How hard can I run it?

[Pug59]

I am pulling the new trailer this weekend. It's a 7500 lbs camper and I will have probably 1000 pounds of wood and camping gear in the bed as well. I will be pulling it over I-68 in Western Md. The elevation goes from about 100 ft up to about 2800 ft. I have no mods on the truck. I thought I read someplace that if I have no mods, I can run the truck as hard as I want and not risk damage. I have no guages so I have no clue on what is actually going on. Can I just hold the pedal on the floor up the hills and see how she goes????

 

[Snow man]

If your stock you should be able to run the truck wide open with only 7500lbs with no problems. I try to keep the RPMs in the powerband,when towing,this means leaving OD off under 50 mph. Also with most cummins/autos you can gently roll in to the throttle,and floor it,the tc will stay locked,if you abruptly snap the throttle wide open the tc will unlock,revs will climb,and you'll be going no where with a stock tc,since they are so loose in fluid coupling.

 

[Steve M]

Give it all it's worth but let it idle at least a couple of minutes when you stop. Three to five if you can to let the turbo cool.

 

[Elite1]

I don't know... My stocker gets up to 1300 temp with only about 800 lbs of tools in the back, going up a pretty long steep grade, wide open in 6th gear. I would imagine with your weight it would get hotter.

 

[EXSTROKER]

wide open ,but at what rpm? if you lug it ,it will get hot. keep up to 2500 rpm

or better if you are pulling hard

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Originally posted by EXSTROKER

wide open ,but at what rpm? if you lug it ,it will get hot. keep up to 2500 rpm

or better if you are pulling hard

I have to disagree with that, with the higher rpms you are going to see hotter temps. I can run mine WOT at 2500 all day and not get to 1200, get it up in the 2800 area and thats a different story.



But reguardless I have run stock Cummins balls to the walls hard as you can pulling through in the montains and never had a problem.

 

[lmills]

The reason you drop a gear and keep the rpm's

up is to move more air. The more air you move helps to cool the charge air, which in turn cools the EGT's. So, higher RPM's do run cooler as long as it is not being strained.

 

[RLighthall]

Pug59,

PLEASE let me know how your truck takes the hills. I made the same trip in a 3500 LWB 4x4 SRW SO and 47RE & 3. 73 rear pulling a 5500 - 6000 lb trailer & load. The SO's performance was awful; topped out at 41 mph. The transmission of course was no help; the TC wouldn't unlock so the engine couldn't rev. The only other option was to drop speed even lower and run the hills in 2nd gear. Those hills aren't that steep that I should crawl slower than fully loaded semi's. I test drove an '04 HO with a 4. 10 today but just running around locally I couldn't tell much difference between the two. From all the posts I read about how well these DC's pull 15 - 20 K trailers, I can't see why there should be the huge performance difference. Unfortunately I never had the oppertunity to tow that much with my previous 3 DC's to see how they compare with the 3rd gen. When I ordered this TK last September I didn't know the 48RE/HO combo was in the works or I would've taken the $$ hit & waited to order it. <OK. done whining now. >

 

[drtrox]

Pug59. I don't know how many miles you have on your truck so far, or if you have towed with it yet. but consider these statements about your AAM axle:



Reminder

 A break in period of 500 miles is required before towing!

 Afterwards do not exceed 50 MPH for the first 500 miles of towing.



This is a quote from a fax that was sent to Dodge dealers.



#ad




Enjoy your truck!

 

[Big MAK]

Hmmm. Good info on the AAM break-in period. First I've ever heard of it. I do know mine is quieter and operates more smoothly now that I have some miles on the truck. Used to be I heard it clunk whenever I let out the throttle (the LSD engage/disengage I think). Now it's quiet.



But 500 miles isn't too bad. Just enough to seat the ring and pinion I'm sure.



As for the engine; run it; run it hard. Best to vary speed from time to time early on though. Change oil for the first couple times fairly early.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

Originally posted by lmills

The reason you drop a gear and keep the rpm's

up is to move more air. The more air you move helps to cool the charge air, which in turn cools the EGT's. So, higher RPM's do run cooler as long as it is not being strained.

Well yes and no, at higher rpms you also are using more fuel per equal time because you are turning more rpms. Boost is the same reguardless at full throtle. All things being equal my truck will run cooler at WOT in 6th gear at 60 then it will in 5th gear at 60.



You are moving more air yes, but you are also moving more fuel and heat along with that air, not just air.

 

[barbwire]

500 mi. break-in period

GEEEEEZZZZZ,

Does anyone out there have time to drive my 04 during it's break-in period? My anxiety levels climb to extreme high levels when I have to drive that slow :--) !!!!!!!!!

 

[lmills]

Originally posted by Mopar_Mudder

Well yes and no, at higher rpms you also are using more fuel per equal time because you are turning more rpms. Boost is the same reguardless at full throtle. All things being equal my truck will run cooler at WOT in 6th gear at 60 then it will in 5th gear at 60.



You are moving more air yes, but you are also moving more fuel and heat along with that air, not just air.

In theory, if you are pulling a load and running the same speed. You will most likely have lower EGT's in 5th than 6th. The reason being you will be lugging the motor more in 6th. When EGT's rise under high boost conditions at WOT it is most likely because the turbo is straining or has a small exhaust housing and causing the intake charge air to get heated. The best way to prevent that would be more cool air. Either by freeing up the intake side or using a better turbo.