First good tow in Colorado Mtns.

[mlockner]

Just got back from a 1600 mile vacation trip pulling my 9000 lb. camper through the CO. mountains. Put on about 700 miles of true mountain towing. Went over Wolf Creek, Red Mountain and many other mountain passes. I got about 15. 5 miles to the gallon for the trip. I put on an EZ, DTT VB and Maghytec transmission pan before leaving. The truck pulled like a champ. Didn't seem like anything could stop it. Accelerated and passed anything I wanted to. EGT. 's never got over 1100 to 1150, the transmission never got over 240 or so going up the steepest of hills. Overall was very pleased and shocked many other people as my rattle truck and camper just sailed on by. If you want more details shoot me an e-mail.

 

[Dkevdog]

Red Mountain pass is one of the true tests for your truck- beautiful country to say the least though. I lived in Silverton for a number of years, we'd loose at least one two campers or trailers each year either due to sliding off (as you saw, there ain't no guard rails!) in the ice or burining their brakes up! I miss that country- seems you take it for granted when you live in it. It takes moving back to a screwed up place like Southern California to remind you of what you had, except then its too late!!



Glad to hear the trip went well!!



Kev

 

[klenger]

I always felt that the eastbound approach to the Eisenhower tunel on I70 was the true test of pulling power. 11,000 feet altitude, 10 miles long , 2000 foot elevation gain, 7-8% grade, and straight enough to go wide open if traffic stays out of the way. I think I pulled my 4000 lb trailite camper up it at 75 MPH and still had some throttle left. I'm anxious to see how the new 5er pulls.

 

[Dkevdog]

I've been through the tunnel and I know the road you're talking about. However- The route south on 550, starting in Ouray, takes you (I believe) 3000' feet in elevation accross 10 miles, with more than 20 hairpin switchbacks... It's an Disney ride for sure!



Kev

 

[KevinK]

I'm surprised your transmission temp got as high as it did. I've been pulling a similar sized fifth wheel over some good passes (Fremont pass going into leadville is a good one) and I've never seen the the temp over about 220. I'm seriously considering getting the DTT vb and tc too. I've got the EZ and have also been very inmpressed with the power. I have been under the impression that with the DTT setup (including the pan), that the temps would be lower (I drive it WOT over the passes).



Kevin

 

[DHatfield]

I have to agree that a good towing test in the mountains is towing eastbound up Vail and/or Esenhower Pass in Co. The last time I towed over that was last summer in which I was able to maintain only 60 MPH with my Jeep and trailer which is about 6,000 lbs. Another steep pass with lots of curves is Monarch Pass or Wolf Creek Passes.

 

[mlockner]

KevinK,

my transmission temp. gauge is in the line from the converter to the cooler. There has been a lot of discussion on the board about transmission temps, but not a lot of details about set-ups and stuff to get an honest and true comparison of temps. I know of another person in CO. who sees temps similar to mine and he has the DTT VB, TC, Pac Brake and Smart Controller. The DTT VB alone was a big improvement. I can hardly wait until I can afford the rest of the DTT goodies.



DHatfield,

I have not towed west over I70 yet, but I did tow over Wolf Creek, Monarch, Red Mountain and several other small passes. I know that 2 or 3 of them took us over 11,000 feet in elev. with 5 t0 8 mile climbs to get there with plenty of curves.

 

[KevinK]

I've also got my temp sensor in the line going to the cooler. I looked again at my gauge (to make sure I was looking at the scale correctly) and the highest reading I've ever noticed is about 220. I'm also anxious to get the DTT goodies in mine (my wife is not nearly as anxious as I am). Are you talking about Kevin Arts' truck with the complete DTT setupf?



Kevin

 

[mlockner]

KevinK,



You are exactly right about whose truck I was talking about. The 240 I saw was while towing and when i down shifted into second and got the rpm's back up it cooled back down to around 220 very quickly. It appears that the rpm's has a big thing to do with it running cooler also' I believe you are locking the TC back up and are not slipping as much generating heat. Going down the flat or a little hilly road I never see over about 190.