Towing Woes...Again! LONG!

[klaybus]

Truck Specs



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1999 Dodge RAM 215 HP Cummins

DTT Auto

4. 10 gears

STOCK 265 tires

F1 Mach 1. 2s (80 hp plus or minus)

PDR 35\12

Edge EZ (set to low setting)

AFE PG7

Rips 4" exhaust

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Just returned from our annual houseboat trip to Lake Roosevelt. Two weeks ago I pulled our #8500 5vr over to Blue Lake via I-90 & it pulled ok. When I hit Vantage I had to take it out of OD but other than that it seemed to pull fine. I returned home empty that night & last Thursday we headed back over to Blue Lake for the night with our 19' boat in tow. Again, pretty much uneventful.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the NE Washington area it's HOT this time of year with many long, winding hills. Friday we left Blue Lake & headed for Lake Roosevelt with our boat in tow. Again, not really any issues at all. After our houseboat trip we ended up having to drive to Kettle Falls to replace my mother in laws batterys in her coach... . Anyhow, thats where this begins... Sort of.

While pulling on this winding hilly roads I would have to come in & out of OD to keep my egts in check at around 1150. No real biggy but a little annoying. We made the 60 mile jaunt one way took care of my mother in law & headed back to Blue Lake.

I guess here's where my problems began!

We left Blue Lake yesterday afternoon around 2pm in 100* weather with our #8500 5vr in tow. Those familiar with this area know of the HUGE hill going around Park Lake headed to Hwy 2. We pulled that in drive (no OD) with 190*+ water temps & 1100*-1150* at about 50 mph. I wasn't too disappointed considering the hill & my weight. (combiined about 16,000 lbs)

When we reached hwy 2 & turned left (West) we immediately hit a long winding grade which I could only reach 50 mph max trying to keep my pyro in the 1150*-1200* range. Water temps went to about 210* & then started to plummet back to 190* when the fan engaged as we crested the top. This was the first of many typical experiences until we got down to hwy 97 where it stayed realitively flat with slight grades.

Everything was realitively uneventful after this until we hit Washington Pass on hwy 20... . THIS is where I was TOTALLY disappointed im my trucks performance!

For those that have traveled this pass, you know what it's like. Two long inclines & then you hit the WALL! On the inclines my truck started falling on it's face. In drive I couldn't keep the RPMs up & keep the EGTs at 1200*! I hit 1400* a few times & my water temps shot to close to 220* so I pulled over, HIGH idled the engine with the fan engaged until my water temps got back down to 190*. About this time the trans temps were at 200* too so I shut her down for a few & tried to think about my options.

First I unplugged my EZ which I had set prior to the trip on the lowest setting & I then tried to go again. I got to the bottom of the wall & again, EGTS were at 1200*+ & climbing, water at over 200* & virtually just didn't have the power! At this point I just said F--K it! I put the truck in 4WD, engaged Bob V's 2-low & was able to pull the pass in lock up, OD at about 25-30 mph! Thank GOD for Bob V's 2-low kit. It saved the trip...



Now, fella's... . WTF?!?! Several years ago I had the same problem trying to pull Waterville hill outside of Wenatchee but my setup was quite different. Back then I was running this.



1999 Dodge RAM 215 HP Cummins

DTT Auto

DD II's

Stock HX-35\12

285's tires

EZ (high setting)

3. 54 gears

AFE PG7

Rips 4" exhaust





Now.....



1999 Dodge RAM 215 HP Cummins

DTT Auto

4. 10 gears

STOCK 265 tires

F1 Mach 1. 2s (80 hp plus or minus)

PDR 35\12

Edge EZ (set to low setting)

AFE PG7

Rips 4" exhaust



Am I asking too much of this truck? I should note my 60 yr old mother in law in their 96 Ford 460 1-ton auto 2wd dually pulled this pass starting at the bottom from a dead stop with a 11'-6" camper was able to crest the top of the pass at 55 mph!



Again, do you guys think I'm expecting too much of my truck? I've changed my ring & pinions from 3. 5s to 4. 10s, got rid of the DD IIs for F1 1. 2s, changed to a PDR 35 from the stock HX-35... . I'm at a loss at how lousy this truck performs when I really need it to step up! I'm assuming a 14 cm WG housing would help at cruising rpms but I don't think that would have helped that significantly when I hit the wall trying to pull Washington Pass & I think it might have even hindered it more with laggier spool up.



PLEASE send me your suggestions. All I can figure is a stick over an auto so I have the gear choices to keep the rpms high... ...



Clay

 

[Forrest Nearing]

you need a more efficient turbo than the HX35.



you might also consider a water injection system

 

[JBallou]

Clean the radiator out from behind the fan. The fins are probably dirty with grease and oily dirt. Then work on the performance end of it.

 

[MVieira]

Klaybus, Something isn't right with your truck. I didn't see where you mentioned what boost pressures you were seeing when you were pulling heavy up the grade with your foot into it. Boost pressure is a good indicator if your getting the fuel you are throwing at it and if your engine is making power. I know you were watching the EGT's and the Water Temp's, and right fully so, but what was your boost and at what RPM's? Your truck is set up simular to mine and we tow about the same weight and I can pretty much have my way with any grade I hit without EGT issues or high water temp's. I'm wondering if your VP44 is weak? Is your fuel pressure supply good? Do you have a boost leak? Something just doesn't sound right. I hope the group here can help you get this figured out.
regards, Mike.

 

[klaybus]

Klaybus, Something isn't right with your truck. I didn't see where you mentioned what boost pressures you were seeing when you were pulling heavy up the grade with your foot into it. Boost pressure is a good indicator if your getting the fuel you are throwing at it and if your engine is making power. I know you were watching the EGT's and the Water Temp's, and right fully so, but what was your boost and at what RPM's? Your truck is set up simular to mine and we tow about the same weight and I can pretty much have my way with any grade I hit without EGT issues or high water temp's. I'm wondering if your VP44 is weak? Is your fuel pressure supply good? Do you have a boost leak? Something just doesn't sound right. I hope the group here can help you get this figured out.

regards, Mike.

My VP was replaced last fall & I actually have an increase in power since replacing it. Boost~ When I can keep my EGTs in check I see typically #30 under a heavy throttle. My boost levels we're a bit low due to not being able to throw alot of fuel at it due to the EGTs I was seeing. I checked ALL of my boots & they appear to be tight & I saw no holes but I plan on building a boost checker as soon as I re-find the instructions for building one. FYI~ Intercooler & radiator are clean & fluid changed this spring. MV... What kind of boost numbers are you seeing under a heavy load? Fuel Pressure~ #16 psi with the Walbro System... .



Thanks,

Clay

 

[MVieira]

Clay, Up until recently I was running the HY35 turbo, that was turn-buckled, and I could peg the 35 psi. boost gauge instantly when I stuck my foot into it pulling hard and I would back out of the throttle until I kept what I felt was a safe boost pressure of 26 psi. If I kept my foot into it and boost pressures at 30 to 35 psi. I would see the EGT's slowly creep up to 1200 deg. but if I backed out of it a little and kept the boost between 26 and 28 psi. , I could pull all day long at 1000 to 1100 deg. I was driving around the little HY35 a bit but I never have had problems pulling up a grade. I always tow in drive and I try to keep my RPM's around 1900 to 2300 pulling heavy. I just recently changed over to a HTT 62/12 and that has been the perfect match to my engine modifications. It has been on a couple months now and I've made 2 towing trips with it, the last one up over the Siskiyou's into Oregon, over to Shady cove, then to Crater lake, and back to Calif. During the trip I pushed it pretty hard on all the step grades and EGT's maxed out around 1050 to 1100 deg with 30 to 35 psi. boost, engine RPM's at 2000 to 2300, coolant temp around 190 deg. and outside temps. around 100 deg. I'm not saying you should throw another turbo at your problem because the PDR35/12 should work fine for you. I got by with the HY35 for a couple of years with my mach 1. 2's and the Edge EZ. I'm also running 3:55 gears with 33" BFG MT's. My trailer is a 29' Sandpiper medium height with a single slide out. The trailer is 7800 lbs. dry and has a max. GVW of 11,400 lbs. , I've never weighed it but I would guess I'm between 8000 and 9000 lbs. loaded. The HTT 62/12 has given me a better match to my engine upgrades and I use more of the skinny pedal with out the worry of over spinning that little HY35. I'm kind of frustrated for you, I don't think you're expecting too much out of your truck, and if I lived closer to you I'd come over and let you hook up my truck to your trailer and drive it to compare. The only question I can think of now is where were your engine RPM's when you were pulling that grade you were getting hot on? You said you can get 30 psi. out of your PDR35 when you can throw some fuel at it but if you drop the RPM's down too low they will get hot quick. I still feel we've missed something on your truck. Do you have any one you can swap Edge EZ's with? I wonder if you have a timing advance issue with the EZ? I just guessing now, sorry. I hope you get this figured out. Regards, Mike.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

If the OEM type turbos start being pushed to the outer limits of their efficiency curve - boost PSI can LOOK OK on the gauge - but the boosted air is seeing LOTS of abnormal turbulance, and heating the boosted air excessively - and EGT can rise rapidly as the result...

 

[AClayton]

Does your transmission lock-up in 3rd with the OD button pushed. That always helped my truck with the grades. There are some grades that just sap it when loaded and i bought a lock-up controller and can lock my convertor in any gear now.

 

[Jefff929]

Clay, I know from your post on NWB that you have already gone this route but here is my story (<-- clicky link) dealing with a similar issue.