Just towed my TT with new diesel

[Wxguru]

Holy hell......I can't stop the grinning. First time I have pulled our 7500lb TT with our 2012 Ram CC 4x4 with the 6.7L engine. Up grades of as much as 8% and I was able to effortlessly hold 60-65mph...and then the exhaust brake on the same grades....I was able to go down those grades...granted with only 7500lbs and never touch the actual brake! I don't know how the truck determines how much to kick in on the brake, but a time or two it downshifted and the exhaust brake really ramped up and was actually slowing us down the grade without touching the foot brake. I had to actually feather the throttle to keep my speed up a bit so we didn't hinder traffic behind us.
I know alot of you guys have had this for a bit...but I am a diesel virgin....lol
A thing of beauty...just had to share....the stupid grin is here to stay I think! 🙂

[mr__ed]

I bought my first diesel (Cummins 6.7) in 2007 and I'm quite pleased how it handles my fiver (est 12k lbs). It's has a manual tranny and I have to remind myself to downshift on hills when the RPM's begin to drop off since it pulls so strongly.

[Colorado71]

I wish everyone would overkill with a TURBO diesel here in the high altitude mountains.

It would avoid the huge pile up of traffic and "iffy" passes faster moving traffic make, so they don't get held up for hours.

My 03' HO Cummins will keep up with traffic climbing from Denver to the mountains, but my bumper pull trailer is only ~ 5K fully loaded. I sure can feel it back there.

I live in the mountains now, so I don't have to do the pull from Denver, but it's sure nice to have a truck that's not down 30-40% on power.

[rhagfo]

xaugievike wrote:
hard to explain to someone who's never had the diesel experience what the difference is. I couldnt believe the first time i towed. Congrats and enjoy......and wipe that smirk off your face 😉

You really can't do that there is no way to get the point across, until they sit in the drivers seat, with a load in tow! :B

[xaugievike]

hard to explain to someone who's never had the diesel experience what the difference is. I couldnt believe the first time i towed. Congrats and enjoy......and wipe that smirk off your face 😉

[thomasmnile]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Never been there, just thought it might have some hills.

Not to drift the topic, I have a brother who lives in Pea Ridge. On a visit last year, my SIL took us to Eureka Springs on Hwy 62 and some other roads. Yeah, they are "hills" by Western standards, but the roads through them are tight with little or no shoulders, lots of hairpins, steep beyond 6% in spots, and a number of spots where if you miss the curve you're going flying........literally. Easily negotiated in a Nissan Murano, but if I were to take my truck and trailer there.........:E Yes, you may call me chicken! 😉

[Cummins12V98]

elliott-Maine wrote:
I used to tow 10,000 lbs with my 01 Dodge Cummins, and it did fine. When I put my TT behind it, I passed other campers going up hill, and had to use cruise to keep my speed down. Now have ordered a 16k pound fiver and a Ram 3500 dually with the high output Cummins and can't wait to try it.. May be overkill, but who knows what may be in the future.

You will love the stability and power!

[elliott-Maine]

I used to tow 10,000 lbs with my 01 Dodge Cummins, and it did fine. When I put my TT behind it, I passed other campers going up hill, and had to use cruise to keep my speed down. Now have ordered a 16k pound fiver and a Ram 3500 dually with the high output Cummins and can't wait to try it.. May be overkill, but who knows what may be in the future.

[Hannibal]

Meh. Once the novelty wears off, it's just noise. Just kidding. Enjoy your new truck! :B

[bigbullelk]

rhagfo wrote:

Helmsey wrote:

Wxguru wrote:
Holy hell......I can't stop the grinning. First time I have pulled our 7500lb TT with our 2012 Ram CC 4x4 with the 6.7L engine. Up grades of as much as 8% and I was able to effortlessly hold 60-65mph.....

Welcome to the diesel tow club 🙂
It took me a week or two for the grin to go away the first time I towed with my diesel. Funny thing is, it comes back about every time I hook up and go!

Yes we have gained another convert! That is usually all it takes is one tow!

Bingo! Congrats to you on your new diesel. Have fun and enjoy the tow.

[rhagfo]

certified106 wrote:
Welcome to owning a Cummins!!! I smile every time I hook the camper up..... I have had person after person tell me that all I need is a nice half ton truck and I am overkilling it...... I just smile and say probably and then grin ear to ear as the cruise is set on an 8% grade and it never shifts out of overdrive!

GVW of 7,500#, are you constantly checking the mirrors to see if it still there???

On the flat or small hills I need to check to see if my 11,K 5er is still back there, I set the cruse to keep from going too fast, I do know it is back there when I get to the serious hill, but I still maintain speed the Cummins just needs to work a little harder. I am a bit over the tow rating for the 3.55 gears, but I just haven't told the engine that!!

[Cummins12V98]

thomasmnile wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
8% in Arkansas?????

On some of the back roads in the northern part of the state going through the Ozarks, entirely possible. Driven it without a trailer in tow. The "WHOA" part of the equation is way more critical than the "go", because there are a lot of hairpins in them thar hills........:B

Never been there, just thought it might have some hills.

[certified106]

Welcome to owning a Cummins!!! I smile every time I hook the camper up..... I have had person after person tell me that all I need is a nice half ton truck and I am overkilling it...... I just smile and say probably and then grin ear to ear as the cruise is set on an 8% grade and it never shifts out of overdrive!

[funnthestix]

I'm hooked! just purchased a new to me 2001 F250 w/7.3 diesel with only 26,xxx original miles the truck looks very close to new. Now I have the grin the OP was speaking of.

[thomasmnile]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
8% in Arkansas?????

On some of the back roads in the northern part of the state going through the Ozarks, entirely possible. Driven it without a trailer in tow. The "WHOA" part of the equation is way more critical than the "go", because there are a lot of hairpins in them thar hills........:B