RPM while towing

ib516 wrote:
................I had a very similar truck a few trucks ago :B.

I often towed with it flat to the floor for minutes at a time. Every time I hit a steep grade in fact. It would rev near redline until we crested. Never hurt a thing. On the flats it ran at right around 3000 RPM.

I was at or slightly over it's tow rating at the time though...........................I had 4.10s, and no, it dropped to 30 mph on the steep climbs, and struggled on the not so steep ones. 245hp/335tq just ain't enough.....

Just a point...... it could have 500ft/lbs of torque, but WOT, that won't help much, it all about horsepower at that point. The torque would make for a more relaxed cruising RPM though for sure though.....

APT wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
Back before we had O/D for EPA requirements, we used to run 3000 rpm on the interstate all day long towing or not with 4.10:1 ratio. 2nd gear was called passing gear and we loved to hear it downshift and roar. Won't hurt a thing.

My parents had a 1982 Ram 2500 van with 318 and 3-spd auto. My dad added a digital tach which ran 2800-3000rpm on the highway. Used lots of fuel but ran forever. The good old days. We are spoiled now not wanting to run 3000rpm on engines with twice the available power!

Took me a long time to get used to the notion that downshifting on hills was normal, even with an empty vehicle. Such is a fact of life with 4+sp trannies.

Hannibal wrote:
Back before we had O/D for EPA requirements, we used to run 3000 rpm on the interstate all day long towing or not with 4.10:1 ratio. 2nd gear was called passing gear and we loved to hear it downshift and roar. Won't hurt a thing.

My parents had a 1982 Ram 2500 van with 318 and 3-spd auto. My dad added a digital tach which ran 2800-3000rpm on the highway. Used lots of fuel but ran forever. The good old days. We are spoiled now not wanting to run 3000rpm on engines with twice the available power!

My folks had a '78 Mini Winni on a Dodge frame with a 360 and a 4.56 rear-end. The engine was the premium truck engine with double roller timing chain and other upgrades over a car 360. They went all the us without a single engine issue. It did not have a tach so I have no idea how fast it turned, but Dad would only run about 55-60 as he was not fuel foolish. He upgraded to a class A in '93.

I think I need to get rid of the dual exhaust! That may make running those RPMs more tollerable. I guess I will have to get used to it. I drove my 73 vw to work today and without a tach, there is no telling how high the rpms were, but I just kept my foot in it without concern. Just what you get used to. I sure do like the truck and hate to think of getting something newer and more complicated.

Thanks for all the replies, everyone stayed on topic and not once did someone tell me to get a different truck or try to convince me that I should have got the cummins.

My 97 Dodge van with the 5.9 and 3.90 gears never had an issue spinning at 3000+ rpm for several hours. I had the 4 speed auto. never even hiccupped! you`ll be fine, that is one of the best (if not THE best gas motor ever built!)

Back before we had O/D for EPA requirements, we used to run 3000 rpm on the interstate all day long towing or not with 4.10:1 ratio. 2nd gear was called passing gear and we loved to hear it downshift and roar. Won't hurt a thing.

OK 99' Dodge 360 gas with unspecified trans. so I will say an auto. with OD and factory gears in rear OK.

First things first. As stated earlier you do have a great engine with that 360 however it is gasoline and they can and will struggle in the hills unless you get a taller gearset which can effect your mileage and cause premature wear to your powertrain as well as your drivetrain. If you are running any big hills on a regular basis then everything is as it should be unless you wish to convert to diesel which will give you the torque required for running heavy through the hills.

Good luck

I know my 99 Dodge with a 360 can run those rpms all day and has. I did change out the rear end and put in 4:10. Made a small difference on hills.

lancekeys wrote:
thanks for the reply, could you hold your speed on the hills? with my stock 3.55 and oversize tires, I struggle on inclines. I hope lower gears will take care of this.

Yes get the gears to increase RPM to 2800 at cruising speed. Worst case you could slow down a bit but the motor is fine.