Ram 2500 with 6.4 Hemi
I've ben keeping up on the posts and researching the new 6.4. I just sold my Lance camper and will keep my 21' Toy hauler. My 03 DRW with the Cummins pulls it well, but it's really more than I need a...
Forum Discussion
jus2shy wrote:ib516 wrote:
I've had a very different experience with my 6.4L Hemi.
It has climbed every grade I point it at, and not at 35 mph, and I tow just under 12k lbs.
New member, 3 posts, all talking about poor performance of the 6.4L Hemi? Seems a bit weird. :?
I think the issue is with the poster's location. Colorado. More than a mile above sea level. So he/she is taking a performance hit when towing with the 6.4. Now if it was any turbo-charged motor, that wouldn't be much of an issue.
Just2shy saved me a lot of typing! :B
Here's the deal. Towing in flat terrain does not take much HP. Towing a lot of weight in the hills takes a lot of HP. Towing a lot of weight in the hills at high altitude just kicks a naturally aspirated in the balls.
To give you an idea of how much power it takes away; at the Eisenhower tunnel a 400 HP N/A engine will be down to less than 275 HP at the most. :E At the most means just that. That is the most HP this engine can achieve at this altitude............it could be a lot less!
If you are going to be around 0 to 3 thousand feet most of the time the Hemi has a lot of HP and will serve you well. If you are at high altitude most of the time a supercharge engine (whether gas or diesel) will serve you better.
The altitude is what just kills these engines power wise.
In any event good luck with your truck whatever you decide to do. :)
