Just come back from first LONG trip! couldnt be happier!

[jj141979]

Just come back from a 2 week trip down to Myrtle Beach and from there we went to the the Smokey Mountains National Park! I drove from Western PA down to Myrtle Beach......stayed there for 5 days. I then drove over into the Smokey's in Tennesse for 6 days! I then drove home. I have a 2012 Coachman Catalina Santara 271bhs. 7000lbs gvwr. I had alittle over 6000lbs total. My TV is 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 QCSB Hemi with 4.56 gears. I had 6 of us packed in that truck like sardines. Lol! To say I was pleased with how stable and well the rig towed would be an understatement!! Some of those hills are pretty long and steep, the the truck just kept pulling like a freight train! With those gears I would be going down a 9% grade in 5th gear at 65mph 2300rpm and would hardly have to even touch the brakes! I had to accually give it gas at times just stay at 65mph. Going up the other side I would speed up to 70mph right before the hill and turn my overdrive off. Doing this would lock my torque convertor in 3rd gear at 3700rpm which is 1:1 direct drive ratio. On most of those hills it would only slow down to 55mph! I had 3 hills were I slowed down to 45mph.....but I was still Locked in 3rd gear running at 2500rpm. My tranny never had to unlock and downshift!! Simply amazing if u ask me! So if anyone wants to know how happy I am with my 10 year old 1/2 ton Hemi with 4.56 gears towing more than 6000lbs with 6 people in the truck.......as u can tell I am a very happy camper!!

[Hannibal]

Speaking from experience with the Hemi in front of both 3.73 and 4.56 gears, the Hemi is no slouch by any means! Glad you enjoyed your trip!

[nremtp143]

Glad you had a good time!

[jj141979]

I forgot to mention I put a total of 1979 miles on that trip and averaged 9.3 mpg! I think that's pretty good. Not diesel good, but damn good for a gas up and down those hills!

[bmanning]

A well-geared gasser can be a joy to tow with...

[C_Schomer]

I'm with you... those low gears are for real man trucks!