I have a toybox travel trailer which I just hauled loaded the first time. Trailer by itself is around 8500 lbs dry (per sticker) and I had a guesstimated cargo of around 3500 lbs. I noticed right away that my G56 shuddered really bad in 2nd gear. I started off in 1st to get the load moving because 2nd just wouldnt cut it. All the other gears seemed fine although I had to run the rpm up to darn near 3000 before shifting because when I shifted below that, rpm's would drop down too low and seemed to lug the motor. I hear of other guys pulling 20K+ and wonder what their G56's are doing. Is this normal clutch slippage because of the weight or am I starting to have a problem?

 

that doesn't sound good at all. i would get that checked on. someone can answer better than me.

 

2nd wouldnt cut it? Does that mean you tried it in 2nd?

 

I could take off in 2nd, it just felt like I had to slip the clutch to keep rpm's up. If I didnt slip the clutch a little, I'm sure it would have lugged the motor to the point where it would shut down.

 

The problem sounds like it could be clutch to me. I would definately start off in 1rst with that kind of load so you dont have to burn your clutch.

 

were you slipping your clutch hard prior to that (i.e. trying to start in 2nd)? i have felt mine shudder when im backing heavy up a hill. i assumed it was the clutch from slipping too much and/or the motor lugging

 

I may have been. After that I started using first to try to avoid that shudder. Since then I havent felt it, of course I havent been towing the trailer either. If this is the only thing I have to worry about since I have had my truck, I will consider myself lucky. I have been hearing more and more about the 06's having all sorts of problems....

 

Do you have a two piece driveshaft? My '03 shudders but I have the two piece driveshaft problem and need to lower the carrier bearing.

 

I'm no expert, but trying to start off in 2nd gear with 35" tires pulling 12,000 pounds probably isn't that good for the clutch. I never use any throttle before clutch is completely out and haven't needed it up to 24k trailer.

 

.....2nd gear starts are for when your haulin groceries. Use that "1" when you need to get the load moving.

 

Yeah, that makes sense. I guess I was just used to starting off in 2nd and just wasnt thinking. Now, do you think i did any permanent damage by doing this? Should I think about calling South Bend Clutch and having those guys ship me some goodies for someone to install for me? Or maybe take it to the dealer and have them look at it? Or just live and learn and use the "granny gear" when towing my toy hauler?

 

Like the guys above said, you may have heated up the clutch a bit, or you just expierienced a little driveline shudder. Either way you need to be a little easier on the go pedal when getting a load moving.

If you had an automatic I would say you just wasted your tranny, but seeing as you have a 6spd you didn't hurt it at all.

Wait till your going about 20mph before you try and catch up to the guys with automatics. They WILL get away from you at a traffic light with a 6spd.

The stock engine tune seems to have a weird powerband. It is really laggy up to about 2300rpm but then sets you back in the seat till about 3000 rpm, by then you need to shift and repeat this scenario all over again in the next gear.

It is really noticeable in 1st and 2nd how the power comes on so fast when you have your foot buried and nothings happening, but then "whammy" there it is, along with a shudder when you have a full load.

I downloaded the Bully Dog and now the power is more linear (pulls from the bottom to the top) without any lag or spikes. Mind you it will smoke tremendously on the performance tune if you get on it in 2nd, but at least it isn't so laggy.

Hope this helps....................Jim

 

Thanks, Jim. I just hope I didn't do permanent damage to the clutch plates. Also, I was leery about getting rpm's so high before shifting. I found that it will do better if I rev it up to 3000 before shifting, but then it still drops down to 1200 on the next gear. I guess it's just a heavy trailer that needs to be shifted differently. From now on I will use 1st gear to start off, get rpm's to 3000 then shift to next gear, and so on... Is this the recommended way to do it with a heavy load? If anyone from SBC want's to chime in, I'm all ears!

 

The RockTekk replacement sensor solves this powerband problem. You end up with a nice, smooth powerband from idle up to ~3000 RPM. Best $80 you can spend.

 

I pull 15k everyweek and have never driven this truck without a 15k trailer behind it and a 2k cab over on the truck. I take off in first and rev to about 25 in each gear and mines smooth as silk and gets right up to speed. your right though , second gear take off doesnt work. sounds like your letting the truck loose momentum between 1st and second and the rpm's are getting to low. shift a little quicker and dont step on it so hard while its at a low lugging rpm. try 2500 in every gear