TV performance and elevation

[Mr_Biggles]

Do manufacturers take elevation into account when publishing towing performance numbers ? I live in Calgary, elevation 3600 ft. After towing our TT for the last 3 years , I would not want to tow much more than 6000lbs with our 5.0 F150 though the mountains. A forced induction engine might have been a better choice, but even then there's a power degradation. I realize that elevation does not affect frame strength or braking, but it definitely hurts power.

[lbrjet]

I don't have any pilot friends. If I did it wouldn't make a difference anyway in the way my truck performs. For my truck elevation is no big deal. Now hiking at 9K is a different story.

[RADROG]

lbrjet wrote:
I have traveled thousands of miles at 6-10K elevations and have never noticed a degradation. I think it is over hyped. I was really worried about it on my first trip across Colorado several years ago. Didn't notice a thing and haven't worried about it since.

Ask any pilot friends you may know about density altitude and how important it is to them and the performance of the airplane...Es Muy Importante

[marquette]

I have a cabin in Colorado at 8800 ft. For me to go to town I have to climb 200 ft to the top of the hill in about 3/4 mile and then descend down the canyon 4000 ft to town. In both my Suburban or Jeep I see very little difference below 7000 ft. Above 7000 ft performance trails off. Because the speed limit is 45 mph I don't really feel any lack of power. But if I were trying to go I-70 at 65 mph to the top it would be a different story. IMHO it depends how high you tow and at what speed that will make a difference of how a person perceives towing at altitude. Going 45 mph on a 70 mph freeway seems slow. Going 45 mph on a 45 mph road seems ok. Same 9000 ft altitude.

[lbrjet]

Slam me and my little engine that can (just fine) all you want. I can take it. I did see first gear once on our last year trip towards the top of a mountain in Utah when I got stuck behind a semi going 15 MPH. The highest RPM I have seen is 4800 and that was passing someone going up the Davis Dam grade out of Bullhead city.

[Sam_Spade]

N-Trouble wrote:

Ha ha... Fuel injection doesnt magically put oxygen particles back in the atmosphere... Cookoo.

I don't appreciate that "cookoo" added at the end. Throwing around insults isn't nice.

I said MOSTLY; maybe that should have been SOME.

If you have some kind of super/turbo charger, it certainly CAN recover SOME of the lost air density.

[Fordlover]

lbrjet wrote:
I have traveled thousands of miles at 6-10K elevations and have never noticed a degradation. I think it is over hyped. I was really worried about it on my first trip across Colorado several years ago. Didn't notice a thing and haven't worried about it since.

I remember driving up to Keystone to ski in my cousins Isuzu Trooper, and remember him dropping speed when he shifted from 3rd to 4th gear. So we just had to drive with the engine near redline in 3rd gear to get up the road. So, I've experienced it first hand.

[time2roll]

N-Trouble wrote:
Ha ha... Fuel injection doesnt magically put oxygen particles back in the atmosphere... Cookoo.

Far better than an old carburetor.

[Me_Again]

The 5.4 barely moves the truck much less a 8-9k trailer. But pot is legal in Colorado, so maybe he did not notice he was in first gear? Chris

[N-Trouble]

Sam Spade wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:

So what planet is this you tow on where air density gas laws don't apply?? Lol...

I think he lives where a properly designed fuel injection system can compensate for altitude......mostly.

Of course if you are operating on the ragged edge of being under-powered ALL the time there ain't much you can do when you go over that edge, for whatever reason.

Ha ha... Fuel injection doesnt magically put oxygen particles back in the atmosphere... Cookoo.

[N-Trouble]

drittal wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:

lbrjet wrote:
I have traveled thousands of miles at 6-10K elevations and have never noticed a degradation. I think it is over hyped. I was really worried about it on my first trip across Colorado several years ago. Didn't notice a thing and haven't worried about it since.

So what planet is this you tow on where air density gas laws don't apply?? Lol...

He has a turbo diesel. A turbo vehicle and won't notice degadation of power nearly as much as na NA engine will.

He does??? U shure about that?

[TurnThePage]

My 2015 Ram Hemi has so far handled towing around 6000 lbs to around 6000 feet with no noticeable degradation. I'm sure it's there but it's not detectable. The same can't be said for my old '97 4.6, even after being supercharged. No comparison. Guess it's how much available reserve you have going into it.

[Searching_Ut]

Sam Spade wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:

So what planet is this you tow on where air density gas laws don't apply?? Lol...

I think he lives where a properly designed fuel injection system can compensate for altitude......mostly.

Of course if you are operating on the ragged edge of being under-powered ALL the time there ain't much you can do when you go over that edge, for whatever reason.

The fuel injection system can't compensate for the lack of air density. All it can do is ensure the air fuel ratio is ideal, which the old non computer controlled carbureted engines didn't do so you had not only the loss of power due to air density, but the additional issue of the fuel air mix getting out of balance which made the problem even worse. When I was going through my aircraft mechanic schooling we had to learn how to mathematically calculate the performance effects of altitude and temperature on engine output, wing lift, and propeller performance. They're simple laws of physics and thus very consistent and predictable. As far as not being able to feel it....

[lbrjet]

Don't have a diesel. 5.4L gasser. Yes, towing miles and my trailer is 8700 lbs.

[drittal]

N-Trouble wrote:

lbrjet wrote:
I have traveled thousands of miles at 6-10K elevations and have never noticed a degradation. I think it is over hyped. I was really worried about it on my first trip across Colorado several years ago. Didn't notice a thing and haven't worried about it since.

So what planet is this you tow on where air density gas laws don't apply?? Lol...

He has a turbo diesel. A turbo vehicle and won't notice degadation of power nearly as much as na NA engine will.