gears.My rpm' s are around 3800 at sixty mph.The truck loves pulling in this range, and sounds good doing it.I have passed many diesel trucks pulling this and the saluda grade. I wave as I go by.And smile a little.

transamz9 wrote:

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.

He pulls a grade 200 rpm below peak torque. Can you do that? Maybe 200rpm below peak horsepower at 1200 rpm above peak torque. I cruise on the interstate nearly 2000 rpm below peak torque. Why do you need to run 400 rpm above peak torque? Why do you need to run 2/3 of your rated rpm just to run empty? Can't tow your rated capacity at 1400rpm like real trucks? Nope. Yours has to scream at 2000-2900rpm well above peak torque and often nudging the governor. Putting it into perspective I'd say yours is the one struggling. :B

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.

Not trying to turn it into a gas vs. diesel thread, although we do know what we are talking about! I just stated that a gas and a diesel work hard, but at different rpm`s.

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.

And the number of Uber-slowpokes with last generation diesels is endless. At least it seems like it when I travel.

Nice setup Buck!
I suppose no one told you you can't tow a nice fifth with a half ton!
But seriously, 2171# payload on an F150 just shows that old cliche's don't apply.
I don't suppose you've had any wheels come flying off due to the semi-floating axles either?
J/K of course. What a nice setup......

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.

He pulls a grade 200 rpm below peak torque. Can you do that? Maybe 200rpm below peak horsepower at 1200 rpm above peak torque. I cruise on the interstate nearly 2000 rpm below peak torque. Why do you need to run 400 rpm above peak torque? Why do you need to run 2/3 of your rated rpm just to run empty? Can't tow your rated capacity at 1400rpm like real trucks? Nope. Yours has to scream at 2000-2900rpm well above peak torque and often nudging the governor. Putting it into perspective I'd say yours is the one struggling. :B

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.