H&S Towing thoughts
 

Its finally camping time and as I use my 5er to live in while I work away from home I generally pull it all over the place from spring to fall. Finally got my first towing experience lately and I'm not that impressed with my new truck as I was with my 07 5.9L 6 speed manual, though I had that truck pushing a lot more power. My new truck is really gutless in the higher ranges, from 0-80 kph it pulls hard but the truck then has a hard time maintaining 100kph (highway speeds) climbing any hills is like pulling teeth, it won't pull its way through any gears from 4-6. I have completely locked 6th gear out and I stay in 5th to keep RPMS at 1900. This is on stock power with 315's for rubber. Im really fighting the urge to put the mild setting on my H&S but don't want to risk putting my tranny in harms way. My trailer only weighs 9,000LBS, so its not ridiculously heavy or anything. Anyone out there adding extra power on a stock tranny and having good luck?

That's too bad, I tow 10-11k on the highway with mine (all stock, 285s) and it will maintain 70-75 up 6% grades at 8,000'. Sometimes I have to manually drop into 5th (auto) on the steeper stuff - but I couldn't be happier. I mean, the thing will haul a lot of weight faster than I really should be going, so I have no complaints. It's not like I'm getting passed. [roll]

I could be wrong but I think your issue is because of the tire size that you are using with the 3:73 diff's on your truck.
I have a 08 fully deleted with a Smarty S67 ME23 on CaTCHER level 3. My tire size is LT265/70R17/E, I have been this way since Aug. 09. I towed last year in the Rockies with no issues at all. I could easily maintain 60 to 65 MPH pulling my 5er up hill. The only time I would down shift to 5th gear was when the egt's where getting high. My 6th gear RPM's when towing is around 1600 RPM.
Jim W.

I'm on 315s w/ 3.73s in a 2012 deleted w/ H&S on the stock setting and it tows just fine. I came from a 600+hp 03 4x4 w/ built 48RE. I would much rather tow w/ my 2012 on stock.

I agree with the gear statement. With those tires, you need 4:10s! Then look out...

I think I will try and reload the tune, I haven't updated the blackmaxx since I bought the darn thing either, I will see how that goes, I agree with the tires bringing my gear ratio down but this thing should pull my trailer like nothing, its not that heavy at 9000LBS

I towed my 5er from KC to Florida last year, no issues at all, good power etc. I am about to order my MM and deletes, I plan to run deleted on stock while towing. Has anyone had head gasket issues, I plan on studs but may not have time to put them in prior to my next trip towing my 5er.

Head studs are a must in my opinion. Some may disagree, but you can get studs for a good price and they take about 5 hours to install....Well worth the investment!

I am a newbie Dodge owner. Having owned 5 previous Ford's (4-7.3's and one 6.0) I love Fords. But purchased a Dodge due to Ford just not wanting to deal with me this time. I swallowed my Ford pride and purchase a 2012 3500 dually Longhorn. Love the inter. of the truck. The ride is ok. Dodge doesn't put the same amount of metal in its Doors roof or tailgate. I gave up 4.5-5 mpg. However I have no complaint as to the way the dodge pulls. I am towing 14.5K totally stock.

Just an update on my problems I was having, I looked on the H&S website at the update list and descriptions and since I bought the programmer in january or so and hadn't updated it H&S had several software updates since then and one of them sometime in February fixed an issue with the 2012 cummins and addressed the powerless problem. I upgraded it two days ago and the truck is 10x better now. Wished I would have done the download sooner and I will pull soon hoping it'll solve everything.

Just getting back into Diesel's after a 13 yr break. Just bought a used Ram 2500 4x4 crew short bx 6.7L auto 3.73. Stock tires.

Lots of choices, so little time. We leave on a trip in a few weeks time. Aside from cold air kit, what type of tuner can I add without spending days removing stuff.

I saw the leading post by Blake, but am not sure I can just delete DPF, and do the cali- version and not wonder if the transmission will suffer?

Towing a GVWR 8200lb travel trailer and motorcycle in bed. Should not be and issue for this rig

Oh- saw something about a boost-fooler? Seems simple but what are implications?

My last was a 01 F250 4x2 7.3L and it towed stock like a mule on steroids. 22mpg at 75mph with the bed loaded.

I love this Dodge but the MPG's are a wee bit on the weak side.

How are things now??

Thanks

All in all, the programmer update did the trick, its a totally different truck and probably back to normal as it can get. Pulling my trailer isn't like pulling teeth like it was before I fixed the problem. If anyone is having the same issues be sure to update your programmer before you even think its a bigger problem. Thanks to whoever gave me that advice.

What level are you using?