Warning Signs When Towing

[LesStallings]

I picked up my `04 regular cab 305/555 dually 6-speed, used with just under 50K miles on it. It has full service records and the extended service warrantee transferred to me. It looks brand new, even underneath and obviously has been on the highway and not used running around town. No dents, scrapes, and even the interior looks like it has only been sat in, getting out just for fill-ups. The truck is totally stock with no signs of any modifications other that a gooseneck hitch and new set of tires (correct). I've driven a couple of tanks of fuel through it and it feels tight, suspension wise, and the motor seems ungodly powerful.



I will be off on a cross country trip soon, pulling a 34' gooseneck enclosed triple axle 15K Pace American cargo trailer. ???? CAN I HURT THIS TRUCK ???? It has no gages other than the standard ones. Will this keep me out of trouble? Can I put the pedal down on climbs and not worry about cooking something?



Yep, I'll make sure all the tire pressures, fluids, filters, etc. are in perfect shape, but I'd like some assurance that I'll get back home in one piece!!



Thanks for any recommendations on conditions to watch out for.

 

[jelag]

Les



I own an early 04 with 83K miles..... Its stock from a performance stand point... I've never installed gauges and pull a trailer that is often between 18-22K..... I pull up to 18K with my 01 which has over 160K... ... The 01 has the power turned up... and has gauges... but before the power was tuned up I never got the thing hot enough to do damage so with the 04 I didn't put on gauges... . my new 05 is sitting in the drive way and I'm going to sell one of my Fords towards the end of the month. .



I personally think that if you watch your gauges, and don't over heat the engine you can't hurt it pulling only 15K... . BTW as I cross the desert from San Diego to Yuma and up to Phoenix to Vegas and back to Spokane thru Salt Lake at 108* I've never had a problem..... mind you with that weight I'm going up some of the hills at 35 or so.....



IF you decide you have to have an exhaust brake... let me know... I'd love to quote you... .



Jim

 

[Bertram65]

I would say you cannot hurt it, if it is stock and you are within the limits of the capacities of the truck you should be able to hold it to the floor through anything at any RPM up to 3200. I have held mine to the floor for 6 miles while climbing a long grade running full boost, I have gauges but I do not worry about hurting the truck, it is stock and I am within the capacities. If you can hurt a stock truck Dodge would be having tons of people coming in with damaged engines, for every 1 guy on here who worries about EGTs or RPMs in a certain gear there are 19 others who have no idea and push them constantly, rarely changing the fuel filters and barely following the maintenance guildlines.

 

[DPelletier]

If you can hurt a stock truck Dodge would be having tons of people coming in with damaged engines, for every 1 guy on here who worries about EGTs or RPMs in a certain gear there are 19 others who have no idea and push them constantly, rarely changing the fuel filters and barely following the maintenance guildlines.

I agree.

I would only suggest that you avoid sustained full throttle operation under 2200 rpm and over 2800 rpm and that you let the turbo cool down for approx. 3 min before shutting down at the end of a long pull (i. e. a rest area at the top of the hill).



Cheers,

Dave

 

[LesStallings]

Good advice from all and I will follow it.



And yes Jim, I'm thinking about an exhaust brake. Does the PacBrake have provisions for a EGT sensor like some of the Jake's do? If I only get one gage sometime in the future, EGT seems the one to have.

 

[cwsoules]

I would get the EGT. I use mine all the time when towing in hills to keep from overheating my turbo charger bearings.

 

[SnoKing]

jelag



Sent you a PM. SNOKING

 

[rluft]

I was reading a performance diesel website that said that when climbing you should be in a gear that allows you to accelerate. In other words don't lug along in too high a gear. I thought that sounded like good advice, but with an auto I don't have a lot of choice, you with 6 speed might benefit.



Being 'new' to you I would change all fluids so that you have a baseline for future maintenace. I would also suggest using synthetic oils of you choice, I like Amsoil.



Enjoy your new truck.

 

[LesStallings]

As part of the purchase "deal", I got the 45,000 mile "B" service done by the Dodge dealer. I figured that way I would be sure of the fluids, including the differential.



I totally agree that it is important to know the baseline!

 

[ProspectorTim]

IF you decide you have to have an exhaust brake... let me know... I'd love to quote you... .



Jim

Quote? PM or email is ok for me.



I plan to add exhaust brake sooner or later (maybe right after I install gauges). I have stock exhaust now, but will upgrade to 4" if I ever discover an exhaust leak or broken pipe/muffler/etc (it may need some help ). Do I need to get 4" pipe before installing an exhaust brake? (i. e. , they are not one-size-fits-all, right?)



Truck details are in the signature hyperlink.

 

[hammersley]

Remember EGT's can go through the roof at lower RPM's... ..... and to cool her down you usually have to accelerate - assuming you're not on 5x5 and fullbore... ...

 

[Radshooter]

Les... Congrats on your purchase. I tow a 17K+ fiver with my stock 03. I have an EGT and Boost guage installed. I am glad I have the EGT, because on some of the hills between SLC and Vegas, I was pushing max and had to back off. I tend to tow in the 2400-2600 RPM range, and select the gear that lets me do that with the load and hill conditions. I could run the EGT right up to 1300 and back off just a bit to hold it around 1150-1200. I was glad I had it and believe it paid for itself on that one trip.

Good luck

Drive carefully

Steve

 

[Schicken bone]

Good advice from all and I will follow it.



And yes Jim, I'm thinking about an exhaust brake. Does the PacBrake have provisions for a EGT sensor like some of the Jake's do? If I only get one gage sometime in the future, EGT seems the one to have.

o. k. i just put the egt gauge in the pac brake. banks says it shiuld be in the exhaust manifold but i "think" it will be ok as long as i deduct "300 degrees". i am not sure if the pac brake was made to use the pyro but everything seemed to match up. i just ran the 6 gun/speed loader as hard as i could and only seen 800 degrees. with the camper "15000#" i know it will bw higher but i never pull with all the "juice". i hope jim tells you that the pac brake is ready for the egt, cause if he doesn't, i made a big mistake.

 

[mhenon]

Dealer service

Uh Oh..... you let the dealer service it????

Rule #1: "Don't ever let the dealer touch your truck"



Really... good luck with your new (used) Dodge/Cummins. I doubt that you could hurt it if you wanted to. 60,000 miles eh! Well, it will be fully broke in real soon. My '02 just hit 60k and the mileage keeps creeping up. Hook up your trailer let 'er rip!

Enjoy... ... Mike

 

[Bill Stockard]

If you can hurt a stock truck Dodge would be having tons of people coming in with damaged engines, for every 1 guy on here who worries about EGTs or RPMs in a certain gear there are 19 others who have no idea and push them constantly, rarely changing the fuel filters and barely following the maintenance guildlines.

Yep, that's right... do the math.



Over one million Cummins B5. 9s sold in Dodge trucks, subtract roughly 20,000 of us on the TDR site, and maybe 20% wrecked or otherwise no longer in service, and there could be 3/4 of a million of Dodge/Cummins trucks operating in the conditions described above!



It's unbelivable some of the abuse I've seen these engines take in commercial and agricultural applications and they keep on running doing the job they are expected to do.



Bill