Improved towing

[TCordero]

Took my 28' Toy Hauler 5th wheel out this past weekend and noticed that my truck - 6 sp, longbed, 4x4, 3. 73's was happy around 50 mph or 70. At 50 mph in 5th gear turning 1900-2000 rpm my egt's were around 600 or so (pre turbo) and the milage was 14ish. If I went up to around 60-63 mph in 6th the egt's went to 1000-1100 and my boost went from 8-10 to near 20, and the mpg went to 10-11 and the rpm's were 1500-1600. If I went on up to around 70 the rpm's were back at the 1900-2000 range, egt's back to 600 or so, boost 10ish, mpg back to near 14. My question is what is my best option to improving the performance at the 60-65 mph range in 6th? I'm thinking maybe an AFE intake and free flowing muffler. Any other advice or cures?

Thanks-



04. 5, qc, 6sp, lb, 4x4, 3. 73's

2004 28' Wanderer Wagon 5th wheel

 

[JCleary]

Sounds like my situation.



I wish I had 4. 10's.



I don't think the intake/exhaust make a huge difference. I bought the truck before I had any intentions of running 35's. Otherwise I would have purchased the lower gears. (probably an automatic, too)

 

[NIsaacs]

TCordero,



1500-1600 RPM is too slow with a load. If you are pulling a load, you want to run in the 1800-2300 RPM range. If you are wanting to run 60-65 loaded, you probably should run in 5th. By running in 5th you can run the RPM up even higher with no problems since you will be using less power. At 1500-1600 RPM pulling, an intake or exhaust mod will not help, you are running under the efficent RPM of the Cummins. Hope this helps some.





"NICK"

 

[Bertram65]

I have found the truck runs fine on flat ground down to about 1800RPM, any hills at all and the RPMs need to be over 2000 or it gets pulled down till a violent downshift to 3rd. 2100-2300RPMs the truck is great pulls hills without a problem, though even with the 4. 10s that is faster than I want to go when towing in OD so I drop it out with the OD button before it does it on it's own and run in 3rd in hilly areas. Running empty I run up to 2500RPM for extended periods, about 80MPH, engine seems to run better afterwards, I also do not see any drop in mileage at those RPMs.