Frustrated!!!

[Max Wedge]

I recently installed the “EZ” box, and really love it, but I took a 4-hour trip over the weekend pulling a 24ft Haulmark Enclosed Car Trailer (about 8000#’s loaded) across ST RT 32 to Cincinnati Ohio. It’s a four-lane road with a lot of rolling hills—some pretty steep. The 2 steep ones, I could only managed 60 mph at the top. Truck pulled great in OD then the RPM’s would drop to around 1850 then kick down to 3rd gear and RPM’s would go to about 3000, and speed would stay right at 60 mph. The trip over was 270 miles and when I filled up it took 25. 171 gallons—that works out to 10. 73 mpg—I think that is terrible.



Trans is stock, and I don’t have gauges yet. Will the DTT 91% TC fix this nonsense on the hills?



I installed a Western Diesel “Turbo Chip” in my friends 2000 F-350 Crew Cab 4x2 PS, and I cannot pass him on those hills, he won’t pull away, but I can’t pass him, and he tells me that his stays in OD!! Man he rolls out the black smoke pulling the hills—where mine is clean.





Give me some ideas. Truck just turned 14, 900 miles. Its 4. 10 geared.



Max

 

[Pete Peterson]

Max, did you hook up the turnbuckle to your wastegate or is it left stock? The EZ is a great addition but knowing that your truck has the hard line on the wastegate means you didn't get the boost feature working yet. With lots of hills and holding 60mph and almost 11 mpg ain't really that bad, and remember your buddy has 2 more pistons than you.

Some exhaust work might be in order along with intake upgrade, both are fairly cheap to do... ... ..... Pete

 

[Cooker]

Gauges - This will help determine if you are having a boost problem, and also let you know if she's running a little to warm pulling those hills.

 

[Deezal Man]

I've seen this before. HOW are you guys determining fuel mileage down to the Hundredths... . even tenths???



Depending upon how the truck is parked and how much foam is in the tank determines if you get that last 1/2 to 1 gallon inside.

Plus, you have to do this EVERY TIME. .



I don't know... . I think anything beyond . 5 is wishy washy in my book. Like always, OMO



Almost 11 MPG pulling an ENCLOSED 8K trailer up hills at those speeds isn't bad in my book. I think many of us discount the power of wind resistance and only look at weight.



5. 9L vs. 7. 3L I'd say you did rather well in that you kept up with him. Some cars have engines the size of our cubic inch deficit.



You mentioned that your trucks is 4wd and your buddy's truck is 2wd.



4x4 not only weighs more, your drivetrain has additional HP losses going through the transfer case. Plus, on these new trucks with auto hubs, one side (axle) is always spin'n those spider gears. Again, additional losses.



More weight and drag results in reduced fuel economy. All things being relatively equal. . some of us are seeing 1,2 even 3 MPG better in 2wd models than those of us with 4x4.



14K is barely broke in IMO. Many of us feel the 5. 9 requires about 20K, even as much as 30K for break in... . depending upon use of course. I'm fairly confident that mine didn't totally reach total break-in until about 25K or so. Maybe it was just me. .



YOU NEED GAUGES when you add mods. Without em, your EGT's could have been through the roof. . Aside from killing your engine, it will also rob power.



A DTT TC/VB will definitely help. I'd buy myself a set of injectors as well. OMO.

 

[markn]

I also tow a Haulmark 24' enclosed trailer with my '99, which has a highrise shell on the back, which significantly helps airflow. I have no engine mods at this point, other than a K&N. I average 15 MPG towing the trailer at 10K lbs fully loaded. The worst climb for my truck is Grants Pass in Oregon; a 6-speed would make life a lot easier on that climb.



I also have a Ford E350 box van with the PSD, and towing the same trailer, can't do better than 12 mpg. The wind resistance of the overhang on the box front has a lot to do with it though. This truck also has no mods, but can't hold a candle to the Cummins when it comes to getting the work done.

 

[Archive]

I wouldn't BOMB the engine any further without a gauge install and then some transmission upgrades. If you can keep up with a chipped and smoking powerstroke on the hills, then I would say you have enough power for now. BOMB the transmission and then look into some intake & exhaust upgrades. Ted J. 's proper order for BOMBing upgrades are still considered to be the holy grail. First Class advice there. Take it one step at a time, and enjoy each incremental improvement in driving and towing. (BTW... I used to bracket race at Tri-State and Edgewater when I was in high school. Your car sounds really neat. )

 

[work2muchplay2little]

Max Wedge, what setting do have the jumpers on the EZ set on? Since you're not producing smoke on hard pulls, makes me wonder if you're not using setting 1 (timing advance only) instead of 2 (additional fueling above 20 psi of boost) or 3 (additional fueling above 5 psi of boost). Just a thought

 

[chuck3]

That doesnt sound right , I tow my TT weights around 7000+ and i can hit a hill at 65 in od and still gain speed and stay in od on hills that are 5 to 6% I usually get around 13 to 14 mpg .

 

[Bad340fish]

I agree with the others. I occasinaly pull a 24ft enclosed trailer. My total load including beer tools and people and put bikes is around 10K. Without the EZ I got around 13 with a combination of city/highway driving. Since my overhead computer is wrong with the EZ I have not checked my mileage, I have only pulled the trailer once since I have gotten the ez. And does it ever help!! My test strip is a highway on ramp thats uphill. Before the EZ I could get to 45MPH loaded. After the EZ I can be at 60 usualy. I got 4 more PSI from tightening all my IC hoses BTW

 

[Max Wedge]

Thanks to everyone for the responces. Pete, I have the HX35 turbo--not hardlined, & yes I installed the EZ boost elbow.



Top Fuel--Gauges are next--the complete set from Geno's, as I can save money on tax since I live in Ohio, Summit busts me on Ohio sales tax.



work2muchplay2little--I have not opened up the EZ box, but the instructions say that it is preset on position #3. Truck will smoke when I first nail it--so I asssume that it is on #3. But I will check.



I know the box is working 'cause another fellow was towing with us with a 2000 3500 4x4 QC & 24 ft trailer loaded similar to mine and I could walk all over him on the hills, plus my partner has a 454 chevy dually and he couldn't keep either--it was just me & the Ferd out front playing with each other--but it frustarted me that I could not pass him.



EGT's shouldn't have been a problem, as the RPM's were always in the 2800 to 2900 range topping the hills. BTW the 454 dually got 5. 78 mpg on the trip!



Max

 

[rickhans]

A quick question to you Haulmark owners: How well does the drop down ramp hold up under weight? I owned one long enough to buy it in Utah, pick up my son's furniture at 29 Palms Ca. , and take it to Dallas, then sold the trailer. I really liked it but was told by a trailer broker that Haulmark has a lot of problems with the ramp because it is not strong enough to handle the weight.



I would like to get another one to tow a skid steer loader and tools in. Total load excluding trailer would be around 8,000 pounds.