Just back from Fl-Maine-Fl trip, 3K Truck Camper. Pulled all the Hills in 6th gear, South on 81 Out of Scranton, Pretty Good Hill. Topped it at 73, from 62 at bottom. Question, Am I Asking to much? Should I back off? EGT pre turbo, 1050 max, with 22 lbs boost,( stock). Is it better to run in 5th, will I kill the clutch in 6th. Not used to the power, use to limping along in the slow lane in 3rd ( Older GM diesel )....

 

EGT's are looking good!! With only 3000 pounds you are fine!! If the Truck CANNOT accelerate then you need to drop to a lower gear! If you get on a MASSIVE hill/mountain= Take your time and drop to a lower gear. Take care of the Beast and it will take care of you !

 

I think you want to run it around 2k. Depends all on your speed and RPMs. Don't lug it in 6th. Assuming you have a 6spd, 3.54 gears and 265/75/16 tires, I'd run 5th gear up to about 55 MPH - 2200 RPM.

 

I stay in 6th unless traffic slows me down. As I posted in a couple of other threads here, I tow a 7x14 utility trailer with a dyno inside. I believe that the total weight is around 5500#. I've been through the Scranton, PA area with it several times, and I've had no problems. Even on the return trip on I-84 just across the line into NY, going up that mountain wasn't a problem.

 

i stay in 6th, until someone else causes me to slow, that of course is in a straight line, arond curves i use my head though.

if i am pulling and the rpm's get below 1800, i will downshift. i do it now mostly by sound and feel.

 

General "Rule of Thumb" I use is if you can accelerate, you're ok.

 

I run in 6th pulling a three horse goose with living quaters with mostly our two horses and on the bigger hills I usally always drop to 5th about the middle of the hill just because I like to be in 5th with the load goin down the other side. I will usally run in 6th tell i like said before see the rpms droping below 1800 i usally run in 5th @ 2200-2300rpm at around 55-60mph with the truck and have had no problems.

 

Thanks all, 5th gear it is... Truck has to out live me....

DynoDynamics: I Did have a little trouble on the East bound Port Jervis hill, but I stopped for fuel at the NJ truck stop at the bottom exit. (2.24 in Oct ).
Had to accelerate off the entry ramp onto the hill.
Shifted to 6th to soon, lost MPH, That is a short hill, but
I think steeper than it looks,.
Where in NE are you???

 

Qwest, I'm in Massachusetts, south of Boston.

It's a short hill, but steep. A lot of trucks get down to about 45 mph or so going up that hill.

I'm guessing your truck is stock? Mine is stock except for the Quad Xzillaraider. That may be why I haven't had any problems on any hill I've been on.

 

Still stock, Thinking about a smarty...

 

Exactly what he said

at times these things need to rev just a tad higher to do what u want them to, but with 3K behind u, u shouldnt have to worry... I downshift mine not cause i have to, but to take better care of it and not lose that pesky fifth gear nut. Not an issue with ur truck

Rick

 

Remember...old lesson from my trailer-truck driving days. Plan to go DOWN the hill in the same gear you went UP. I think 5th is the best choice - maintaining control over speed is important - but I also have the exhaust brake and am lovin' it !

 

I pulled a trailer right at 7k from W. Colo. to Tacoma and back this Spring and never got out of 6th. The Cummins pulled Soldiers' Summit, Snoqualmie and Tiger Hill like it was flat ground. Set the cruise and sit back; the CTD takes care of the uphills and the Jake handles the downgrades......LOVED IT !
If traffic, curves road conditions slow me down to 15 or 1600rpm and I'm on a real grade (5+ %) I usually grab 5th if I've got a load on. Others have kind of said it; 'if you can accelerate you're good'. That's pretty much it.

 

Well I just got home from pulling the three horse trailer up over dead-man and cabbage hill and its been the first time i pulled that way since i have done the upgrades an i pulled most of the way in 6th and only drop down to 5th on the hills and kicked it up to 2200rpms and 60mph and it pulled sweet zero problems at all i am further more happy with my truck. I ran in 5th most of the way up out of La Grande coming up Ukia just because. My egts never got above 1000 degrees but that could be inpart to it was 28 degrees out side but never the less i doubt it would have got over 1100

 

...........6th