So I am entertained by the Ike tests. I don't put a lot of value in them, and if I ever go to buy a new(er) truck, they would not change my opinion, but I do find it entertaining. If you were to drive your rig over such a pass, how would you do it? I wouldn't think that most people would just hold it on the floor like they do in the tests. Do you just find a gear and speed that you and the rig likes and just hold it there? Push your rig and hold it on the floor, or some other combination? I know for some guys here they will be limited only by the speed limit, so this really doesn't apply there, but if it does let me know.

"If you were to drive your rig over such a pass, how would you do it?"As a wonderful one time adventure!

Depends if a manual transmission or automatic. But, for sure I would try to get it into the gear that best works. Not just making the truck's transmission computer decide. As with you, I don't put much stock in the tests but the fuel mileage numbers are sobering, often less than three miles per gallon.

I just did the Ike 3 weeks ago pulling about 15k up it. The truck (2015 Ram 3500 dually w/ Aisin 3.73s) dropped itself into third and I held it about 55 at around 2500rpm. I could have went 70 but I didn't see the point and didn't want to get that close to the rev limiter.

Downshift to 5th just as the grade starts. Watch my egts and boost to know when to shift accordingly. Depends on load and weight. I don't understand why trucks don't have egt gauges from the factory.

I wouldn't think that most people would just hold it on the floor like they do in the tests. With a turbo diesel with 200HP and 425FT/TQ that's how I did it. Even then I was down to 28 MPH with smoke pouring out of the exhaust. Is there any other way to do it with that kind of HP and TQ?

ike gauntlet - how would you do it? | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

time2roll
Nomad
Jun 24, 2017
Drove a U-Haul truck over Ike two years ago. Foot flat on the floor was my cruise control. The old V-10 would hold about 45 and we were loaded pretty good.

Truck and trailer has been over twice. I set the cruise control to hold RPM at about 3500 and let it roll. Certain amount of low gear work hanging with the truckers at 30 mph. Definitely try to avoid shifting as much as possible. Not near the power of those monster diesels in the Ike videos but I held my own with traffic just fine. Not the steepest grade I have been on but the air sure gets thin.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Jun 24, 2017
I wouldn't think that most people would just hold it on the floor like they do in the tests.

With a turbo diesel with 200HP and 425FT/TQ that's how I did it. Even then I was down to 28 MPH with smoke pouring out of the exhaust.

Is there any other way to do it with that kind of HP and TQ?
Redwoodcamper
Explorer
Jun 24, 2017
Downshift to 5th just as the grade starts. Watch my egts and boost to know when to shift accordingly. Depends on load and weight. I don't understand why trucks don't have egt gauges from the factory.
Rangerman40
Explorer
Jun 24, 2017
I just did the Ike 3 weeks ago pulling about 15k up it. The truck (2015 Ram 3500 dually w/ Aisin 3.73s) dropped itself into third and I held it about 55 at around 2500rpm. I could have went 70 but I didn't see the point and didn't want to get that close to the rev limiter.
jmtandem
Explorer II
Jun 24, 2017
Depends if a manual transmission or automatic. But, for sure I would try to get it into the gear that best works. Not just making the truck's transmission computer decide. As with you, I don't put much stock in the tests but the fuel mileage numbers are sobering, often less than three miles per gallon.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Jun 24, 2017
"If you were to drive your rig over such a pass, how would you do it?"

As a wonderful one time adventure!

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ike gauntlet - how would you do it?

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