Towing during break in period

[96Pirate]

I have a 2018 Laramie with the Hemi. The book says it is recommended that for the 1st 500 miles of towing to not exceed 50mph.

I currently have just over 1200 miles and have towed roughly 4500-5000 lbs approx 50 miles so far and have tried religiously to stick to 50 mph. It’s difficult to do on 2 lane 55mph roads knowing that I am holding up folks. It is the beginning of boating season and each trip is about 20 miles round trip so it will take me all season to reach the 500 miles.

I know the book says recommended. But what would be the difference between going 50mph vs 60mph? Why is the rule set at 50mph and not something higher?

Has anyone not followed this recommendation and sufferered long term issues?

Just trying to understand the thought process between 50mph vs 60mph or something else. What can get damaged?

I have a longer trip coming up Memorial Day weekend with higher min speed limits and I would hate to be in the slow lane with flashers on because I cannot carry the req speed. Not to mention the Ford and Chevy guys honking as they pass.

Thanks
Mike

 

[West27]

You have warranty. Drive it like you stole it!!

 

[yillbs]

I have a 2018 Laramie with the Hemi. The book says it is recommended that for the 1st 500 miles of towing to not exceed 50mph.

I currently have just over 1200 miles and have towed roughly 4500-5000 lbs approx 50 miles so far and have tried religiously to stick to 50 mph. It’s difficult to do on 2 lane 55mph roads knowing that I am holding up folks. It is the beginning of boating season and each trip is about 20 miles round trip so it will take me all season to reach the 500 miles.

I know the book says recommended. But what would be the difference between going 50mph vs 60mph? Why is the rule set at 50mph and not something higher?

Has anyone not followed this recommendation and sufferered long term issues?

Just trying to understand the thought process between 50mph vs 60mph or something else. What can get damaged?

I have a longer trip coming up Memorial Day weekend with higher min speed limits and I would hate to be in the slow lane with flashers on because I cannot carry the req speed. Not to mention the Ford and Chevy guys honking as they pass.

Thanks
Mike

The speed isnt' the issue, it's the RPM's. When you're going 50MPH your RPMS are X when you're going 60+MPH, you're RPM's are X. This means your entire drivetrain is spinning faster than they want it to. The good news is, they are posting optimal and they are likely factoring in that no one is going to do this. When you've been driving your truck for 20k, then you start towing, i'm pretty confident in stating you can disregard that statement about the first 500 miles, you're engine is broke in, your drivetrain is broke in, you're pretty much good to go.

Your rings are seated, and your components are nice and toasty. The ONLY thing I'd do in your situation is change the oil before you tow over 50MPH. Yea, it's only got 1200 miles on it, but it's 1200 miles of new parts hitting and grinding on one another. Really, an oil change isn't even needed, but it'd do it for peace of mind. do that, and you'll be golden. I'd try to keep it under 70-75. In all honesty you shouldn't be towing 5k+ pounds over 60MPH anyways. It's illegal to in many states.

 

[NewBlackDak]

It’s probably about heat on a new differential and properly seating rings.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TRCM]

I have a 2018 Laramie with the Hemi. The book says it is recommended that for the 1st 500 miles of towing to not exceed 50mph.

I currently have just over 1200 miles and have towed roughly 4500-5000 lbs approx 50 miles so far and have tried religiously to stick to 50 mph. It’s difficult to do on 2 lane 55mph roads knowing that I am holding up folks. It is the beginning of boating season and each trip is about 20 miles round trip so it will take me all season to reach the 500 miles.

I know the book says recommended. But what would be the difference between going 50mph vs 60mph? Why is the rule set at 50mph and not something higher?

Has anyone not followed this recommendation and sufferered long term issues?

Just trying to understand the thought process between 50mph vs 60mph or something else. What can get damaged?

I have a longer trip coming up Memorial Day weekend with higher min speed limits and I would hate to be in the slow lane with flashers on because I cannot carry the req speed. Not to mention the Ford and Chevy guys honking as they pass.

Thanks
Mike

Yes, I followed the recommendations in the owners manual for normal break in, to a 'T'. By the time I towed, I had ~ 700 miles on it. I had a few road trips that made it easy to get the 500 miles towing in reasonably quickly.

I have no long term problems, but then again, it's a 6 yr old truck with less than 25k on it.

I did go out driving after work for several hours almost every night, as I had a fishing tourney in 3 weeks, and I had to put the miles on it.

 

[96Pirate]

You have warranty. Drive it like you stole it!!

I try to outlast the warranty on my vehicles by keeping for 8-10 years. I’d prefer not to have to sink money into them after the warranty expires so doing what I can to prevent anything from happening is key for me.

I would agree with this thought process if I turned over vehicles before the warranties expired.

 

[96Pirate]

The speed isnt' the issue, it's the RPM's. When you're going 50MPH your RPMS are X when you're going 60+MPH, you're RPM's are X. This means your entire drivetrain is spinning faster than they want it to. The good news is, they are posting optimal and they are likely factoring in that no one is going to do this. When you've been driving your truck for 20k, then you start towing, i'm pretty confident in stating you can disregard that statement about the first 500 miles, you're engine is broke in, your drivetrain is broke in, you're pretty much good to go.

Your rings are seated, and your components are nice and toasty. The ONLY thing I'd do in your situation is change the oil before you tow over 50MPH. Yea, it's only got 1200 miles on it, but it's 1200 miles of new parts hitting and grinding on one another. Really, an oil change isn't even needed, but it'd do it for peace of mind. do that, and you'll be golden. I'd try to keep it under 70-75. In all honesty you shouldn't be towing 5k+ pounds over 60MPH anyways. It's illegal to in many states.

I thought about the rpm being higher but I could see you turning the same rpm in a lower gear doing less mph.

I am not familiar enough with how the rpm correlates to speed within the 8 gears. My point is doing a consistent 35 in a lower gear might turn the same rpm as 60 in 8th.

I have not tested that yet so maybe I am way off.

 

[14hemiexpress]

You have to consider load at RPM. When your in 1-5 you have mechanical advantage 6 is 1 to 1 if I'm not mistaken and 7 and 8 are both overdriven. So if your running 4k rpm with a mechanical advantage of the lower gears the engine isn't working as hard. The engine is working harder when your in overdrive. With that being being said hook that bad boy up and tow with it. I highly doubt that your going to do any damage.

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

You are waaaay over-thinking this. Go tow your boat. Have some fun and don't think about hurting your truck bo going 5 or 10 mph faster. What's that, another 300-400 rpms maybe?

Had an old racer/engine builder tell me just after I built my sbc 327, "Break it in like you're gonna drive it, you won't hurt it". Been doing that the last 40 years without any problems.

 

[crash68]

^^^ what he said
Hook and go. babying the truck isn't going to keep from something breaking.

 

[West27]

I try to outlast the warranty on my vehicles by keeping for 8-10 years. I’d prefer not to have to sink money into them after the warranty expires so doing what I can to prevent anything from happening is key for me.

I would agree with this thought process if I turned over vehicles before the warranties expired.

With vehicles now days it’s going to be the luck of the draw if you get a good one or not. You could baby the **** out of the truck and it could last 10 years with zero issues or you could get one and baby it and have nothing but problems.

I’m not saying abuse the truck when new but yea like other people have said you are way over thinking it. Use common sense when the truck is new but go have fun and pray you didn’t get a lemon haha

 

[Cardhu]

go tow your boat.

The break in on your R&P is complete in normal operation,

The loaded pattern on the R&P happens when you start towing and get some deflection past the normal wear pattern you developed in normal driving. You have already done several heat cycled short trips in that fashion in your first 50 miles. 50vs 60 mph is a non issue. As noted engine break in is completed and rings are seated. This is purely a differential conversation.

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/ft-1479-new-gear-break-in-procedure.html

https://www.marlincrawler.com/tech/diff/differential-break-and-care-information

https://www.yukongear.com/downloads/manuals/yukon_general_installation_instructions.pdf


I tow a travel trailer / boat with my 2014 and just changed the gear oil at 60 K Km. Looked brand new when i dumped it.

 

[96Pirate]

You have to consider load at RPM. When your in 1-5 you have mechanical advantage 6 is 1 to 1 if I'm not mistaken and 7 and 8 are both overdriven. So if your running 4k rpm with a mechanical advantage of the lower gears the engine isn't working as hard. The engine is working harder when your in overdrive. With that being being said hook that bad boy up and tow with it. I highly doubt that your going to do any damage.

Ok, that makes more sense. Thanks

 

[96Pirate]

You are waaaay over-thinking this. Go tow your boat. Have some fun and don't think about hurting your truck bo going 5 or 10 mph faster. What's that, another 300-400 rpms maybe?

Had an old racer/engine builder tell me just after I built my sbc 327, "Break it in like you're gonna drive it, you won't hurt it". Been doing that the last 40 years without any problems.

Lol...I tend to overthink a lot of things.

 

[96Pirate]

Thanks everyone for your input. It’s much appreciated.

The consensus is to not worry too much about it and just drive it like normal even if 5-10 mph over 50.

If I can I will change the oil before my planned trip in a few weeks but otherwise I will not worry too much about it.

Thanks again.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Thanks everyone for your input. It’s much appreciated.

The consensus is to not worry too much about it and just drive it like normal even if 5-10 mph over 50.

If I can I will change the oil before my planned trip in a few weeks but otherwise I will not worry too much about it.

Thanks again.

How long of a trip? I might consider doing a oil change after you get back instead of before.

 

[TRCM]

I followed it because I had to do a similar break in on my outboard, and if you do not follow it, they will know, and will likely tell you sorry if it breaks under warranty as a result of incorrect break in.

If you ain't priced outboards lately, they are pricey....mine was 8k with a 1 yr old trade in in excellent shape.

Without, would have been in the 13k+ range.

 

[96Pirate]

How long of a trip? I might consider doing a oil change after you get back instead of before.

About 60 miles each way with about 10 of it at 65-70 mph speed limit. Nothing major, just more than what I have been doing. What do you think? Wait until I have more towing mileage on it before I change? I will definately change before the normal interval, I just don’t know if I will have time before the trip.

 

[pacofortacos]

Well I barely had 500 miles on mine from new and towed a #4000-5000 boat about 3500 miles round trip at 70+ mph. That was 19,500 miles ago and have done that trip 3 times now. No problems

I do run premium gear lube though - prefer Redline 75-110 or 75-140 or Amsoil Severe gear same weights and change the gear lube every 2 years. Have never lost a rear end or bearing.

 

[14hemiexpress]

Right or wrong personally I would make the trip before the oil change. On normal driving conditions oil changes are around 10k miles. With full synthetic heat won't be a problem and only 2k miles your oil filter should catch anything. I dont think I would run a camper down the highway at 70 but I wouldn't hesitate to run it up to 60 and just move over if your backing up traffic just don't be in a hurry.