Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 3K GSK & Towing?????

[tschwab]

Would like to hear from those who have a 3K GSK (Governor Spring Kit) and tow. I have heard some good things about the GSK, but have never really heard from anyone who has the GSK and tows - in my case the 5th wheel is around 10,500 lbs.



Don't have the GSK yet, but plan on getting one very soon.



Thanks

 

[RBrunson]

3K springs

I pull a 7200 lb trailer with mild mods to my engine. I think the 3k springs was the best add on that I did for my truck. It used to fall on its face at 60 mph towing up a grade with trans in drive. Now it will run up just past 70 and does it quick.

 

[tschwab]

What is the DD #2 plate equivalant to in the TST line? My TST #8 is rated at 230/605.



Thanks - Terry

 

[Got Smoke?]

The GSK is a great BOMB in every circumstance, but especially if you tow.



I used to have to constantly go back and forth between 4th and 5th gears when I towed because of my 33" tires nd 3. 55 gears.



GSK put a stop to that!Oo.

 

[TPCDrafting]

Pre GSK, I always had problems with the span between 3rd and 4th. Climbing hills pulling 10k-13k pounds I was stuck in 3rd going 35-40 cuz I couldn't get 4th to go. It would just bog down and there I was back in 3rd again. Now I can just run it up and 3rd and grab 4th. I takes right off. Realize with help I added a #11 at the same time, but I really like the gsk.



There was a member who a while back was on a mission to make sure every 12 valve got a 3k gsk.

 

[RBrunson]

DD2

Terry, I belive tht it is about the same as the #11 plate. It was advertized to add 60 hp to my stock 180hp.

 

[hsmith]

Originally posted by tschwab

Would like to hear from those who have a 3K GSK (Governor Spring Kit) and tow. I have heard some good things about the GSK, but have never really heard from anyone who has the GSK and tows - in my case the 5th wheel is around 10,500 lbs.



Don't have the GSK yet, but plan on getting one very soon.



Thanks

Recently did the 3k install and gov lever adj with my #11 plate forward . 030. Took it out for a run empty. This was one fast 3500 ctd. Only problem was egts. Back at the shop I went in and put the plate back in the stock position with the afc housing full forward.

Wife and I left Saturday on a short vacation with her 14k wigwam in tow. There is no comparison of power now as before. Still have to watch egts but can pull now with less throttle. Gave it a poke on a slight incline in 3rd over and for the first time the clutch slipped a little. Knew it was a matter of time with 125k on the clutch, but without the latest mods, probably would not have been a problem for a while. Will be easy with it for the rest of the trip home. Will be getting a new clutch soon. The 3k kit allows the engine to fuel smoothly past the 3k rpm range. Mine peaks at 3200 now with no loss of power through the entire range. Little more engine noise now, but not a problem. This is probably the mod with the most results of any I have done. You will not be sorry you made the change.



hsmith Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[tgrfan2]

3000 GSK

I am ready to do some light bombing on my 98 12V with 100K. We just purchased a 36 foot fiver that weighed in at 13K today. I am thinking the GSK might be the better move with the stock and original 47re instead of adding power right now. I noticed today that the transmission unlocks at 2500rpm in drive if I am putting it under moderate load. Will the GSK affect this and/or is there a way to adjust linkage to keep it locked to a higher rpm? If I can't keep it locked under load I will be defeating the purpose to a large extent.

 

[Dennis Garrett]

You can take care of the TC lock/unlock problem with a $3. 00 switch from Auto Zone or someplace. Search this forum for "mystery switch" & read all about it. You can take control of the TC away from the computer & lock/unlock it yourself when conditions are right, or leave it in the stock position & it behaves like stock.

 

[tgrfan2]

I have considered that option, but the wife drives the truck alot and I don't know if I want her to be able to lock it.

 

[Got Smoke?]

Originally posted by tgrfan2

I have considered that option, but the wife drives the truck alot and I don't know if I want her to be able to lock it.

Simple wire in a seperate switch to go with the mystery switch that way one has to be on at all times to use the other.

 

[tschwab]

Re: 3000 GSK

Originally posted by tgrfan2

I am ready to do some light bombing on my 98 12V with 100K. We just purchased a 36 foot fiver that weighed in at 13K today. I am thinking the GSK might be the better move with the stock and original 47re instead of adding power right now. I noticed today that the transmission unlocks at 2500rpm in drive if I am putting it under moderate load. Will the GSK affect this and/or is there a way to adjust linkage to keep it locked to a higher rpm? If I can't keep it locked under load I will be defeating the purpose to a large extent.

I am assuming your truck is a 2500, not a 3500? Does it have the 3. 54 or 4. 10 rear axle? The 12V, AT with 3. 54 has a GCVWR of 16K. Your truck weighs almost 7k, by the time you get gear loaded into the 5vr, people in the truck, etc your at 21K+ which is WAY over the legal and safety limit of what your truck was intended to do.



You should consider either getting a smaller/lighter 5vr OR buying a new '04 3500 HO/6Spd which has a GCVWR of 23K.



You can dump all kinds of money into upgrades, but it's not going to change the fact that YOUR truck is not rated to haul that much weight safely or reliabley. Yes, there are those that do this on a regular basis, but your just asking for trouble.



Regardless of what you do, never BOMB without first putting in gauges, sencondly, upgrade your transmission, third - Power upgrades.



My 5vr weighs in at 8500LB's dry and I have done a fair amount of BOMB'ng, there is NO WAY I could even imaging towing 13K + gear with my set-up, let alone the braking system on the '98's are nowhere near as strong as the newer trucks, TRUST ME, YOU WILL NOT BE A HAPPY CAMPER TOWING THIS MUCH WEIGHT WITH YOUR YEAR VINTAGE TRUCK, not to mention that you won't be legal either.

 

[tgrfan2]

Thanks for the concern tschwab, but I just don't go for all that GCWR stuff. The facts are that I pulled a 31 foot TT for four years that had a normal weight of about 9K. It was a front kitchen with slide and did not pull nearly as well as my new Everest 363K which I just weighed at 13K! The secret is the fifth wheel hitch. No amount of equalizer could make that trailer pull as well or as safely. I have driven a friend's 2003 HO SRW pulling his 3575 Big Sky and frankly there is little difference in the feel of the two trucks. Granted he has more power, but I think the RideRite air bags give me the edge over his overloads. Sure he has more stopping power on the truck, but no 7K truck is going to stop a 13K trailer safely. The numbers game is confusing, but if you take the Dodge trucks pre rear disc they all have pretty much the same stopping power in the 2500's and I think my Y2K 2500 is rated about 1K higher gross than my 98. I pulled my first heavy gooseneck trailers in the 1970's with alot less truck than any of the new generation Dodges, but I always made sure the trailers had plenty of brakes.

 

[tschwab]

Well, good luck, but your going to destroy your stock transmission probably on your first tow.

 

[tgrfan2]

optimism?

You must read too many horror stories. I have already pulled it over 400 miles from central South Carolina up I26 to I385 to I85 and back. It pulled just like the TT except for far better handling. I had to downshift from OD three times on hills both ways and when conditions allowed set the cruise at 72mph. I guess I am just lucky since I've had four Dodge trucks go over 100K without transmission trouble. A 1970 383 and 1978 W150 440 that pulled equipment and grain on a gooseneck triaxle. You would have fainted if you had seen the scale receipts on those two. Then my 1995 has gone 80K since I bombed it and it has pulled the TT about 15k miles. I might tear up the 98 this weekend heading to the game again. If I do I'll let you know. Then I'll get an overhaul and bomb this one!

 

[hsmith]

Re: optimism?

Originally posted by tgrfan2

You must read too many horror stories. I have already pulled it over 400 miles from central South Carolina up I26 to I385 to I85 and back. It pulled just like the TT except for far better handling. I had to downshift from OD three times on hills both ways and when conditions allowed set the cruise at 72mph. I guess I am just lucky since I've had four Dodge trucks go over 100K without transmission trouble. A 1970 383 and 1978 W150 440 that pulled equipment and grain on a gooseneck triaxle. You would have fainted if you had seen the scale receipts on those two. Then my 1995 has gone 80K since I bombed it and it has pulled the TT about 15k miles. I might tear up the 98 this weekend heading to the game again. If I do I'll let you know. Then I'll get an overhaul and bomb this one!

I'm sure lots of folks tow more than their truck is rated for. I am one with a '96 3500 manual pulling 14k plus with no problem. We do not expect or try to stop on a dime. With good trailer brakes, a good exhaust brake, and common sense driving, we are able to enjoy pulling our rig anywhere we wish to go. You are right about the 5th wheel being more stable both towing and stopping. The 3500 with more rubber on the road makes a unit more stable at all times. You cannot increase your capacity without going to a specialized tow vehicle. Not many of us can afford that. I am so pleased with my truck I have no desire to try an upgrade with a newer unit knowing there will be little improvement over what I now have.



Enjoy and smoke'm when you can.



hsmith

 

[tgrfan2]

I agree 100 %. Waited to see if I would make it home this weekend to reply. We made another 200 miles with just a little sweat. Beautiful weekend for tailgating and we won which helped alot. Planning to stay home a couple of weeks and then head to Maryland for a game unless the hurricane comes too close to SC.