Attention: TDR Forum Junkies After reading TDR forums for a couple of months before any serious towing, I thought: (1) My door gaskets are gonna rip, (2) My pistons will melt down, (3) My EGT will exceed 1300 degrees going over the mountains and I won’t know it, (4) D-maxes & Power Chokes will show me their posteriors, (5) My rear axle will overheat, (6) My rear axle will disintegrate, (7) My lift pump will wimp out and starve my engine, (8) My freeze plugs will fail and dump my coolant, (9) My drive train will vibrate and most important, (10) my mileage will suck!
Well after pulling a 10,500 lb. 5’er and about 600 pounds more of stuff from Medford, OR to Sacramento, CA and back, the first 9 Paranoia Points did not happen. The jury is still out on the mileage. Over the mountains, the first calculation was 9. 6 mpg. On the flat I got 10. 3 mpg with half of the way against a head wind (with a high profile 5’er). That’s pushing a lot of air. Cruise control, where possible, was set at 58-60 (1850-1950 rpm).
Overall, I’m very satisfied, especially vs. my 454 gasser that got 5-6 mpg at 55 mph. Also, the Pac Brake exhaust brake worked flawlessly. Held 59 mph in 6th gear down 3 miles of 6% grade. Only had to take 5th. Gear, perhaps 6 times each direction. Maintaining 55 mph at 2,500 rpm up the 6% grades was no problem.
Jimmy Dee
2004. 5 3500 Quad Cab Laramie 6 spd. , 2wd Dually, 4. 10 Rear End, Pac Brake.
Well after pulling a 10,500 lb. 5’er and about 600 pounds more of stuff from Medford, OR to Sacramento, CA and back, the first 9 Paranoia Points did not happen. The jury is still out on the mileage. Over the mountains, the first calculation was 9. 6 mpg. On the flat I got 10. 3 mpg with half of the way against a head wind (with a high profile 5’er). That’s pushing a lot of air. Cruise control, where possible, was set at 58-60 (1850-1950 rpm).
Overall, I’m very satisfied, especially vs. my 454 gasser that got 5-6 mpg at 55 mph. Also, the Pac Brake exhaust brake worked flawlessly. Held 59 mph in 6th gear down 3 miles of 6% grade. Only had to take 5th. Gear, perhaps 6 times each direction. Maintaining 55 mph at 2,500 rpm up the 6% grades was no problem.
Jimmy Dee
2004. 5 3500 Quad Cab Laramie 6 spd. , 2wd Dually, 4. 10 Rear End, Pac Brake.
