best rpm/mph when towing??

[klaybus]

Towing

I typically tow at about 2200-2300 rpms in 3rd direct (no OD) and am running about 61-62 mph. The 3. 5s & tall tires limit me to 3rd to keep EGT's in check. It typically works great unless I get into winding hills & then that can create problems...



Clay

 

[SnoKing]

Clay, that is why I think 4:10's and stock 265's make for a better towing setup. I have four gears to work with, and you are limited to 3. I run 2000 RPM in Overdrive at 63 MPH, and have the power to pull most freeway hills. SNOKING

 

[LesStallings]

My rig really likes 2,100-2,200 RPM when I'm pulling heavy. EGTs are reasonable and only out west do I need to come down into 5th. gear and watch the temperatures. If I was towing all the time, 4. 10s would be a better choice.



I've spent a lot of time setting up the truck/trailer to pull comfortably at a little higher speed than most. I would not cruise at the speed I do if I did not have a low center of gravity gooseneck trailer. I really feel for those of you with a fifth wheel RV. You need the ground clearance and headroom that I don't need.

 

[klaybus]

Clay, that is why I think 4:10's and stock 265's make for a better towing setup. I have four gears to work with, and you are limited to 3. I run 2000 RPM in Overdrive at 63 MPH, and have the power to pull most freeway hills. SNOKING

Yep! You are absolutely right... You hit the naik on the head! You have 4 gears while I am limited to 3. When I get the 4. 10s however I believe (hope) it's going to put my gear ratio somewhere near the 3. 73 or a touch nearer the 4. 10 range & it will be a huge improvement over the 3. 5s I'm currently running.

While 4. 10s & a 6-Speed would be my towing setup of choice I do enjoy the auto for my 55 mile daily commute into Seattle but I suspect a 6-Speed would have got old there.

Power to pull any hills isn't much of a problem it's having the correct gear. . Ding! Thats where the extra gear comes to play. Yep, if I had it to do over I definately would have gone with a stick or at a minimum 4. 10s!



Clay

 

[GaryCarter]

Clay, that is why I think 4:10's and stock 265's make for a better towing setup. I have four gears to work with, and you are limited to 3. I run 2000 RPM in Overdrive at 63 MPH, and have the power to pull most freeway hills. SNOKING

It depends on what speed you want to run. I'm running 2000 @ 70 mph & using all four.



Gary

 

[Saccowboy]

i second that last comment. i tow our 29' fifth wheel which is about 10k loaded. this is at about 65-70 mph which puts me somewhere around 1650-1800. i have 3. 73's and 34. 5" tires. i do have a TST and an EDGE stacked but thats on the stock turbo so its not turned up too much. i just towed it to mineral just overlooking the tehama wildlife in N cali. its about a 2500 feet increase within about 8-10 miles and i started the hill at 75 and ended the hill around 70 in OD. as long as u keep the rpms up then your ok once they start falling then u gotta shift or your in trouble. i'm getting about 16 towing around at about 1700rpm's on flat land and like i said just kick it up to almost 2000 when u get to a grade.



Will

 

[SnoKing]

i second that last comment. i tow our 29' fifth wheel which is about 10k loaded. this is at about 65-70 mph which puts me somewhere around 1650-1800. i have 3. 73's and 34. 5" tires. i do have a TST and an EDGE stacked but thats on the stock turbo so its not turned up too much. i just towed it to mineral just overlooking the tehama wildlife in N cali. its about a 2500 feet increase within about 8-10 miles and i started the hill at 75 and ended the hill around 70 in OD. as long as u keep the rpms up then your ok once they start falling then u gotta shift or your in trouble. i'm getting about 16 towing around at about 1700rpm's on flat land and like i said just kick it up to almost 2000 when u get to a grade.



Will

16 towing a 29 foot 5th wheel, like right! That must of been back down the hill you where talking about. What did you average for the trip? Clay and I tow in the NW where there are alot of mountains. My 5er is 11,250 lbs. Thought 55 was the speed limit in Calf for a vehicle with a trailer. SNOKING

 

[Saccowboy]

well some trucks are just more efficient than others, and i know i got one of the good ones especially since i got my transmission done and the mileage had picked up. JUST FYI i get 21-21. 5 as long as it doesnt get over 65 unloaded on the freeway, so it gets great mileage like i said 16mpg is towing on flat ground. i'm not sure y thats hard to beleive with my last truck a 93 dodge dually i was getting about 13. 5-14 round trip to LA over the grapevine and back towing our horsetrailer at about 8-9k loaded with horses.

for the trip to mineral i got about 16 avg going to the hill, we filled up right before the hill so we could hunt all weekend. we didnt come home with a full tank so not sure what it was coming back. but it was probably better since it is a very slow steady climb up from sac to red bluff.

as long as you find the sweet spot of your truck and its not underpowered or geared wrong for what your towing you shouldn't have a problem thats all i'm trying to say.



You have never driven near Los Angeles or I-5 at night have you? to answer your question 55 is the legal speed limit for a truck and trailer but unless your a 90 year old man blind in one eye, no one in california drives the speed limit, guess we are just a little faster paced out here haha. hope i didnt offend anyone with that comment! knock on wood i've never had a speeding ticket.

 

[johncameron]

I've found towing at 68MPH / 1900RPM seems to be the sweet spot on my truck. I get ~12. 5MPG pulling my 6000lb 9' tall enclosed trailer at that speed. Any slower is lugging and any faster is just wasteing fuel!



John