1st 500 miles towing @ 50mph max.? Really?

[Wiredawg]

I downloaded and read the manual before taking delivery on my 2017 Ram 5500 and noted the recommendation to drive 50 MPH for 500 miles before towing. I followed it because I could, but in the past, for example, I bought and took delivery on my 02 Ram 3500 on a Thursday, installed the 5th wheel hitch on Friday, and on Sunday, hitched up 18Klb Travel Supreme, and towed it from Washington DC to Columbus Indiana for TDR event. Never had problems.

So, I think the current recommendation is for optimal break in, but folks do what the have to with their trucks.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Cummins12V98]

My 11 HO DRW bought at DaveSmith Idaho with 13 miles. I literally ran the hell out of it up to 90 n back to 60 wash rinse repeat all along I-90 to Seattle.

the gears looked like new at 65k.

 

[BigPapa]

This is from the installation manual that came with my new Spicer Ring and Pinion:

New Gear Break-In:
All new gear sets require a break-in period to prevent overheating damage. Any overloading or overheating will break down the gear oil, which will cause the ring and pinion to fail. This can be determined by inspection and will void the gears’ warranty. Please follow these guidelines to insure proper break-in.

• Avoid heavy acceleration during the break-in process.
• Drive the vehicle lightly for the first 15 to 20 miles and stop. Let the differential cool before proceeding.
• Avoid heavy acceleration for the first 100 miles.
• Drive the vehicle at least 500 miles before towing to retain the gears’ warranty.
• When towing for the first time, drive for a very short distances (less than 15 miles) with the full load and stop. Let the differential cool for about 20 minutes before proceeding. Repeat this procedure two more times (45 miles total) to fully break in the gears.
• Change the oil after the first 500 miles. This will remove any metal particles and phosphoric coating shed by the gear set during the gears’ break-in period.

These towing instructions may seem unnecessary to most people, but we have seen many differentials damaged from being loaded before the gear set was fully broken-in.

 

[Cummins12V98]

This is the result of running the hell out of my 11 HO DRW as mentioned. I removed the MagHytec at 65k to trade in on current 15. There was around 55k on the AMZ/OIL SevereGear. I also towed about 1/2 of the miles at 28-29K combined.

 

[WalterJ]

I’ve heard this many times over the years, I’m just not 100% convinced it’s really true. In my late teens, a friend of mine and I bought the exact same snowmobiles on the same day. The sleds were consecutive numbers and built on the same day. I followed the break in process while he did the total opposite. From the moment we off loaded the sleds at home he held his to the bars everywhere we went. In the end, his ended up being more reliable, way less problems and quite a bit faster than mine.

At work we get new pickup trucks every few years. One year we had eight crews so we got eight trucks. One other guy and I drove our two like were we in Nascar everywhere we went. Same outcome. Our two trucks had less problems, were faster and got better mileage than the other six.

So, like I said, I really don’t believe the w we hole idea behind the break-in period.

Most counter-intuitive, eh.

 

[BigPapa]

Those gears certainly don't "look like new at 65k" to me.....

 

[Cummins12V98]

Those gears certainly don't "look like new at 65k" to me.....

They looked like that at 10k or so also. The machining is still visible. Notice it looks the same past the pinion contact area.

 

[crazy jerry]

if you have to tow right away then do what you have to do but if the gears suffer damage and fail, a savy mechanic wont be fooled for one second

 

[gtoli]

I had, and took, the time to break my gears in properly. The dealer even gave the truck to me as a "Loaner" for two days, so I could break it in before towing my 5ver home. I figured why not, since I had the time and opportunity.

 

[OLEJOE]

I don’t know which route you are going to take out of Chicago but it’s pretty flat all the way to Memphis. I don’t think you’ll get it in too big of a bind if you set the cruise on 60 and let’er eat. That’s what I did on my first tow. I don’t remember what the mileage was then but it was low. That was in November and I’ve got 4700 on it now.
I did change the rear diff fluid @ 3000 miles and will change it again @ 20,000.

 

[Bill Stuart]

When I bought my '17 and the '15 before it both dealers told me to use the truck for what I bought it for - towing a heavy 5er - no break-in required. So far, so good.

 

[Cummins12V98]

When I bought my '17 and the '15 before it both dealers told me to use the truck for what I bought it for - towing a heavy 5er - no break-in required. So far, so good.

How many miles on your truck at first tow?

 

[crazy jerry]

dealer staff is mostly incompetant on every level and im not suprised they recomended against whats in the owners manual.

 

[jacknife]

It's for the gears . Cummins engines do not have to be broken in .

 

[DonFitzwater]

This thread should have been called "Will my mommy let me tow heavy stuff with my new truck?"

 

[Cummins2014]

Personally I would get that CHITZ out of there and go with AMZ/OIL SevereGear or another high quality synthetic lube.

Could you repeat that “ OR ANOTHER HIGH QUALITY SYNTHETIC LUBE “ Never thought I would see the day

 

[Cummins12V98]

Just trying to keep people from freaking out.

 

[Cummins2014]

Just trying to keep people from freaking out.

Oh!! I freaked out alright , just when I thought a remark like you made above was impossible

 

[SnoKing]

Oh!! I freaked out alright , just when I thought a remark like you made above was impossible

You two should really think about laying down the knives. I gets really old.

 

[Wiredawg]

You two should really think about laying down the knives. I get really old.

I agree! This behavior takes away from the goodness of this website.... please stop!.

Thanks, Ron