Towing 22,000 pounds in 124 degree heat

[fly-boy]

These trucks just get better and better!

So I towed my 22k pound trailer home from Marysvale Utah to Los Angeles on Saturday. When we reached the portion of I-15 that runs along the strip in Las Vegas the outside air temp read 116 degrees while traveling 70 mph. My trans temp read 189 and the engine was running 210.

At the top of the northside of the Baker grade I was running about 50 mph. My trans was at 209 and the engine was still at 210. I did downshift several times to keep the engine temps down.

When I reached Baker the outside temp read 124 degrees! Transmission was running 195 degrees and the engine was still at 210 degrees which is where it stayed all the way to Barstow. The outside temp gauge read 123 degrees for over an hour between Baker and Barstow!

It was a comfortable 70 degrees inside the truck the entire time!

To say I am blown away by all the newer trucks capability is an understatement! With well over 30k pounds of load to haul these trucks can flat out get the job done on the worst of towing days.

We contemplated staying over in Vegas rather than push all the way home due to the heat- It was nice to wake up in my bed at home Sunday morning. 🙂

[azwildcat99]

We always have a full freshwater tank when camping during the summer for that very reason.

To the OP, I'm glad your DMax did well. I was climbing the Davis Dam grade coming home through Laughlin 2 weekends ago and my DMax did great as well in the midday (110+) heat, although at half the weight 🙂

[kalynzoo]

Yeah you made it. But a word to the readers of this thread: When traveling the deserts out here in the West always travel with more drinking water than you think you need. If you have a problem you may need water to hold you over for a few hours. Even if you don't have a problem, I've been stuck in traffic on the I-15 while everyone waited for the Med-evac to land after an accident.
Just putting in my 2cents.
Happy Trails.

[2oldman]

22k? I know many who wouldn't do that with anything less than a Class 8. I guess these newer trucks are some serious haulers.

I see your truck is black. That must get too hot to touch in this heat.

[bmanning]

Nice testament to the capability of modern trucks; sounds like your '12 DMax passed a pretty severe test with flying colors, and if you didn't already have complete confidence in it I'm sure you do now!