Towing

[CamperDave]

I finally got a chance to put my CTD to good use. The 200' mud path that some people might call my driveway was dry and solid enough to pull-out my 29' toy-box. I had the toy-box delivered last year, then went out and found my truck. So today we hooked everything up for the first time and went for a ride! Everything went well, went down the hi-way 20 miles and back, found an empty parking lot and practiced backing up. This was important because it's the only way I'm gonna get my trailer back in my yard.

So here's the deal. Trailer weight is about 7,000 empty, add some bikes and some gear, we'll call it 9000 ready to go! Hitch weight (by the book) is 965. Got a nice Reese WD setup. The truck is stock except for an aFe air cleaner and a dealer re-flash for towing (by PO).

And now the questions. Is it OK to hit the O/D off button when going up hills? She wasn't changing gears, but she was slowing down (65 to 50 using cruise). Any suggestions (performance box) for adding a little extra umph without going too crazy, I don't want to rebuild the tranny quite yet. I'm just looking for a little something to make towing a little easier. I've got the EGT and tranny temp gauges on the bench, ready to install before I take my trailer out again. Fuel pressure gauge already in.

Thanks for any suggestions, hints, tips or general abuse :nutkick:

[Moose]

I'd go with either the Van Aaken box or the Edge EZ. It seems to be that, you are allowed one "Fueling Bomb" before you need to address the Tranny. :m2c: Any more than that then you A; just Churning the Tourque Converter, and B; Making heat that will cook your Tranny (See Item A.) :eek: Moose

[TORQUE THIS]

A Van Aaken or an EZ, Smarty, in most cases will cook your tranny. It will just be a matter of time.

I would go with 275's if you have no funds for a tranny rebuild.

However, before you do anything, BUY GAUGES! Fuel pressure, EGT (exhaust gas temp), boost, and tranny temp gauge.

[CamperDave]

Gauges... I have gauges! But they probably don't do much sitting on my workbench :duh: I do promise to install them!

The 275's are?? Injectors??

If I left everything stock and put up with chuggin up hills, do you think I'll be OK tranny-wise??

If I did get a "fueling bomb" and I had gauges, could I watch the gauge and prevent cooking the tranny??

What kind of tranny work should I expect to do to keep my truck and trailer a happy couple?? What kind of $$$ are we talking about?? (need to start the tranny fund) And who in the CT (or NE) area would you recommend?

Thanks in advance! :yourock:

[TORQUE THIS]

275's are injectors... (sorry)

Your trans temp gauge will definetley help keeping an eye on the tranny.

Going up hills it is better to take OD off. Lugging the motor will towing will increase tranny temps.

As far as shops in CT, you can PM TnLRacing (Mike) he is in Hamden.
For NE, www.massdiesel.com (Scott) he is in Mass, just a few miles from the Patriots stadium.

[John DiMartino]

Gauges... I have gauges! But they probably don't do much sitting on my workbench :duh: I do promise to install them!

The 275's are?? Injectors??

If I left everything stock and put up with chuggin up hills, do you think I'll be OK tranny-wise??

If I did get a "fueling bomb" and I had gauges, could I watch the gauge and prevent cooking the tranny??

What kind of tranny work should I expect to do to keep my truck and trailer a happy couple?? What kind of $$$ are we talking about?? (need to start the tranny fund) And who in the CT (or NE) area would you recommend?

Thanks in advance! :yourock:


yes,leave it stock and the trans will be just fine if it is in good condition.That is my recommendation,do not add power if your towing until you can afford to build the trans.

275's are injectors,i wouldnt waste my time with them,they dont add enough power to really feel,unless someone gives them to you or they are next to free,skip them.Remember anything that does add a "hit" of extra power will also slip the transmission.

I agree with TqT,get those guages installed!

[CamperDave]

Thanks all.
So I get the feeling that I'd be asking for tranny trouble adding just about anything power-wise. But that's cool, I'm sure I'll get by the way it is.... for now. And I promise the gauges will be in before I tow again.

[Diesel-less]

The auto trannys are pretty pathetic as far as strength goes haha im a hardcore dodge cummins guy and i admit it...the trannys suck! but once you get it built, you will realize how much you were missing :) Even a valve body will make a BIG difference, but i highly reccomend going with a full DTT jobber...then you can have all the fun you want! sticks, boxes....heck...drugs even *evil grin* just remember to keep as much air in your motor as fuel, or you'll melt the pistons LOL

Diesel-less

[Big John]

Jumping on the "shut the od off" band wagon, I seem to recall that if you lugg the motor pulling a load you also increase EGT's, I may be off a bit on that one but I don't think so. I pull a 33' Travel Trailer that grosses 9700# so I'm with you in the heavy trailer catagory, what weight spring bars are you using with your WD set up?? Cowchester is about 20 mins from my house, Coffee sometime??

[sooter]

you can up the stock line pressure in the valve body a little to help hold an ez, va, etc.

[CamperDave]

Hey look, my thread came back to life!

Just to update ya, I got the gauges in (tranny temp, EGT, and fuel pressure). Took our first camping trip a few weeks ago up to NH. On the way up it was a bit breezy and on the hills it would down shift, so I decided to leave O/D off (no cruise either). I calc'ed the fuel mileage at 9.5 mpg. On the way back I thought I'd see what the truck wanted to to. Once I got on the hi-way (91S) I set the cruise for 64 and left it alone. On every hill it would slow to about 58, down-shift till it got back up to about 62 (usually near the top of the hill) and then kicked back into O/D. It didn't "hunt" except for the downshift on the hills, so I figured I was OK. Calc'ed the fuel mileage at 12.6 mpg. Hmmm, I guess the truck knows what it has to do :exactly: We are leaving for NH again Thursday, I'll just set it and forget it!

Big John, the bars are Resse 1200 wt. Once a few more of my spring-time chores are done I'll be available for coffee (but I have discovered by going to CT coffee night that coffee does come in cans and bottles too :coorslight: )

[DMcpherson]

I used to tow with an ez and I loved it, I still have a stock trans and I tow a boat and car trailer with 120 hp injectors and a van aaken and I go easy but havent had any problems. I wouldent reccomend it but I do. the va or ez would be a good upgrade

[Big John]

I run the 12's as well, maybe we can convoy down one night

[CamperDave]

Well, towed again last week.
This time, we went heavy. Two 600+ lb bikes and enough food to feed 6 hungry bikers for 4 days. I figured I was pulling 10,000 lbs. I'm not sure my poor old truck liked it very much. I saw egts of 1250 and tranny temps of 210. When I could get a good run going downhill (75 or so) I could keep 60~65 by the hiltops, but on the backroads and in traffic it would slide down to 55. If I pushed the go pedal anymore it would downshift 2 gears and I be WFO at 3500 rpms!

I think I may need a 4.11 rear-end...
And some tranny work...
And a chip...
Oh ya, still have to replace the turbo :Paully6:

[sooter]

ugh, i'd hate a 4.10 gearset unless pulling everday. an ez or whatever will easily cure that power problem of yours.

ask torquethis about upping the line pressures and what it'll hold...

[Big John]

Hey Soot! I cant tell from your photo what kind of mirrors you've got, I know your sig says stainless, but......inquiring minds are nosey...

[Big John]

Well, towed again last week.
This time, we went heavy. Two 600+ lb bikes and enough food to feed 6 hungry bikers for 4 days. I figured I was pulling 10,000 lbs. I'm not sure my poor old truck liked it very much. I saw egts of 1250 and tranny temps of 210. When I could get a good run going downhill (75 or so) I could keep 60~65 by the hiltops, but on the backroads and in traffic it would slide down to 55. If I pushed the go pedal anymore it would downshift 2 gears and I be WFO at 3500 rpms!

I think I may need a 4.11 rear-end...
And some tranny work...
And a chip...
Oh ya, still have to replace the turbo :Paully6:

EGT's sound a little high, I'd go with a chip and tranny work, tranny first then evaluate the need for lower gears and a turbo:m2c:

[BelgianMagic]

Well, towed again last week.
This time, we went heavy. Two 600+ lb bikes and enough food to feed 6 hungry bikers for 4 days. I figured I was pulling 10,000 lbs. I'm not sure my poor old truck liked it very much. I saw egts of 1250 and tranny temps of 210. When I could get a good run going downhill (75 or so) I could keep 60~65 by the hiltops, but on the backroads and in traffic it would slide down to 55. If I pushed the go pedal anymore it would downshift 2 gears and I be WFO at 3500 rpms!

I think I may need a 4.11 rear-end...
And some tranny work...
And a chip...
Oh ya, still have to replace the turbo :Paully6:

I know I should NOT HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS ,BUT,

Going North is all UP-HILL... coming back is down-hill also

If you change rears...your gonna loose mpg BAD

try a torque converter lock switch ,and lock out OD on hills you should be fine

,Flip:smokin:

[sooter]

big john, west coast style...same as found on the older chevy heavy duties.

(installed the right way so they wont rust aginst the doors)

http://www.thegroundsmaster.com/images/mirror1.jpg
http://www.thegroundsmaster.com/images/mirror2.jpg

you can actually see more out of the right mirror, i just had the camera down a lil bit.

[BelgianMagic]

big john, west coast style...same as found on the older chevy heavy duties.

(installed the right way so they wont rust aginst the doors)

http://www.thegroundsmaster.com/images/mirror1.jpg
http://www.thegroundsmaster.com/images/mirror2.jpg

you can actually see more out of the right mirror, i just had the camera down a lil bit.


HEY , I HAVE A SET OF THOSE ON MY FREIGHTLINER ! COOL

[sooter]

ha, yeah, it's a rare sight, i've seen probably 4 other trucks with the same style on (not some of the really hacked ones out there)...one being my dad's old one.

[CamperDave]

I know I should NOT HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS ,BUT,

Going North is all UP-HILL... coming back is down-hill also

If you change rears...your gonna loose mpg BAD

try a torque converter lock switch ,and lock out OD on hills you should be fine

,Flip:smokin:
Funny thing... I thought I had an easier time (with the temps) going up to NH then coming home :wtf2: Although... I was running 5 gallons of WVO in the tank on the way up...

Ok, so I've read about this TC lock switch before, but I'm still fuzzy on what it will do for me and my towing issue. Can someone explain??

I thought 1200 was ok for the egt???
I was more worried about the 210 tranny temp, is that ok??

My next trip is a 500 miler to WV, I really want to know what to watch for.

Thanks!

[Big John]

big john, west coast style...same as found on the older chevy heavy duties.

(installed the right way so they wont rust aginst the doors)

http://www.thegroundsmaster.com/images/mirror1.jpg
http://www.thegroundsmaster.com/images/mirror2.jpg

you can actually see more out of the right mirror, i just had the camera down a lil bit.

Funny, they look just like the ones I've got!!!:woohoo: I think the truck looks better with REAL mirrors!!

[Jim]

Funny, they look just like the ones I've got!!!:woohoo: I think the truck looks better with rust and oil leaks!!
To each there own:dunno:

[sooter]

if i ever get another truck or repaint this one i'll put some factory tow mirrors on (would look a lot better with stacks). oh well, not much i can do now.

..maybe i just need to keep this one, and buy a second truck..auto, stacks, lift... it's only money:dunno:

[Big John]

There's not much rust on my truck, and I'm looking to get that fixed as well, what are you going to complain about when it's pretty and doesn't leak!!!:nutkick:

[BelgianMagic]

if i ever get another truck or repaint this one i'll put some factory tow mirrors on (would look a lot better with stacks). oh well, not much i can do now.

..maybe i just need to keep this one, and buy a second truck..auto, stacks, lift... it's only money:dunno:


MORE LANDSCAPE...MORE LANDSCAPE !!$$$$:smokin:

[BelgianMagic]

Funny thing... I thought I had an easier time (with the temps) going up to NH then coming home :wtf2: Although... I was running 5 gallons of WVO in the tank on the way up...

Ok, so I've read about this TC lock switch before, but I'm still fuzzy on what it will do for me and my towing issue. Can someone explain??

I thought 1200 was ok for the egt???
I was more worried about the 210 tranny temp, is that ok??

My next trip is a 500 miler to WV, I really want to know what to watch for.

Thanks!

IT LOCKS THE CONVERTER SO THE TRANNY acts like a standard ...but the tranny will ONLY SHIFT UP WITH IT LOCKED... you have to put the switch somewhere you are not gonna flip it by mistake, and if you forget to switch it off when you stop ...IT WILL STALL THE MOTOR...

i'm still waiting for Doug to help me put mine in he is an electrical GENIUS

SO if you lock out od and lock the converter ,the converter is NOT BEATING the oil to a steamy temp..no slipping

[CamperDave]

SO if you lock out od and lock the converter ,the converter is NOT BEATING the oil to a steamy temp..no slippingInteresting... So, on the bigger hills I can lock out OD, lock up the converter and press the pedal to the floor... and not worry about the tranny wanting to drop down to 1st???

OK, so besides the stalling when I go brain-dead, are there any other downsides??

[sooter]

MORE LANDSCAPE...MORE LANDSCAPE !!$$$$:smokin:

i'm trying... my first year in the this business alone and i've already had to cut back my hours/days with the guy i work for (now wed-fri) since i'm getting enough business. people will pay good money for good work and i'm already getting word of mouth...i love it.

[sooter]

Interesting... So, on the bigger hills I can lock out OD, lock up the converter and press the pedal to the floor... and not worry about the tranny wanting to drop down to 1st???

OK, so besides the stalling when I go brain-dead, are there any other downsides??

first part: yes

second part: yes, upshifting locked is hard on the clutches, and if you leave it in OD locked, it will stay there when you slow down even when the rpms are too low.

[CamperDave]

second part: yes, upshifting locked is hard on the clutches, and if you leave it in OD locked, it will stay there when you slow down even when the rpms are too low.OK, I think I'm starting to get it... :Paully6:
But what I was thinking of is on the highway, doing 65, hit a hill, lock-out the OD, throw the switch to lockup the TC and then I could get into the GO pedal without all the downshifting drama!!! As it is right now without the TC lockup switch, if I get into the pedal (even with the OD locked out) my truck will downshift (I think to 1st!), the RPM's will spike over 3000, scare the crap out of the wife, still not go any faster, then shift to 2nd if I let up. But if I push it to the floor, there's 1st again! :omg:

[sooter]

hmm. let me see how to word it the right way.

assuming you have 3:54 gears...


say you're towing uphill at 65mph with overdrive off:
at 3/4 throttle, you should be running about 2600,2700rpms in 3rd gear with the converter locked up. put your foot to the floor and the converter unlocks to where the motor runs about 3000-3200 before the stock defueling really kicks in.


...now if you manually lock the converter with overdrive off, you will run at the 2600,2700rpms or so. the only difference is..is when you put your foot to the floor, the converter will NOT unlock and rev to 3000+. to get to 3000 or more rpms, the truck needs to accelerate more.

...also, 65mph with overdrive on will yield about 1900rpms. when you floor it with the converter clutch manually locked up, the converter will not unlock and the truck will not downshift to third.

[CamperDave]

Yep, that all sounds about right... And I do have the 3.5 gears.
But let me ask you this.
Manually lock the converter (with OD off) running at the 2600/2700rpms doing 65 when I start up the hill. Will I be able to hold 65 by flooring it? Or do I need the tranny to downshift? What trouble am I asking for by doing this? (egt too high, tranny temp too high, too much stress of the stock tranny,...)

[sooter]

if your motor has enough power, it will hold 65mph...so yes, you can put it to the floor (and it wont donshift or unlock the converter).

at that rpm, the transmission will love you since the pressures will be up, the motor will too since boost will be high. the only problem would be egts IF you have big injectors, high end fueling from drag comp, tst, etc....but stock you wouldn't have to worry about it.