rear end ratio
OK so I feel I am stressing the truck to much in hilly conditions pulling my 5th wheel camper, seems fine out on open road but needs help near the lakes and camp grounds going up those sometimes large...
Forum Discussion
I don't totally agree here. What if the current gearing won't quit pull a particular hill at 2000 rpm so it downshifts to 3000 rpm? Maybe 2200 rpm in the original gear would be just fine. It depends if it is close to holding the higher gear.
I see what you're saying but here's the deal:
The OP said: "one would think I would loose a lot of mpg but in reality in general wont I be lowering the needed rpm and reducing the extreme rpm needed to go upwards".
This is simple not true.
From the sound of his post he has RPMaphobia; like a lot of people do on this site. :B
In fact, if he changed gears to a shorter gear the engine would stay in the peak power band longer by making shifts sooner than that of a tall gear. IOW's it will be peak power (Higher RPM) for a longer period of time not shorter like he wants.
Remember, gears don't make HP. There is only a few ways to make more HP at a lower RPM which is from the sound of it, what the OP wants.
Diesel or forced induction or big cubic inch is about it. Big cubic inch is out because of fuel economics and smog. That only leaves diesel or forced induction, (ecoBoost).
