Rlarue
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Using a vacuum guage and gear selection towing for best MPG?
I tow a 2014 KZ Spree 260RKS, loaded weight close to 7,000 lbs, with a 2004 Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi. I have a vacuum guage installed and tapped into the manifold vacuum. I have not been able to resolve the following question. I would appreciate hearing from some folks skilled in the subject. Question related to best MPG: Is it better to tow in tow mode, high gear pulling about 5" of vacuum at highway speeds, or is it better to shift down one gear and tow at about 8" of vacuum. The roads in my area are not flat or level enough to tell just monitoring my trip computer MPG.2KViews0likes8CommentsRe: Andersen weight distribution hitch
I to liked what I saw about the Anderson hitch, so I bought one. I tow a KZ Spre 260RKS, loaded weight close to 7,000 lbs, with a 2004 Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi. I previously used a conventional load distributing hitch, plus friction sway bar. I agree with the earlier post. While I like the ease of setup and break down and the minimizing of highway bounce on old concrete roads, the friction cone in the Anderson hitch does not seem to afford enough anti-sway control to my liking. I have added a friction sway control to my rig now and it gives better, although somewhat noisy now, control. It wasn't a difficult modification. The Anderson hitch using inert chains definitely has less highway "bounce" to it.490Views0likes0CommentsOdd Transmission shifting in "tow mode" 2004 Ram 1500 5.7L
Recently purchased a low mileage 2004 Ram CC 1500 with a 5.7L V8. The truck runs fine in every day use, giving quite good performance and mileage both on the road and in town. However, I am very disappointed in the transmission performance in "tow mode" when pulling my KZ Spree 262RKS TT. The TT weighs in at about 6800 lbs loaded. Starting off, the xmission shifts into 2nd fine and then stays there for a long time. I virtually have to back completely of the gas to get it to shift into 3rd. Once I get it to 65MPH or so, It wants to then drop into overdrive in which the engine is only turning about 1800 RPMs. Here it's not developing enough torque to even go up a typical overpass without down shifting 2 gears and then quickly going back to 3rd. Also, the local dealer has no clue but says he can do an tranny analysis for about a $100. Does that make any sense, or is he just trying to find a way to justify transmission work? Your suggestions on how to overcome the problem and your attention is appreciated.2KViews0likes9CommentsRe: Setting new truck hitch height?
Still wondering what the downside of adjusting the friction sway bar to tight. What clues does the trailer give if the sway bar is to tight? It seems to me one could tighten the bar enough to minimize sway and yet experience some unexpected results if it was too tight. Where/how is the happy median found?274Views0likes0CommentsRe: Setting new truck hitch height?
Thank you APT. Your comments were very helpful, as was the extra reading. That was exactly what I was looking for. I gather from the additional text that tilting the ball back with the same number of links and the bars parallel, can increase the weight transfer forward to the front of the truck. I never thought of that. Did I get that right? Now another question: Adjusting the friction sway control seems to be very subjective. How does one know when he has too much friction? Are there any suggestions how to get it close to begin with, avoiding numerous trail and error stops? I see people posting they pull TTs all the time and have no sway. I'm not there yet. Again Thank you.275Views0likes0CommentsSetting new truck hitch height?
My previous tow vehicle was a Toyota 4Runner. The 4Runner originally was level front to back, when not loaded with the trailer. The hitch height was adjusted for it to load the trailer and 4Runner so they were both level to the ground. I utilize a Curt load equalizing hitch. I now have bought a heavier vehicle for towing. It is a Dodge 4 door 5.7 V-8 hemi P/U truck. It is quite a bit higher in the back than the 4Runner was. It is also not level when unloaded. The rear end is pitched higher than the front. Question: When I adjust the hitch height for the truck, do I leave the truck with the same pitch angle as when empty? Or should I set the hitch height and equalizing bars so that when they are connected, the truck is now level like the trailer? That most likely would involve distributing more load on the back of the truck than the front, to bring it down. Your expereinced suggestions are appreciated.3.1KViews0likes10Comments
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Prefer to camp in a travel trailer? You're not alone.Mar 05, 202544,027 Posts
