Concerned with lack of power available, wont even spin tire......

[russellmarine]

Been loving new (2014 Laramie crew cab 4x4 CTD) truck for the most part. Hate the tire pressure monitor and now my autostart from key fob does not work. Anyway, This past weekend while trying to pull a boat out of an unimproved ramp for work, I had a disconcerting and slightly embarrassing experience. Shifted the truck into 4 LO to pull the boat (about 6000 lbs including trailer, tandem axle, 15 inch wheels) out from the embankment of a river. Trailer tires had sunk in, but axles and frame were not bottomed out. Truck was on vegetated solid ground (dirt and gravel) and the approach angle was nice and gradual, less than many boat ramps. When trying to pull out, I could barely load up the trailer, no movement. The truck would not even spin a tire trying to pull. Made sure the traction control was disabled (thought that it was automatically disabled in 4 LO). Whole crew of guys standing around laughing that it didn't even have the power to spin a tire....... Had to be pulled out by a lowly blazer, and it came right out with its unwanted help. I am often in this situation without another vehicle around. What gives? Anyone else has something like this? My old 160 hp '93 CTD would have broken front and back tires loose without even half pedal.... I have the 68rfe transmission....

 

[pcdavis]

Been loving new (2014 Laramie crew cab 4x4 CTD) truck for the most part. Hate the tire pressure monitor and now my autostart from key fob does not work. Anyway, This past weekend while trying to pull a boat out of an unimproved ramp for work, I had a disconcerting and slightly embarrassing experience. Shifted the truck into 4 LO to pull the boat (about 6000 lbs including trailer, tandem axle, 15 inch wheels) out from the embankment of a river. Trailer tires had sunk in, but axles and frame were not bottomed out. Truck was on vegetated solid ground (dirt and gravel) and the approach angle was nice and gradual, less than many boat ramps. When trying to pull out, I could barely load up the trailer, no movement. The truck would not even spin a tire trying to pull. Made sure the traction control was disabled (thought that it was automatically disabled in 4 LO). Whole crew of guys standing around laughing that it didn't even have the power to spin a tire....... Had to be pulled out by a lowly blazer, and it came right out with its unwanted help. I am often in this situation without another vehicle around. What gives? Anyone else has something like this? My old 160 hp '93 CTD would have broken front and back tires loose without even half pedal.... I have the 68rfe transmission....

Wow, I would be ticked off too. It must be the torque management over-doing its job. Hard for me to see it not having the power to do this. I just got back from a trip to the Shenandoah mountains pulling my 8,000 pound travel trailer up those mountains like it wasn't there. My local service department would have some explaining to do.

 

[doojus]

Wonder if this specific situation triggered hill start assist? I know that applies the rear brakes.

 

[pcdavis]

Wonder if this specific situation triggered hill start assist? I know that applies the rear brakes.

Shouldn't that disengage when you step on the throttle though? I live on flat land mostly and really don't get to see it do its thing much even though I have it turned on.

 

[Bob4x4]

be sure there is no 2 footed driving,it will confuse the truck

 

[Newsa]

I forgot I had hill start assist with my manual transmission CTD until I took my foot off the brake and rushed my rigjt foot to the throttle and rushed the clutch halfway up. I know the feeling of creeping backwards with a manual transmission. It felt weird not rolling back an inch. It disengaged beautifully. I hope there is not a programming glitch with the 68fe's. They may have a flash at the dealee to fix it.

 

[sag2]

Are you positive it was in 4 low? Did the engine rev up any? Could you feel the engine torque over?

 

[russellmarine]

Are you positive it was in 4 low? Did the engine rev up any? Could you feel the engine torque over?

I know it was switched to 4 low. esc (or etc or whatever it is) was swiched off. Engine took some load, but no rip snorting 800 foot pounds of torque, that's for sure! Same result with 2 different drivers (I was spotting at first.....). I would have thought it would have spun wheels without breaking a sweat. Factory tires with half tread worn off.....

 

[SnoKing]

Wow, I know how you feel. I drove our Toyota Tercel 4x4 wagon onto a beach in Oregon years ago and got stuck in the soft sand. The local fishermen stood and laughed at me. I smoked the clutch a bit getting off the beach.

 

[photowrite]

That sucks.... I agree it sounds like some electronic nanny of some sort.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Take it in. Something is wrong. Mine pulls like a freight train in lo.............OR HIGH! As BOB mentioned, make sure there isn't any two footed driving going on.

 

[russellmarine]

I am going to try hooking up to a tree with my tow strap and see what happens. But others have been able to break wheels loose? It will pull pretty good otherwise, but I was really shocked that it wouldn't break tires loose.

 

[JLandry]

I am going to try hooking up to a tree with my tow strap and see what happens.

A video needs to be recorded of this so we can watch too!

John L.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

IN for a video also.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Yes, mine will spin the tires in 4 low. It will spin a bit in high range and 2wd if I turn off the traction control but even then the traction control will still keep me from having too much fun.

 

[BigPapa]

Wow. This is CRAZY. Makes me LOVE my old dinosaur. I understand the selling points of some of these "modern conveniences", but come on. Nothing personal to anyone here, but if I couldn't drive my truck without things like "hill assist", "traction control", and "torque management", I'd just give up. When there are comments like "it must be the torque management over-doing its job", "no 2 footed driving,it will confuse the truck", "sounds like some electronic nanny of some sort", and "the traction control will still keep me from having too much fun" sounds to me that our new vehicles are TOO "smart", especially a vehicle like our trucks supposedly made to "work".

Sorry for the derail. Just had to comment.

 

[SnoKing]

Maybe they put a load cell in the bumper hitch, and if you pull to hard it shutsdown, or maybe it is a spring rap sensor? They have a sensor for everything else!!!
#ad

 

[JLandry]

...sounds to me that our new vehicles are TOO "smart", especially a vehicle like our trucks supposedly made to "work".

In fairness to Chrysler, there'd be unholy *****ing and screaming if these incredibly powerful trucks had a tendency to grenade their drivetrain when the accelerator pedal was mashed... hence we get torque management.

John L.

 

[Ram4Sam]

In fairness to Chrysler, there'd be unholy *****ing and screaming if these incredibly powerful trucks had a tendency to grenade their drivetrain when the accelerator pedal was mashed... hence we get torque management.

John L.

What he said........^^^^^^^

Sam

 

[BigPapa]

...hence we get torque management.

To the point where a $50K+ truck won't do what a Chevy Blazer will do? Something's wrong with this picture.

Had to be pulled out by a lowly blazer, and it came right out with its unwanted help.

I guarantee you there are plenty of CTD's out there pushing 800 ft/lb without "Torque Management" that don't "grenade their drivetrain when the accelerator pedal was mashed."