10K pounds with the 6.4 2500

[SouthTexan]

I have a confession.. I loved my Ecoboost I had before this truck, Hated the sound. When I was running it hard it sounded like a family sedan. and now that I have a truck that sounds like a truck, I just don't like the sound of revving it over 3500 rpm for any length of time, like a long hill on the interstate for instance, I'm weird I guess!

That is normal after driving something mostly stays in lower rpms for so long. I felt the same way when I drove my wife's Infinti SUV when I had my old Ecoboost and even more so now that I have my Cummins. My wife's SUV rpm cruising at 70 mph is at 2,200 while my truck is only turning about 1,500 at that speed. That and the constant gear changes drive me nuts when I have to drive that thing.

As far as high revs go, it doesn't hurt your engine that much as long as oil is at operating temp which is generally 10-15 minutes after a cold start. One thing high revs does do though is contaminate your oil quicker since there is a direct correlation with fuel consumption and oil contamination. Basically the more fuel you use(high rpms) the more contamination your oil collects keeping it in your oil pan. This is why it is recommended you to change your oil sooner if you are in the higher rpms a lot such as towing.

 

[Docpaulo]

I have a confession.. I loved my Ecoboost I had before this truck, Hated the sound. When I was running it hard it sounded like a family sedan. and now that I have a truck that sounds like a truck, I just don't like the sound of revving it over 3500 rpm for any length of time, like a long hill on the interstate for instance, I'm weird I guess!

Im the same... i like my diesel ml350 that purrs along at 1800rpm.. 2200 when under some load...

But the hemi is a hemi... it performs at high rpms.. i think peak torque is 3600rpm or so?

Nothing like watching tfl truck on youtube doing the gauntlet in a hemi 6.4 fully loaded.. i think they said something like 2.8mpg? And they were at 5000rpm

 

[zonacats]

I have a 2016 2500 with the 6.4 and 3.73's. My 30 foot toyhauler is just shy of 10k fully loaded. I tow through the mountains of Arizona about once per month (about 300-400 miles per trip), all the way up to 7,000 feet. I think the truck does fine. Ive learned to find the sweet spots. Like others said, just take it easy and dont try to push it 75 mph everywhere. I stay around 65 mph and it does great. Ive towed in the Arizona summer 100+ degrees all day every day and ive never had an over heating issue with any component. Im very happy with the 6.4. Oh and i have 35" tires, which really hit the MPGs hard and didnt do me any favors in the towing power department but it still holds its own.

 

[Docpaulo]

Oh and i have 35" tires, which really hit the MPGs hard and didnt do me any favors in the towing power department but it still holds its own.

Thats impressive considering those 35s reduce your gear ratio probably closer to 3.5

 

[zonacats]

Thats impressive considering those 35s reduce your gear ratio probably closer to 3.5

I definitely pay for it though with the towing MPGs. I just got back from Glamis which is by Yuma and near sea level. Coming back home to northern AZ (home is 5,500 feet) is a steady up hill for 5 very long hours. I got the worst MPG i ever got... 5. I usually get about 8 fully loaded.

 

[Ratket]

Where in Az you located at? I just moved to Lake Havasu.

 

[ronheater70]

Ok you guys towing heavier with the 3:73's arent doing me any favors.. I was pretty set on dropping gears in and draining my checking account, but now I may hold off and see how it actually does. I havent even bought the new camper yet and may not even get it if I cant get a decent deal on my 1 yr old trade. But the point is, My wife and daughters want a bunkhouse camper, and not just a camper with bunk beds like we have now for the girls.. so im looking at 2-3K more than what I have because most of the ones THEY like have 2 slide outs in the bunkhouse for a total of 3.. so those are typically heavier. I just dont want to be 30 miles into a 200 miles trip to go camping for a week and think, crap this sucks.

 

[Rampant]

Ok you guys towing heavier with the 3:73's arent doing me any favors.. I was pretty set on dropping gears in and draining my checking account, but now I may hold off and see how it actually does. I havent even bought the new camper yet and may not even get it if I cant get a decent deal on my 1 yr old trade. But the point is, My wife and daughters want a bunkhouse camper, and not just a camper with bunk beds like we have now for the girls.. so im looking at 2-3K more than what I have because most of the ones THEY like have 2 slide outs in the bunkhouse for a total of 3.. so those are typically heavier. I just dont want to be 30 miles into a 200 miles trip to go camping for a week and think, crap this sucks.

You should be thanking us for saving you money! lol... spend it on something cool.

Seriously, I had a 32' Kodiak toyhauler that weighed 11k+ with my Polaris RZR in it and it did fine. We've since gotten away from camping, but that's another story.

I'm loaded with my '02 GMC Yukon and my '67 K10 with two motorcycles in the bed at about 10k in these pics... went over 1200 miles with each. It really did a good job. You'll be fine.

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[ronheater70]

You should be thanking us for saving you money! lol... spend it on something cool.

Seriously, I had a 32' Kodiak toyhauler that weighed 11k+ with my Polaris RZR in it and it did fine. We've since gotten away from camping, but that's another story.

I'm loaded with my '02 GMC Yukon and my '67 K10 with two motorcycles in the bed at about 10k in these pics... went over 1200 miles with each. It really did a good job. You'll be fine.

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Well, Just crap.. I mean do you guys EVER see fifth gear? I mean even in 4 at 65 its only what 2400 rpms or something isnt it? Is it hard on it driving hundreds of miles in 4th gear (and 3rd and second)

 

[Rampant]

Well, Just crap.. I mean do you guys EVER see fifth gear? I mean even in 4 at 65 its only what 2400 rpms or something isnt it? Is it hard on it driving hundreds of miles in 4th gear (and 3rd and second)

Sure, on flat land and 65ish it'll hold 5th no problem. You have to find it's sweet spot. If you are going too slow, it'll stay in lower gears because the shift schedule will always want to keep the motor in the meat of it's torque band to prevent lugging. For instance, mine will basically never shift out of 4th below 60 mph. It tows best at 60-70 for me.

I really believe changing diff fluids to Amsoil or Redline makes a difference. Keeps parasitic drag down and less friction=less heat. May also help a little with MPG.

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[zonacats]

Where in Az you located at? I just moved to Lake Havasu.

Im in Prescott

 

[sandawilliams]

I have a 2016 2500 with the 6.4 and 3.73's. My 30 foot toyhauler is just shy of 10k fully loaded. I tow through the mountains of Arizona about once per month (about 300-400 miles per trip), all the way up to 7,000 feet. I think the truck does fine. Ive learned to find the sweet spots. Like others said, just take it easy and dont try to push it 75 mph everywhere. I stay around 65 mph and it does great. Ive towed in the Arizona summer 100+ degrees all day every day and ive never had an over heating issue with any component. Im very happy with the 6.4. Oh and i have 35" tires, which really hit the MPGs hard and didnt do me any favors in the towing power department but it still holds its own.

View attachment 118071

I've towed 35000+ miles with my 6.4 and 3.73's with no problems. Living in Colorado I am always either going up the mountain or down. Made trips to Alaska, Newfoundland and all points in between. My trailer is 8000+ lbs, with another 1000+ in the bed. (ATV, generator, blocks, gas, etc.) Some here talk about 4th vs. 5th gear towing. Prior to the pedal commander I could hardly ever hit 5th gear. Now I am in 5th often and my towing MPG has increased by .5MPG It may not sound like much but when your getting 9 MPG an extra .5 is relevant.

 

[zonacats]

Sure, on flat land and 65ish it'll hold 5th no problem. You have to find it's sweet spot. If you are going too slow, it'll stay in lower gears because the shift schedule will always want to keep the motor in the meat of it's torque band to prevent lugging. For instance, mine will basically never shift out of 4th below 60 mph. It tows best at 60-70 for me.

I really believe changing diff fluids to Amsoil or Redline makes a difference. Keeps parasitic drag down and less friction=less heat. May also help a little with MPG.

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Yeah i agree. The RPMs are alittle high but it doesnt bother me. I have 25k miles on it with no issues. Just find a good cruising speed where its not hunting for gears. I dont remeber off hand but i think mine cruises pretty well around 2,500 - 2,700 ish.

 

[ronheater70]

I dont have a lot of flat ground here, I do have a lot of long steady grades, although as far as steeper grades go (6% or more) those are further in between.

 

[Skrap]

So, a lot of you are saying that when you are towing you are holding 4th gear or dropping to 3rd going up grades and you can cruise in 5th or 6th on the interstate while towing.

Does this mean that you enter the highway or interstate with your truck in auto and then once up to speed you "shift" it into manual and use the button on the shifter lever to change gears to the optimum rpm range, etc? Or are you taking off from a stop in the manual mode?

And OP, what TT are you looking at for the girls? I wouldn't spend any money on gears until you have the new trailer and you think it is absolutely necessary. $4K can buy a lot of camping/travel trailer stuff. Guns and ammo!!!

 

[ronheater70]

So, a lot of you are saying that when you are towing you are holding 4th gear or dropping to 3rd going up grades and you can cruise in 5th or 6th on the interstate while towing.

Does this mean that you enter the highway or interstate with your truck in auto and then once up to speed you "shift" it into manual and use the button on the shifter lever to change gears to the optimum rpm range, etc? Or are you taking off from a stop in the manual mode?

And OP, what TT are you looking at for the girls? I wouldn't spend any money on gears until you have the new trailer and you think it is absolutely necessary. $4K can buy a lot of camping/travel trailer stuff. Guns and ammo!!!

Oh ^^^ Good questions, about the driving style!

Skrap, Im looking at a Wildwood 31qbts.. and Im seeing varying weights on them, but the one I physically went and looked at had a dry weight of 8800.. so thats why Im assuming around 10K +/-. However If I dont get that one I will get another brand of bunkhouse similar to it that may weigh a little more or a little less.. I just am using 10K as a guideline.

I currently pull my 6500 ish trailer wonderful..

 

[Rampant]

So, a lot of you are saying that when you are towing you are holding 4th gear or dropping to 3rd going up grades and you can cruise in 5th or 6th on the interstate while towing.

Does this mean that you enter the highway or interstate with your truck in auto and then once up to speed you "shift" it into manual and use the button on the shifter lever to change gears to the optimum rpm range, etc? Or are you taking off from a stop in the manual mode?

And OP, what TT are you looking at for the girls? I wouldn't spend any money on gears until you have the new trailer and you think it is absolutely necessary. $4K can buy a lot of camping/travel trailer stuff. Guns and ammo!!!

I don't usually shift manually. I just put it in tow/haul mode and it does pretty well. I was used to manually downshifting in my Chevy to engine brake on hills, so I experimented with my Ram.

I found that it's pretty intelligent and if you just trust it and let it do it's thing, it does pretty well. Even when towing with cruise on, it will downshift and apply brakes as needed to keep things in check.

Below are pics at 65 in my truck with 3.73 gearing and 35" tires to show RPMs in 4th, 5th, and 6th gears. This is on flat ground, empty. According to GPS, my speedo is accurate to +/-1 mph.

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[smurfs_of_war]

Looks like I am late to this party. I will parrot most of the others. Leave the gears and save your money. Get the trailer you want. The revs aren't hurting a damn thing and it won't over rev. Hook up, take off the chain and let the big dog eat. I find the sound of this big brute working for it's meal sweet and soothing.

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[Jerry10389]

We have a toy hauler, close to 10K wet and loaded. I've not had an issue with my 6.4 and 3:73's. I don't usually tow more than 62 - 65 anyway, much slower on the two lane obviously. I put 275 Duratracks on it but otherwise it's stock. I wouldn't change it. My old diesel was nice, but more cost, more maintenance, more etc...

If you want a diesel, it will two better, but what you have will work just fine. If you change your gearing and drive it as a daily driver, you'll probably regret that later.

 

[Ramit355]

What is your all thoughts of the 2019 5.7 Hemi coming with 6 lug 3.92 gear and rated to pull 12700?