Tow Truck Combinations ?

[Archive]

I have a few question for those of you that pull heavy trailer loads. I would like to begin a dialog from your personal experience on what you believe works well and what you've tried that doesn't and why. Please no brand bashing, just looking for some good old solid info for those who may be wanting to modify their truck for the same purpose. This is a perfect opportunity to do some bragging about your truck!! So what are some of the combination you folks have found that work well for you?
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97 SLT 2500, 5sp, 3:54, 255/85/16, US Gear Under-drive, BD Hx40-16cm, BD 370 injectors, TST #10 plate, BD full 4" exhaust, Centerforce Clutch, BD Governor Kit, Rancho 9000's and a few other items with a lot more on the shelve!

 

[Archive]

I've gotten pretty much as extreme as you can get with my truck power wise. It's essentially the same thing Piers is running around with (if he hasn't changed his injection pump to a really hot one). I enjoy pulling trailers with all that power. I figure what I pull would be around 10-11,000 lbs. I keep the boost at bay at around 25 psi. max while towing, but she's got big lungs and she'll outpull most guys who aren't lugging a trailer up a hill. It's all listed below in the signature. #ad


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Chris Timochko
1997 5sp 4X4, HX40, BD 4" Brake, Marine Compression, Custom Tuned Injection Pump, 370B Injection Nozzles, Delivery Valves, Governor & AFC Spring Kit, Psychotty Air, Water Injection, NOS Diesel Kit, 6" Chrome Exhaust System, No Smoke Valet Switch, McLeod Dual Disc Clutch, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins Chrome Kit, Optima Red Tops, Hadley Bully Horns, Hurst Line Loc, Goodyear Wrangler AT/S 305/70/16s. Test mule for Auto Wurks Diesel race program

 

[Archive]

Loads for "Ole Silver" range from 4k boat to 24ft livestock (cattle) trailer to 10 round hay bale trailer to 34ft 14k lb triple slide 5th wheel trailer. Largest load was pulled and still able to maintain some sanity and control was 22k lbs in bales which pulled that in the high side of 3rd. Best part I like about the truck other than the Cummins power is the gear splitter. It really helps on the fuel mileage when using the power when loaded or not. I try to pull mostly in the mid range of the torque and power bands of the cummins. Loads under 10k usually run the high side of 5th and keep RPM above 1650. Loads above 10k usually run the high side of 4th and RPM above 1800. Very seldom do I run over 2300 RPM. Another advantage of the splitter is being to pull in the high side of 3rd or 4th gear. I like having the strong power/RPM of 4th gear and getting the MPH of 5th gear. I know I could pump the power up more but just don't need it. Isn't many brands of other trucks around home that can touch the pulling power of this rig and still maintain a respectable MPG. Max boost is 29 psi and max EGT has been 950 post turbo. No problems with the drive train yet. Future mods will include killing the cat and possibily a larger turbo.

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1997 3500 SLT, Ext cab, 5spd, TST #11, GV Aux Trans, BD exhaust, Kelderman Air Ride, 60 Gallon fuel tank, Clifford Security, Reese 20k 4way 5th wheel hitch, Boost/EGT gauges, K&N air filter, Rancho RS9000 shocks, Brush Guard, DZee full length running boards.

 

[Archive]

About all my 3500 does is pull 25-30k loads of fruit on the same 40 mile round trip route, up to six times a day during four months of harvest,this route has one 2 mile 7% grade both ways. Top speed at the top of the hill stock was 35 in 3rd (L being 1st). After losing the cat and adding the Banks Stinger Plus,top of the hill speed was 50 in 4th,had to back off due to high EGTs. After adding a Psycotty Air unit top of the hill is now 65 in 4th,EGT is 1100 preturbo. The rest of the trip is flat or slight grades,60-70 in 4-5th was no problem even stock. MPG stock was 12 now is 15 loaded. Also have a B-D exhaust brake,a necessity. This is as far as I need to go with mods,a gear splitter would be nice,but at the price I can just redline the tach before shifts,taking off in 1st has never been a problem. Have to adjust the truck's rear and the trailer's six brakes every other day during hauling season to be on the safe side,only replaced the front pads once at 22k,the BD really helps. The gooseneck trailer has only been removed a dozen times to work on the truck/trailer or haul a boat(many times to grease the ball though). Without the trailer the truck feels like a sports car and gets 22-24 mpg empty. I fully expect this truck to continue to do it's job for the next 10 years with no major problems,it already has 5 years behind it with only a replaced return line hose, throttle cable and regular maintenance.
Oh yeah,needs to have a 40psi boost gauge,the 30 gets pinned quite often.

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95' 25004X4,AT,Driftwood,Banks Stinger,Warn fender flairs and running boards(Play truck)95 3500,5 speed,Driftwood,Banks&Phscotty,34,000 GCVW apple and tractor hauler(work truck)

[This message has been edited by illflem (edited 11-30-2000). ]

 

[Archive]

I go with Illflem on this one! My 95 was also a 5 spd 2500 with 3. 54 - and the motor wasnt nearly as bombed as yours is now... I routinely ran over the scales around 24,000 pulling a 40ft goose with race cars in it. . got 15mpg at 70 with the a/c on!~ You should consider rear axle weight... airbags are a good idea. I had extra leafs installed. Deffinitely get an exhaust brake!! I loved my US Gear unit!

 

[Archive]

Anyone see a pickups (like our 2500 or 3500's) pulling new flatbed trailers. One stack in front of another?

I was dumb enough to try this once. Truck was totally stock (thank god or something would have broke).

Had 28' tandom duelly in front with another 28' trailer ontop and 4 more mix of car haulers and smaller trailers on top of that. Behind this load as a stack of 5 car haulers. Trailers alone had to gross over 34K.

Took a long time to get to 60 mph but would hold that pretty good once rolling. Trailers had very good brakes so stopping was not a problem. Hitch weight was not bad either. Just way big a load!

Not only was this a very heavy load it also caught lots of wind. Even with the weight had to keep foot into it down hill or you would slow down. I have seen others (pickups) pull loads like this. I hope they are company trucks. Mine was not!

jjw
ND