Towing power?

[Dkoeberle]

I have a 2000 Dodge diesel with 3:54 rear and auto trans. I am pulling a 12,000 lb goose neck horse trailer. I am considering putting a chip in my diesel, or changing the torgue converter, or expanding the exhaust system or doing nothing at all.



I am curious about the longevity of my transmission pulling this weight. I am assuming it is the weak link.



Any thoughts on what I should or should not do?



I only pull the trailer 20% of the time, the rest of the time I am empty pulling down 22 mpg on the freeway. I love those 3:54 gears.



Dave K

 

[dewdo]

I have a y2k 3500 4x4 and I made one 3,000 mile trip in stock configuration pulling a 15. 000 lb fiver and upon my return my transmission was toasted.



I have now added a lot of goodies to enhance the performance of both the engine and transmission. (see signature) It now tows like it should. Too bad DC doesn't add these enhancements at the factory. They could get rich!



I have come to the conclusion that if you are going to tow anything over 8 to 10 k lbs you should at least have a different TC and VB, (ie DTT in Abbottsford BC) and toss in the EZ or VA box along with the boost module & elbow.



Be sure to add and exhaust brake because there is nothing more exciting than going down an 8% grade with a 12,000 lb trailer pushing you along, and the smell of hot brakes permeating the air. Add to that a lock up system for the TC along with gauges.



Nothing like owning a diesel truck!

 

[Eric_77]

I have in excess of 20k of trailer hauling in excess of 12,000 on my 92 no mods; oil changes every 5k and transmission every 25k. 115k total miles

No problems at all pulls great still.



On my 96 well over 30k of towing in excess of 12,00 even some as high as 16k same maintenance schedule but with some upgrades about 225hp. transmission is showing some high temps at 45mph in stop and go traffic but I have been told it's most likely due to Dun-Rite TC because everything is good at speed.



Keep an eye on gauges and don't use full throttle at low speeds where torque kills transmission is the only thing I try to observe. Run 70-75 on highway but have pulled 22k at 95 before shouldn't have but wondered if it would it did

 

[Batman]

As Dewdo said... contact DTT. This alone will help. I towed my 10,500 5er prior to and after mods. Major difference.

IMHO, gauges, trans work, Edge EZ and DD2's, 4" exhaust make a great towing combination.

HTH

 

[Shooter]

Originally posted by Batman

As Dewdo said... contact DTT. This alone will help. .

IMHO, gauges, trans work, Edge EZ and DD2's, 4" exhaust make a great towing combination.

HTH

What he said!!!!

 

[Ramboy]

If you are considering any kind of mods, I would do the transmission first. You will love the DTT TC & VB and, for me, I got a 1 - 1. 5 mpg increase.

 

[Pull'nOld Iron]

I've been pulling my 50 Farmall H and 53 Super M which total about 11. 5K on my 25' Gooseneck. Stock transmission, 3:55 gears no problem. Changed the fuild after 55K, I know way too long, with very little debris. Pan was clean, magnate had about 3/16" of residue on it. It has always pulled it with very little concerns.



The only thing was what another post indicated, watch the temps in traffic. My habit is to keep it out of OD below 60mph, leave plenty of braking room and no hard starts and stops.



Now the only hills I pulled are on I55 and I57 in southern Missouri and Illinois. These aren't any grades like in the west but it was a HOT July days with little cooling capabilities. The total trip length was about 1500 miles towing round trip.



Hope this helps.



I guess it depends upon how heavy your foot is.



By the way, the SO and son hated that back seat and ride. When will Dodge make a full back seat

 

[RedRamer]

First and best investment is get yourself a transmission temp gauge piped into the transmission out line. Heat kills trannys and with the guage you'll know when you're cookin.

With the auto, always try to get it into TC lockup situation. That TC clutch is a saver as it keeps the temps down big time.

I find the killer gear to be 2nd and reverse.

2nd doesn't have lockup and in town or slow highway traffic will run your temps over 200 easy and fast. Get it into 3rd lock-up and she'll fly back down to about 160 degrees.

The manual doesn't say it and in case you don't know, you need to push that lockup button in (turn it on) for 3rd gear to be able to lock up the TC, otherwise, you're pullin on fluid transfer and one thing that Cummins can make is a lot of heat out of transmission fluid. Once you're crusing, hit the button again (OD on) for 4th lockup.

Backing up fidlin a trailer into a spot will also run temps real hi and real fast. TC spins, no lockup cluch - she's smooookin...

happy trails