2017 Question

[CBlack]

More for my BIL than me as I still have my 2008 .

He bought a 2500 Tradesman with the 68rfe and stock 3.42 rear end.

He tows a ~8000# bumper pull camper with it and said that on his first tow that off idle it was fantastic and got moving with no issue. Then he went up some small hills and it rev'd up big time. Then it's constantly shifting and trying to find the right spot. I asked if he's using Tow/Haul to adjust the trans to keep it in the sweet spot and he said yes. But it doesn't sound right.

I can't recall the details but from what I remember even unloaded on the highway the RPMS sound way too high. At 80mph, I'm at 1900 rpms or so with my truck and 3.73 gears.

I told him to bring it to the dealer.

I do wonder why the only give the option of 3.42 gears for the 2500...

 

[Cummins12V98]

Tow haul and Exhaust brake on all the time. Tell him to down shift to 5th while towing in any condition other than flat ground.

 

[Newsa]

The 68 RFE is adaptive and is supposed to learn his driving habits. Not sure how long this is supposed to take. But it may behave better after a few trips????

 

[Hoefler]

If he is trying to maintain 55 mph, he needs to lock out 6th and possibly 5th. He needs to watch his rpm's, if it is not cruising in the 1900-2100 rpm range, he needs to lock out the gear until he is running in that range.

 

[kthaxton]

It would be easier to figure out if an actual problem existed if we knew what gear it was shifting down to.

When I go up "moderate" hills with my 8000 lb (dry) 5th wheel, mine typically will only shift down to 5th with the rpms at 2000 +/- at around 65 mph.

 

[SnoKing]

If he is trying to maintain 55 mph, he needs to lock out 6th and possibly 5th. He needs to watch his rpm's, if it is not cruising in the 1900-2100 rpm range, he needs to lock out the gear until he is running in that range.

I will disagree with that one. I tow at 60 MPH CGW of 24K + with 6th locked out. 1750 RPM and it only down shifts to 4th on larger hills. Recent TSB keeps it from hunting like it did originally and it holds 4th now until in crests the hills.

BTW, I do not see any reference to towing at 55 MPH in OP post.

 

[SnoKing]

More for my BIL than me as I still have my 2008 .

He bought a 2500 Tradesman with the 68rfe and stock 3.42 rear end.

He tows a ~8000# bumper pull camper with it and said that on his first tow that off idle it was fantastic and got moving with no issue. Then he went up some small hills and it rev'd up big time. Then it's constantly shifting and trying to find the right spot. I asked if he's using Tow/Haul to adjust the trans to keep it in the sweet spot and he said yes. But it doesn't sound right.

I can't recall the details but from what I remember even unloaded on the highway the RPMS sound way too high. At 80mph, I'm at 1900 rpms or so with my truck and 3.73 gears.

I told him to bring it to the dealer.

I do wonder why the only give the option of 3.42 gears for the 2500...

Explain to him about hitting the down button of the shift lever once out on the road, leaving at 6 as the max gear and the other little number will tell him what gear the truck is actually it. That way he can see what is actual happening.

 

[Ram4Sam]

Explain to him about hitting the down button of the shift lever once out on the road, leaving at 6 as the max gear and the other little number will tell him what gear the truck is actually it. That way he can see what is actual happening.

Not 100% sure but I don't think the tradesman level trucks have that feature.....big horn and up trucks have it.

Sam

 

[gsbrockman]

Not 100% sure but I don't think the tradesman level trucks have that feature.....big horn and up trucks have it.

Sam

You are correct.............

 

[SnoKing]

You are correct.............

How do you know which gear is the max??? You have the button on the shifter???

 

[gsbrockman]

How do you know which gear is the max??? You have the button on the shifter???

I do indeed have the button on the shifter. I can see the MAX gear number....Tradesman trucks just don't have the "little" number that indicates what gear the truck is in as it's going through the gears. The wife's 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited does.....as well as my 2016 Dodge Challenger.

 

[Ram4Sam]

You are correct.............

What??....What was that??? Did you just say I'm right???? A little louder please!!!!:-laf

Sam

 

[gsbrockman]

What??....What was that??? Did you just say I'm right???? A little louder please!!!!:-laf

Sam

#ad

 

[Ram4Sam]

#ad

Now we're talkin'......be sure to tell the hulk what happened here.....:-laf
sam

 

[CBlack]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

He said it's shifting down to 5th.

He expects it to pull hills in 6th.

 

[kthaxton]

Wow....sometimes people's expectations are ridiculous.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

He said it's shifting down to 5th.

He expects it to pull hills in 6th.

The meaning of "HILLS" is subjective. I towed in 6th at 62mph 29K combined with my 11 HO Dually on rolling hills and did not down shift. Ya see my hills must have been smaller! MUCH smaller since his combined would be at only 18k or so.

 

[shorthorn]

Something sounds very amiss in this story...


My dually has the 68RFE, 3.42 rear end. Towing my 14K lb 5er on flat ground in 6th it will hold the gear (although I don't like to). I lock it in 5th and we drove all the way from Illinois to Tennessee (Pigeon Forge) and it only dropped to 4th twice on the really big hills.
No way it should be hunting all over for gears with just an 8K lb TT behind him. FYI... my gear references are at 70-75 MPH... for sure running 60, 6th gear is too tall for my 5er and I suspect it is with his TT as well.. Tell him to either stop driving like an old man or drop a gear.

 

[SnoKing]

My Aisin with 3:42's in TH will not shift into 6th until 65 mph.
SNOKING

 

[Deleted member 995608]

He expects it to pull hills in 6th.

The Fords can ..........(hides behind couch)