Mountain towing - Ram 1500 ecodiesel (3.92 Rear Axle Ratio)

[Sanjeev]

Hi all,

Planning to take my first trip to the smokies in a couple of weeks. My TV is a 2017 Ram 1500 ecodiesel (3.92 Rear Axle Ratio). My trailer is a 2016 Shasta Oasis (4300lbs dry weight, add another 700lbs for cargo + 500lbs fudge factor, net weight is around 5500lbs). And yes, in the truck will be my wife, son + myself, so lets say 400lbs.

This will be my first trip towing in the mountains with a trailer, so looking for tips on do's/don't for a safe trip.

Plz let me know if I am missing information, will be happy to provide.

Thanks for reading and comments/suggestions in advance!

[STANG23L]

Yes these trucks do not have an exhaust brake. But it is not really needed, more of a luxury. What you do get is tow/haul a computer controlled grade shifting which works well. This goes all the way back to the first torque shift ford trans and has been tried and true. It will down shift and raise RPM's to maintain speed descending hills. Of course steeper the grade the more braking you will need to use to offset it.

I've towed the camper through the mountains out west and through the hills of KY & TN. And never once had an issue.

[Bionic_Man]

Eager to hear how the truck does. Despite what all the EcoDiesel/RAM haters on here post, it seems to be a very capable engine.

And, by the way, the real mountains are the Rockies. Not the hills in Smokies, or the hills in the PNW.....

[rexlion]

ScottG wrote:
Do the new ED's have an exhaust brake yet? If not then coming down hills would be my biggest concern. Keep speed down with quick on-off jabs to the brakes so they don't heat up.
Otherwise, have a great trip!

My thought exactly. If it has an exhaust brake, you should shift down to a gear that will help hold you back, and do brief, firm braking as needed. Riding the brake all the way down is a newbie mistake that can cause the brakes to fade and fail, and maybe end in disaster.

[93Cobra2771]

Lynnmor wrote:

ScottG wrote:
Do the new ED's have an exhaust brake yet? If not then coming down hills would be my biggest concern. Keep speed down with quick on-off jabs to the brakes so they don't heat up.
Otherwise, have a great trip!

Brakes are a heat device, no heat equals no braking.

Yes, but he means don't just ride them all way down the mountain...

[Lynnmor]

ScottG wrote:
Do the new ED's have an exhaust brake yet? If not then coming down hills would be my biggest concern. Keep speed down with quick on-off jabs to the brakes so they don't heat up.
Otherwise, have a great trip!

Brakes are a heat device, no heat equals no braking.

[ScottG]

Do the new ED's have an exhaust brake yet? If not then coming down hills would be my biggest concern. Keep speed down with quick on-off jabs to the brakes so they don't heat up.
Otherwise, have a great trip!

[ppine]

Control your speed and RPMs. You will be fine.

[STANG23L]

Set tow haul and try to keep RPM's at or around 2000. It will pull hills with ease with minimal gear changes and give best MPG.

[Kavoom]

Ralph Cramden wrote:

bikendan wrote:
When I saw the title had "Mountain" in it, I thought you were talking about real mountains, not wannabe mountains.:W:B
LOL!

Oooooooooo.....our mountains are bigger than your mountains ROFLMAO............

I did the same living in MT. The Smokies are hills. But even if you came out here you would have NO problem whatsoever.

[Ralph_Cramden]

bikendan wrote:
When I saw the title had "Mountain" in it, I thought you were talking about real mountains, not wannabe mountains.:W:B
LOL!

Oooooooooo.....our mountains are bigger than your mountains ROFLMAO............

[busterbrown73]

You're good. Just make sure your WDH and sway control are set up properly. Have fun up in the Smokies. We just returned from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge last week. Had a blast.

[bikendan]

When I saw the title had "Mountain" in it, I thought you were talking about real mountains, not wannabe mountains.:W:B
LOL!

[98coachman]

You will love it! I have the same truck and it pulls my Arctic Fox so much better than my 2014 Chevy it's not even funny! You will have no problems, my trailer is probably 1000 pounds heavier than yours and it tows it well, and I'm towing in the mountains. Have a great trip and enjoy! Bill