Hey folks. I'm helping a buddy of mine move his trailer from Edmonton to Vancouver. It should be roughly a 12-14 hour drive depending on traffic and route taken. The trailer is approx 38 ft long and weights roughly 10,000 loaded just to give specifics. The thing I'm a little iffy on is his tow vehicle. It's a 2015 Ram 2500 Cummins 4x4 with a 6-speed manual transmission (my buddy injured his leg, hence me giving him a hand). Don't get me wrong, the trailer doesn't exceed any ratings, even with the two of us and our gear we should be fine. It's just that I've towed and I've driven manuals, but I've never towed with a manual. Are there any tips or tricks one has to know? Does anybody have any experience towing with a manual transmission? I'd just like to get an idea what I'm in for. All help is appreciated.

That's a pretty good truck to tow anything with. The only thing I don't like about that combo is towing through rush hour stop-and-go traffic! 1st gear is too low to keep up with creeping traffic, then cars take the gap as a cue to cut you off, and 2nd is too tall to stay off the clutch.My only other tip is long downgrades.... Go down in the same gear you came up, and use the exhaust brake feature. You shouldn't even need your service brakes unless you come up slower traffic or approach sharp curves.

I really don't know what your concerns are?I towed with my FIL's 02 Cummins 6 speed. 5er was about the same weight but shorter. Not my cup of tea. The thing was underpowered and it felt like I was rowing to the campground. I was always shifting. Anyway, the new truck has a ton more power so you should be fine. Just drop gears on the upside and downside and keep the EB on.It will tow just fine.

:hDo it every time I hook up the 5er!never been an issue for me, 1st is usually not too low for stop & go traffic, not that hard to go between 1st and 2nd anyway. We usually get stuck in some S&G traffic every trip to the Oregon coast through the small coastal towns. Watch your revs, don't lug the engine and you should be fine.Use the Exhaust brake and gears on the down hill side of hills, you really should not need to use your service brakes except, if traffic slows suddenly or the grade is steep.One other thing, with a diesel, you don't need to slip the clutch, don't "dump it", but you don't need to rev before releasing quickly. Drive the truck through town a while to get use to the feeling.

The only thing you should concern yourself with is keeping the motor in its RPM range. Thats what that big lever in the middle is for. If the truck is a 6.7L Cummins that means power comes on at about 1700 RPM and peaks around 3000 RPM. So, basically dont lug it and dont let it scream.

You'll be going over the Rockies, my concerns would be keeping it in the right gear for engine braking down hill and being careful where you start up...re; steep inclines. But having 6 speeds, lots of low end torque and a low first gear, I would think you'll be fine.

Towing with a Manual | Good Sam Community

rjstractor
Nomad
Aug 17, 2016
rhagfo wrote:
One other thing, with a diesel, you don't need to slip the clutch, don't "dump it", but you don't need to rev before releasing quickly. Drive the truck through town a while to get use to the feeling.

This is spot on. You mentioned that you have never towed heavy with a manual. A key difference between your friend's truck and, say my VW Passat, is that the truck launches with zero throttle. You choose the appropriate gear (usually the lowest with that trailer) and smoothly let the clutch out to take off, gently rolling on the throttle as the clutch becomes fully engaged. It seems counterintuitive to drive this way, but it works even when launching on a hill.
Lessmore
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2016
You'll be going over the Rockies, my concerns would be keeping it in the right gear for engine braking down hill and being careful where you start up...re; steep inclines. But having 6 speeds, lots of low end torque and a low first gear, I would think you'll be fine.
donn0128
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2016
The only thing you should concern yourself with is keeping the motor in its RPM range. Thats what that big lever in the middle is for. If the truck is a 6.7L Cummins that means power comes on at about 1700 RPM and peaks around 3000 RPM. So, basically dont lug it and dont let it scream.
rhagfo
Explorer III
Aug 17, 2016
:h

Do it every time I hook up the 5er!
never been an issue for me, 1st is usually not too low for stop & go traffic, not that hard to go between 1st and 2nd anyway. We usually get stuck in some S&G traffic every trip to the Oregon coast through the small coastal towns. Watch your revs, don't lug the engine and you should be fine.
Use the Exhaust brake and gears on the down hill side of hills, you really should not need to use your service brakes except, if traffic slows suddenly or the grade is steep.

One other thing, with a diesel, you don't need to slip the clutch, don't "dump it", but you don't need to rev before releasing quickly. Drive the truck through town a while to get use to the feeling.
Turtle_n_Peeps
Explorer
Aug 17, 2016
I really don't know what your concerns are?

I towed with my FIL's 02 Cummins 6 speed. 5er was about the same weight but shorter. Not my cup of tea. The thing was underpowered and it felt like I was rowing to the campground. I was always shifting.

Anyway, the new truck has a ton more power so you should be fine. Just drop gears on the upside and downside and keep the EB on.

It will tow just fine.
carringb
Explorer
Aug 17, 2016
That's a pretty good truck to tow anything with. The only thing I don't like about that combo is towing through rush hour stop-and-go traffic! 1st gear is too low to keep up with creeping traffic, then cars take the gap as a cue to cut you off, and 2nd is too tall to stay off the clutch.

My only other tip is long downgrades.... Go down in the same gear you came up, and use the exhaust brake feature. You shouldn't even need your service brakes unless you come up slower traffic or approach sharp curves.

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