Ram Goes to Stunning 900 lb-ft of torque

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

The 2016 Ram 3500 breaks the towing record previously held by the old Ram 3500 (at 30,000 pounds) by moving up to 31,210 pounds,more than two tons beyond its closest rival. To get there, Ram went from 12 to 16 hardened bolts on the rear axle ring gear (for all trucks with the 11.8-inch axle), and used stronger materials in the differential case.

LINK

[transferred]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
#2. Did not Cummins bump the torque but not the HP? :h

LINK

IOW, all Cummins did was bump the FT/LBS and NOT the HP. (read the above link)Sorry, but since HP is a timed based formula the truck won't go any faster up the hill despite what some on RV.Net believe. Like I said, do the math.

Since I'm on this rant I will continue about it.

IMHO Cummins is about to the end of the rope with HP on their big 6. Sure, they can take torque to the moon, but with HP that is about as far as they can go. Raising RPM is always a problem with big stroke engines.

Same way with the GM Ally. The 1000 Ally is about to the end of the line. Oh sure, GM can play games with torque limiting and all of that jazz, but that is just smoke and mirrors. The 1000 just can't take much more power without big improvements.

The only one that can really do a lot more with their diesel is Ford. That engine has a lot left in it HP wise. Where DMax and Cummins are pretty much at the end of the line.

Going to be interesting to see if Ford brings HP up in the net few years. I say they will. They have the engine to do it, they have the tranny to do it............There're going to do it!!!!

A lot of what you wrote makes sense but, with regards to the Cummins, I stated available HP at 1,700rpm NOT peak HP. The latter has not changed, but the former has. You are a little confused and need to understand HP and TQ are related, not independent. This is the math; Horsepower = (Torque x RPMs) / 5252

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

#2. Did not Cummins bump the torque but not the HP? :h

LINK

IOW, all Cummins did was bump the FT/LBS and NOT the HP. (read the above link)Sorry, but since HP is a timed based formula the truck won't go any faster up the hill despite what some on RV.Net believe. Like I said, do the math.

Since I'm on this rant I will continue about it.

IMHO Cummins is about to the end of the rope with HP on their big 6. Sure, they can take torque to the moon, but with HP that is about as far as they can go. Raising RPM is always a problem with big stroke engines.

Same way with the GM Ally. The 1000 Ally is about to the end of the line. Oh sure, GM can play games with torque limiting and all of that jazz, but that is just smoke and mirrors. The 1000 just can't take much more power without big improvements.

The only one that can really do a lot more with their diesel is Ford. That engine has a lot left in it HP wise. Where DMax and Cummins are pretty much at the end of the line.

Going to be interesting to see if Ford brings HP up in the net few years. I say they will. They have the engine to do it, they have the tranny to do it............There're going to do it!!!!

[transferred]

blt2ski wrote:
Then where I am at, it is illegals to do over 60 mph with a trailer in tow, and or if you weigh.over 10000 lbs be over you how or gcw! If you are towing at 85, you have a BIG ticket, reckless endangerment, and possibly a trip to local jail house.

At 15000 over and 90 sq ft of frontal are it takes ~135up to go 60 mph. Add an additional 40 or so hp per 1% grade. So 60 on a 5% is a minimum 335hp. If you are at 25k lbs try 175 at 60, US an additional 60 or so per 1%, or almost 500 ponies!. No one for the most part has that hp.

J2087 or what ever spec, to achieve the gcwr, min speed is 35 or 40 on a 5% grade. No where near 60 mph, much less 85 mph! Min speed in Washington is 40 mph. So the 15k+ 35 minimum, is 5 mph under min speed. Not that too many leo's will ticket one if you are in right hand lane. In BC, if under 40, there are signs on the interstate that state, Oliver off freeway, or you will be escorted OFF the freeway. Along with a BIG ticket.
One should be reasonable with expectations on some roads. 60 is not always reasonable.

Marty

Marty, the 85mph figure was referring tho the speed OTHER (non-towing) traffic is doing. The speeds cited are illustrative of the fact being capable of doing higher speeds is a good thing for reasons various. If the speed limit when towing is 55 then doing that speed is preferable to going 30mph (and 30 is preferable to 20 etc etc) unless there is heavy traffic conditions.

Turtle&Peeps- your post I understand and it has several points I don't disagree with but two things I must check you understand from my posts:
1. I know going 55 (or whatever the limit is per state) up Grapevine w/15k likely won't happen but, as stated above, 40mph is safer than 30mph etc. But yes, if traffic is heavy, tucking in behind the semi's is definitely the safest option.
2. Not true re torque as it's directly related to hp. The increased torque does result in higher available hp at the peak torque rpm (and other rpms) and so your truck WILL move a little faster all else being equal.

[jmtandem]

it's good to see the point of that post went well above your head.

Apparently you don't get it and still have lots to learn. Most RVers drive the RV like they would a car; up hills full throttle if needed to hold the speed. Maybe, and it is a big maybe, the RVer will watch the trans temp and engine temp as well as the speedometer. In deference most truckers drive by the tach, like to keep the engine at 1500-1800 rpms and let that result in whatever speed the truck goes at that rpm, load and hill. Most truckers, even climbing, keep about 15-20 percent of the power in reserve just in case. Could they go faster, most likely a few miles an hour but that is not how they drive. Add that to the speed limit in California and there is a reason why trucks go slower and why there are divergent speeds. And when truckers know they are going to be climing from sea level to 7300 feet for most of the next hour as they do on IR 80 eastbound from Sacramento they are careful to watch pressures and temps as well as rpms. Speed is not their major concern. It is not just about how much torque or horsepower an engine has. It is also how we drive.

[gmcsmoke]

jmtandem wrote:

I live in Ca. I see you do too. If you live around LA you will see semi's crawling up the Grapevine. They just don't have enough HP to climb it at 65 MPH like you want them to.

If you live around Sac you will see the same thing on 80 going to Reno. They just crawl up the hills. Some of those mountains would take around 1,500 HP to go 65 MPH up them at 80K.

Not to enter the fray of this important discussion but the speed limit for towing in California is 55 mph. Maybe that is partly why the 18 wheelers are not going 65 up the hills.

it's good to see the point of that post went well above your head.

[jmtandem]

Almost no one tows at 55 in California. I tried it the first year we went south and it was not comfortable feeling like a moving obstacle. Now I do 60 and only get passed by around half the 18 wheelers.

Agreed, but that does not change the law. And even at 60 or 63 mph there is still a speed differential between what is being towed and what virtually every car and motorcyle is doing for their speeds. I tend to believe going too slow is an impediment to the flow of traffic regardless if it is the law or not enough power and too much hill and weight. As cars come up behind they have to pass, change lanes, adjust their speeds that are set on cruise, etc. It might not be all that unsafe when an 18 wheeler is ahead as they are big, easy to see, and most drivers expect them to go slower up hills. But, they still need to be negotiated around by faster flowing traffic. I think RVs are in a little different category as to perception by other motorists. They may not think an RV is going as slow as it is until the last minute. How many RVers use the Hazard lights when pedaling up a hill as fast as they can and still not being able to make the flow of traffic either because it is the law or the hill is too steep to get the speeds up?

Caltrans understands the speed differential issue at least on IR 80 between Reno and Sacramento as there are dedicated lanes for slow trucks. Motorists see trucks in the truck lanes and expect them to be slower than the flow of traffic. No problem, the trucks are in their own slow lane and no impediment to the flow of all the other traffic. And some of the truck climbing lanes are marked with a max speed of 50 mph or so. It is safe and it works. The California legislature further addressed the issue of speed differential
on multilane highways by 18 wheelers and anybody else that tows to be in the most right lane (slow lane) on a multi lane road except when passing or when the next exit is a left lane exit. Speed differential is definately an issue. How safe/unsafe it is, I don't know.

[alboy]

I pushed my speed up to 63 mph with the CHP behind me, no problems yet and stay in frt of the semi,s

[wilber1]

jmtandem wrote:

I live in Ca. I see you do too. If you live around LA you will see semi's crawling up the Grapevine. They just don't have enough HP to climb it at 65 MPH like you want them to.

If you live around Sac you will see the same thing on 80 going to Reno. They just crawl up the hills. Some of those mountains would take around 1,500 HP to go 65 MPH up them at 80K.

Not to enter the fray of this important discussion but the speed limit for towing in California is 55 mph. Maybe that is partly why the 18 wheelers are not going 65 up the hills.

Almost no one tows at 55 in California. I tried it the first year we went south and it was not comfortable feeling like a moving obstacle. Now I do 60 and only get passed by around half the 18 wheelers.

[blt2ski]

Then where I am at, it is illegals to do over 60 mph with a trailer in tow, and or if you weigh.over 10000 lbs be over you how or gcw! If you are towing at 85, you have a BIG ticket, reckless endangerment, and possibly a trip to local jail house.

At 15000 over and 90 sq ft of frontal are it takes ~135up to go 60 mph. Add an additional 40 or so hp per 1% grade. So 60 on a 5% is a minimum 335hp. If you are at 25k lbs try 175 at 60, US an additional 60 or so per 1%, or almost 500 ponies!. No one for the most part has that hp.

J2087 or what ever spec, to achieve the gcwr, min speed is 35 or 40 on a 5% grade. No where near 60 mph, much less 85 mph! Min speed in Washington is 40 mph. So the 15k+ 35 minimum, is 5 mph under min speed. Not that too many leo's will ticket one if you are in right hand lane. In BC, if under 40, there are signs on the interstate that state, Oliver off freeway, or you will be escorted OFF the freeway. Along with a BIG ticket.
One should be reasonable with expectations on some roads. 60 is not always reasonable.

Marty

[jmtandem]

I live in Ca. I see you do too. If you live around LA you will see semi's crawling up the Grapevine. They just don't have enough HP to climb it at 65 MPH like you want them to.

If you live around Sac you will see the same thing on 80 going to Reno. They just crawl up the hills. Some of those mountains would take around 1,500 HP to go 65 MPH up them at 80K.

Not to enter the fray of this important discussion but the speed limit for towing in California is 55 mph. Maybe that is partly why the 18 wheelers are not going 65 up the hills.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

transferred wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
There must be different types of semi's in other parts of the country? :h

The ones out west where I live when they climb a hill or mountain, most of them you can count the lug nuts on the wheels they are going so slow. They must be a REAL hazard according to some on here!!! "B

Either that or the semi's in your area have 1,500 to 2,000 HP to tow those mountains at 60 MPH. :B

No need for the silliness about 1,500 hp to 2,000 hp. Others have agreed that if you can do more than 30mph on an interstate it's safer. It's also simple logic. The 18-wheelers going less than 40mph all have their hazard lights on as it's not a desirable speed and as soon as they can go faster they do. This would be why the newer semi engines are 600bhp and more than 2000 lb/ft, so when companies are able to upgrade they can buy trucks which at 80k they aren't forced to crawl yet return the same mpg as the older trucks.

I believe you missed my point.

I live in Ca. I see you do too. If you live around LA you will see semi's crawling up the Grapevine. They just don't have enough HP to climb it at 65 MPH like you want them to.

If you live around Sac you will see the same thing on 80 going to Reno. They just crawl up the hills. Some of those mountains would take around 1,500 HP to go 65 MPH up them at 80K.

My point is this:
If you are on an interstate with your RV pulling a hill and you don't have a lot of HP you just tuck in behind a semi crawling along at <30MPH and be happy. You are no more of a danger then they are. And there is a LOT of THEY. (At least where I'm at.)

If you are on a two lane road in your RV without a lot of HP you are no more of a danger than the semi in front of you going less than 30 MPH.

A 15K RV with 200 HP has a lot more HP % wise than a semi at 80K and 400 HP.

Your going to have a hard time convincing the trucking industry to supply 1000+ HP engines to semi's because "you" think they are dangerous at -30 MPH on some hills.

PS: ^ the "torque" of the Cummins won't do a thing for make it go up a mountain faster. All it will do is shift less. If anybody want's to argue, just do the math.

[Hannibal]

transferred wrote:

Hannibal wrote:

transferred wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
I've never been on a mountain grade, not even the 55mph Monteagle grade, where "every one else" is doing 65-80mph. There are always OTR trucks, box trucks, other RV's and slower vehicles crawling up the grades. If you're doing 65-80mph in these conditions, you're the hazard.

You are completely missing the point that myself and the other posters can clearly see. That is, if the speed limit is 55mph, then the closer you can drive to 55 the safer. It doesn't matter a jot if some OTR trucks are going 30 creating a dangerous differential, whether you like it or not the fact of the matter is MOST traffic we share the road with is going at least 55 (non-towers often 65-80mph depending on the speed limit).

To hear you talk you'd think people are choosing to drive at 30mph on the interstate. Why do you think big rigs going 30mph uphill on the interstate have their HAZARD LIGHTS flashing? Because their speed is a hazard. Notice their speed returns to 55 and the lights go off once the climb finishes.

KSSS- well said.

I never mentioned 30mph or that people choose to drive that slow. You don't get out much do you?

That's the best you can do after my reasoned response? What a sad little man you are.

LOL! I have better things to do. You obviously don't.

[transferred]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
There must be different types of semi's in other parts of the country? :h

The ones out west where I live when they climb a hill or mountain, most of them you can count the lug nuts on the wheels they are going so slow. They must be a REAL hazard according to some on here!!! "B

Either that or the semi's in your area have 1,500 to 2,000 HP to tow those mountains at 60 MPH. :B

No need for the silliness about 1,500 hp to 2,000 hp. Others have agreed that if you can do more than 30mph on an interstate it's safer. It's also simple logic. The 18-wheelers going less than 40mph all have their hazard lights on as it's not a desirable speed and as soon as they can go faster they do. This would be why the newer semi engines are 600bhp and more than 2000 lb/ft, so when companies are able to upgrade they can buy trucks which at 80k they aren't forced to crawl yet return the same mpg as the older trucks.

[transferred]

Hannibal wrote:

transferred wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
I've never been on a mountain grade, not even the 55mph Monteagle grade, where "every one else" is doing 65-80mph. There are always OTR trucks, box trucks, other RV's and slower vehicles crawling up the grades. If you're doing 65-80mph in these conditions, you're the hazard.

You are completely missing the point that myself and the other posters can clearly see. That is, if the speed limit is 55mph, then the closer you can drive to 55 the safer. It doesn't matter a jot if some OTR trucks are going 30 creating a dangerous differential, whether you like it or not the fact of the matter is MOST traffic we share the road with is going at least 55 (non-towers often 65-80mph depending on the speed limit).

To hear you talk you'd think people are choosing to drive at 30mph on the interstate. Why do you think big rigs going 30mph uphill on the interstate have their HAZARD LIGHTS flashing? Because their speed is a hazard. Notice their speed returns to 55 and the lights go off once the climb finishes.

KSSS- well said.

I never mentioned 30mph or that people choose to drive that slow. You don't get out much do you?

That's the best you can do after my reasoned response? What a sad little man you are.

[Hannibal]

transferred wrote:

Hannibal wrote:
I've never been on a mountain grade, not even the 55mph Monteagle grade, where "every one else" is doing 65-80mph. There are always OTR trucks, box trucks, other RV's and slower vehicles crawling up the grades. If you're doing 65-80mph in these conditions, you're the hazard.

You are completely missing the point that myself and the other posters can clearly see. That is, if the speed limit is 55mph, then the closer you can drive to 55 the safer. It doesn't matter a jot if some OTR trucks are going 30 creating a dangerous differential, whether you like it or not the fact of the matter is MOST traffic we share the road with is going at least 55 (non-towers often 65-80mph depending on the speed limit).

To hear you talk you'd think people are choosing to drive at 30mph on the interstate. Why do you think big rigs going 30mph uphill on the interstate have their HAZARD LIGHTS flashing? Because their speed is a hazard. Notice their speed returns to 55 and the lights go off once the climb finishes.

KSSS- well said.

I never mentioned 30mph or that people choose to drive that slow. You don't get out much do you?