Performance Question on '01.5 Auto

[Motorhead]

Just got back from a week trip towing our new travel trailer. My truck towed like Gang Busters in Drive. On some straight and level roads, I pulled the speed up to 62mph in drive and put it into OD. The thing just wouldn't hold speed well unless I was into it most of the way. My t/t weighs about 7K loaded. I figured that I was about 13. 5K combined. I thought that I have read on the TDR about the '01. 5's cut back on HP. in OD. Is this true? I don't hear the turbo as much in OD as the other speeds of the trans. Is this normal? I have the 3. 54 rear end and I am stock for now. I figured that I could use OD on stretches that I could run 65 or better. I know about all of the hop-up goodies but I can't afford them now. I have heard of some TSB's out there,but I don't know the numbers. Isn't there a towing TSB from Dodge? My truck is going in for some warranty things in a few weeks and if any of you guys can recommend anything I would appreciate it. Chris... ... ... ... ... Also, what do you think should be the highest sustained RPM run for any distance under load?

[This message has been edited by Chris Reynolds (edited 04-22-2001). ]

[This message has been edited by Chris Reynolds (edited 04-22-2001). ]

 

[DonBaggett]

I have pretty much the same setup as you, except I have an 01 2500. Pulling my 29' 5er is a breeze in OD as long as I keep my RPM's above 1700. I'm completely stock.

 

[Motorhead]

Don, are you in it pretty good to maintain your speed? What do you weigh in combo? I used my overhead instant MPG reading to see how hard I was into the throttle(kind of like using a vacuum guage on a gasser). If I couldn't keep the instant reading at 10mpg or above, I shifted out of OD. Chris

 

[Bob Wagner]

I tow a 30' Mallard 5ver with stand up bedroom and dual slides +-10K

With a Stock transmission OD was always locked out due to low RPM's at 60 -70 mph

Truck aslways pulled better with RPM's over 2K and very sluggish with OD engaged.



[This message has been edited by Bob Wagner (edited 04-22-2001). ]

 

[Barry]

I helped one of my customers get out of his 99 V10 3:54s into a 2001. 5 3500 CTD Auto/4:10s. He pulls a 32' Triple Slide Teton that grosses 18K. We put a 4" turbo back and an EZ on the truck and with less than 3K miles on the truck, it runs in OD all the time. He is also getting almost 11 mpg loaded which is double what he was getting with the V10. Boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, Dodge is doing a dis-service to sell the auto with the 3:54s to someone who is going to tow a load of any size---especially a good sized 5th wheel. With the new size tires(265/75/16) and the final drive of . 69 of the auto, a 3:73 or better yet a 3:90 would be perfect. The kit to change to either one of those ratios is $350 and would be money well spent. You can BOMB the truck until it blows up and kills everyone big enough to die, until the specs are right, you are asking it to do something it cannot. I know I will draw fodder from the 3:54 fans, but this is an area that I deal with all the time. Spec the truck to do the job. Give the truck the tools to do the job.

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2001 2500 QC, ETH/DEE,4:10s,LSD,EZ with elbow(28psi)Stage 1 injectors from Carl,Boost/Pyro Guages,4" Turbo back,BD Brake,Mag-Hytec Cover,Kleen Wheels,Energy Release,70 gal. fuel,20K Reese. 31,000 Miles on 03/01/01(Auto/Truck/RV Dealer)Honda GL 1500 SE Pearl White for fun.

 

[pwr2tow]

Barry is right, Dodge screwed up when they recomend 3:55 gears in the auto. 3:55 gears seem to do better in the manuals since they have better splits between gears and more gears to choose from. People say you can run these diesels all day at governed speed, do not know for sure though as I have not seen documentation on this. My only experience on governed speed is with farm tractors and yes they run at goverened speed all day, so my educated guess would be yes. The only thing about running at governed speed is fuel consumption is high (poor fuel mileage).
The reflash number performed on my truck were;18-11-99 and 18-25-99 they should be performed together for best results. The reflash helps in the bottom end of RPM's, although both are marginal at best. Zero to 60 times were . 5 or 1/2 second better.
Get a base line of your trucks performance before you do any upgrades that way you can tell if the upgrade did any good. Best I have found for the auto is 0-60 time, run it three times and take the average. Be consistant just floor throttle and start stop watch then when you hit 60MPH stop the stop watch, do not power stall on take off.

Barry, where can I get some new gears for (3:90's) my truck and do I need any thing else, like speedo gear.
Ron

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1999, 3500, 6x6, slt, auto, 3. 55, Qd cab, ISB cummins, Isspro transmission temp, EGT, Boost gauges on A-piler, fuel prssure gauge, DD stage 1, modified banjo bolts, K&N 0880 with prefilter, triple trailing 2001 26RKSS Tahoe 5th wheel, 1999 120hp 1800 bayliner. 20,000 lbs GCW. Waiting for DD TTPM to be delivered 4-24-01.

 

[Barry]

Ronsram: My memory is excellant but short. There is a Co. in the northwest. It has been batted around the TDR a few times. It's something like "Randy's Gear Service" or something like that. It's a guy's name and something like gear service. Someone on this thread will come up with a name. They quoted me $350 for a ring gear and pinion set that would slide into the existing carrier. It is only for the 3:54 guys. Not the 4:10s. If you cannot find it, I'll look more..... Barry

 

[Hot Shot]

My truck pulled like a Ford Pinto until I bombed it.

I could be pulling my 7200 lb gooseneck in 3rd even empty if I had a headwind.

I was very dissappointed. Look at my sig below. Now this truck pulls like a **** draft horse. I love it.

Got a buddy with a 97 PSD with 4:10 and a stick- I can out pull him even on the hills.

I am now at 121,000+ since March 1 of 2000.

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2001 3500 QC 24V SLT Larimie, leather, BD Plug in Power, 275 injectors, BD Torque Convertor ,Valve Body, Pressure Lock, Torque-loc, Gauges,Black w/ Ranchhand bumpers Brownes HD Headache rack and a black wetherguard coffin. pullee 34Ft. gooseneck and a 32ft x 6ft stock trailer.
2000 Durnago SLT 5. 9litre V8

 

[Tom C]

I don't think DC scewed up when they put 3. 55 gears on the auto trucks. they scewed up by putting a 0. 69 Overdrive in the auto transmission. the 5spd's have a 0. 75 overdrive gear. I think the auto would work nice with a load if it had the 0. 75 OD. Although if you put DTT's TC and VB in and then add say an EZ and DD1 injectors your auto even with the 0. 69 OD will work great. plus get good fuel milage. #ad


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2001. 5 2500 4X4, QC, Auto, 3. 54 LSD, SLT, SWB, Trailer, Camper & Snow plow Packages, White, 35k# Cody Hitch, 20' Gooseneck Lowboy flat-bed Trailer.
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1975 Toyota Landcruiser, ARB Air lockers Front & rear, 400 Small Block, SM420 4spd, Stock LC transfer case with 2 or 4 high and 2 or 4 wheel drive Low gears, 15. 5x36" Radial swamper on 12" rims, Custom front & rear bumpers, Roll Cage, Warn 8274 8000# winch, 2. 5" spring lift, 2" body lift. Premier on-board power welder, on-board air, 4-wheel power disk breaks, power steering, Lot of fun.

 

[pwr2tow]

Found it, Randys Ring and Pinion PH# 800-292-1031

Ron

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1999, 3500, 6x6, slt, auto, 3. 55, Qd cab, ISB cummins, Isspro transmission temp, EGT, Boost gauges on A-piler, fuel prssure gauge, DD stage 1, modified banjo bolts, K&N 0880 with prefilter, triple trailing 2001 26RKSS Tahoe 5th wheel, 1999 120hp 1800 bayliner. 20,000 lbs GCW. Waiting for DD TTPM to be delivered 4-24-01.