What is your speed uphill?

[speediq99]

We are new to the 5th wheel world.

My 32ft MH f450 was very slow going up hills (6%). It will keep 45mph.

Our 2021 F150 32ft TT combo could do 65mph on the same hills with ease.

I don't want to win any races but I hated the motorhome going up hill and loved the F150 with the TT.

We now have a 2022 Ram 3500 4.1 gears Diesel LB and are buying a 44ft 5th wheel (14,000 dry).

Most videos I have seen (2019) have people flooring the RAM and getting to 45mph on 6% hills towing 28K lbs. What can I expect towing 16k? Does the RAM have enough power to keep up good speed going up hill? If so, what are you towing and what is your tow vehicle?

It looks like newer F350 and F450 can get up to 70mph up hills better than RAM 3500 but the stuff I have been watching could be biased. What is your experience?

Thanks

MC

[FishOnOne]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Good transmission??? Too funny as the true MD AISIN doesn’t break. No the straight six does not need more gears.

Yeah too funny is correct... Isn't this a picture of your tiny transmission?

[Cummins12V98]

Good transmission??? Too funny as the true MD AISIN doesn’t break. No the straight six does not need more gears.

[FishOnOne]

Grit dog wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:
And BTW I'm part owner of two Dodge Ram trucks with ..... a sorry transmission to back it up.

That doesn't narrow it done much, lol. I'm full owner of a Ram and a bunch of Dodge trucks in the past and speaking of calling a spade a spade, I could go on a Clark Griswold, got screwed out of my Xmas bonus tirade about most Dodge/Ram transmissions!

47/48RE, are ok and are simple and can be built VERY strong. But they were obsolete by the turn of the century, yet Dodge continued to use them for another half dozen years...
68RFE, again, decent from a reliability standpoint, but already outdated technology when they were introduced, still shift like a wet bag of dog poo, and now, 15 years later, it should be just embarrassing for everyone from the CEO down to the poor sap who has to put them in the new trucks on the assembly line...When people ask that guy what he does for a living, he probably says he's the local Chucky Cheese mascot, as that is less embarrassing!
Aisin, great trans, but still Ram is riding old technology and would be better with more gears (if the ZF Powerline would ever get introduced....would be a good day for Ram fans)
NV5600 - Best trans of the last 20 years. It shifts like a truck, but it's there.
G56 - trans is good, OE clutch may not outlast the first set of windshield wipers though!
And now there's no option for either handshaker...:(

If Ram would sign up to the ZF for their HD diesel trucks they would finally have a good transmission, but it probably is just too costly since they outsource the diffs, diesel engine already.

As for manual transmissions we had one in a 05 Dodge and pulling a water tank out on the turn rows was a bear and no one wanted to drive it. So it was sold and we got another 05 Dodge with a automatic.

[philh]

whatever cruise control is set at. 2022 6.7L is a BEAST

[goducks10]

I go as fast as I need to. I'm only towing 9600lbs behind my CTD so I don't sweat mtn passes. Coming down is as uneventful as going up.

[hotpepperkid]

Mine is what ever I set on the cruise control

[C_Schomer]

I gross 24K and I go up the Colorado passes as fast as that curves will allow. I grew up with 50s and 60s under powered trucks and anything beats 15 miles an hour on the passes and struggling to stay awake! Craig

[FishOnOne]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Just calling a spade a spade"

Can you still say that. :R

I just did... :W

[Cummins12V98]

"Just calling a spade a spade"

Can you still say that. :R

[Grit_dog]

FishOnOne wrote:
And BTW I'm part owner of two Dodge Ram trucks with ..... a sorry transmission to back it up.

That doesn't narrow it done much, lol. I'm full owner of a Ram and a bunch of Dodge trucks in the past and speaking of calling a spade a spade, I could go on a Clark Griswold, got screwed out of my Xmas bonus tirade about most Dodge/Ram transmissions!

47/48RE, are ok and are simple and can be built VERY strong. But they were obsolete by the turn of the century, yet Dodge continued to use them for another half dozen years...
68RFE, again, decent from a reliability standpoint, but already outdated technology when they were introduced, still shift like a wet bag of dog poo, and now, 15 years later, it should be just embarrassing for everyone from the CEO down to the poor sap who has to put them in the new trucks on the assembly line...When people ask that guy what he does for a living, he probably says he's the local Chucky Cheese mascot, as that is less embarrassing!
Aisin, great trans, but still Ram is riding old technology and would be better with more gears (if the ZF Powerline would ever get introduced....would be a good day for Ram fans)
NV5600 - Best trans of the last 20 years. It shifts like a truck, but it's there.
G56 - trans is good, OE clutch may not outlast the first set of windshield wipers though!
And now there's no option for either handshaker...:(

[FishOnOne]

Me Again wrote:
On 3.15.2022 Fish said something nice about RAM, I will put a star on my calendar marking the day.

Just calling a spade a spade regardless if its a negative issue or positive. And BTW I'm part owner of two Dodge Ram trucks with one having a great 5.9 diesel engine and a sorry transmission to back it up.

[Cummins12V98]

Diesel simply hold it to the floor and let the truck do it’s job.

[Cummins12V98]

Me Again wrote:

FishOnOne wrote:

blofgren wrote:
And remember there are some trucks that may pull the hill a bit slower, but will do it reliably mile after mile, year after year....;)

Care to share a picture of your odometer?

At almost 10 years old this truck continues to pull like a train mile after mile and year after year. Engine/Transmission hasn't been touched to date. AC compressor and alternator were the two biggest repairs to date and still original water pump. Also you can add 5-6k more miles since this picture was taken.



Also the 2020-2022 Power Strokes have proven to be the most fuel efficient diesel and the Ram has the best exhaust brake.

On 3.15.2022 Fish said something nice about RAM, I will put a star on my calendar marking the day.

Closet RAM guy is slipping.

[Grit_dog]

4 pages of related "experience" should quell a nervous nelly's nerves!

[blt2ski]

I've never been a pedal to metal speed freak towing. On hills depending upon the power available. If I have to shift down to keep my speed, If I need to redline it to hold 60mph, I throttle back to 70-80% of redline. This reduces the noise, I potential overheating, better mpg from a hill pulling standpoint etc. I might be down to mid maybe low 50's, oh well.
I've had rigs where the gear splits are so wide I slow 15 moh. Others same motor, more and closer split gears in trans where I drop 5-10 mph.
If the road is steep enough I have to get into 1st gear to stay moving, now said grade has my attention, especially if it's in the min 20% relm.
I deal with what I have to work with, call it a day.

Marty