"MOST" forced induction motors on light duty trucks will have sea level hp to about 10K ft, then they too start to lose HP at the same rate as not forced induction motors. Unless you are at the top of pikes peak, then down 8-12%, you will not notice much difference at elevation in the rockies. I did not notice any difference at sealevel with a 185hp 6.5td from GM at 9500' in yellowstone, as I do here in Seattle. I was at 16K gcwr, and that rig with the manual was rated to 12500! It did better than the 88 K3500 with tbi 454 that had a 14500 gcwr, that was AT 14K gcwr. The turbo on the 6.5 was the big factor in how well we did at elevation. I was pulling the same trailer, had same family of 6, altho my 4 kids were 9 yrs older in 01 than in 92 when we went thru there.
I would worry more about a given trailer pushing me over a cliff per say than pulling up one. Most rigs today have SOOOOOO much more power, cooling etc than 20+ yrs ago, that one should generally speaking, with a turbo diesel not have any issues pulling trailer. Now 19K lbs with a dually 1 ton......I would prefer not. If I could get a DOT class 4 ie 13500-16K gvwr....that would be a different story. I believe the F450 or Dodge 3500 is in this territory, not sure I would do it with my now gone 05 3500 dmax I had the power part, but not the truck chassis part.
marty
