Need More Power

[DemonSpeedingXIII]

Just got a new travel trailer and my 2015 Sport 1500 5.7 struggled to haul up a 6% grade. Normal? I have a tow rating of 9850 based on this chart
https://www.ramtrucks.com/assets/towing_guide/pdf/2015_ram_1500_towing_charts.pdf

Trailer loaded weighs under 7000. MPG sucked climbing (3-4 mpg) as well although it did well on the freeway at 65 mph (10 mpg). I am not a gear head so maybe the answer is to buy an Eco-diesel or a 2500.

 

[huntergreen]

Are you running a 3:21 gear ratio?

 

[spoon059]

Define "struggled". The 5.7 Hemi should have plenty of power to pull a 7000 lbs trailer up a hill. I had a 5.7 Tundra that had about 10 less HP and that thing pulled my 6500 lbs trailer up steep grades without a problem. You will downshift and be pulling higher RPM's, but that is exactly how the engine was designed to run. Looks like you have 3.92 gears, that should be plenty. You can simply get your gears swapped if you truly don't have enough power. My gut tells me that you have the power, you are just uncomfortable taching 5000 RPM's to create it.

When you more than double the weight of your truck (adding 7000 lbs behind it), fuel economy will suffer. 10 mpg sounds about right for towing. My Ram 2500 with the CTD only gets 12.5 to 13 pulling my 9500 lbs camper... less when mountains are involved.

Towing a heavy trailer has tradeoff's. Don't listen to people who say they "can't feel the trailer back there" when towing with a pickup truck. They are either stupid or lying. I can feel an empty landscape trailer that weights 1000 lbs. Its ridiculous to think that someone truly cannot feel a difference towing.

 

[RedSRT4Me]

Are you running a 3:21 gear ratio?

I think this question will solve this problem.

Next question might be where do you find out?

There are many avenues. I prefer the method that doesn't require being dirty and use the Mopar App. I can get anything on my build, vin or whatever in seconds

 

[clay282]

If you want to find the gears and build sheet... you can sign up and register your truck at Mopar.com and you can get a build sheet and I think the window sticker as well.

I also like the question about defining how it's struggling. Friend pulled over on a steep road on his first time pulling a trailer and when we stopped to see what the deal was, he thought the transmission was quitting because it "wasn't shifting" and it was revved out to 4500rpm. I drove it and it was fine. It was just a truck, holding gears for power in the 100+ degree heat, dragging 6000lbs up a hill. He just thought it should keep shifting like normal and keep speeding up.

MPG when you tow is variable. A camper can be aerodynamic or it can be a billboard. Tow a 5000lb car on a 2000lb trailer = easy peasy. Tow a 7000lb extra tall box trailer = feel like a parachutes open behind you.

6% grade doesn't sound like much but in fact it is only %1 less than the Ike Gauntlet they use as a torture test for towing and 6% grade is considered the maximum for highway. I would just say you were working that big gal hard and she was drinking fuel and kicking ass!

 

[Firebird]

Are you running a 3:21 gear ratio?

This^^^^^
I'm in a loaner 1500 Hemi with 3.21 gears right now while warranty work is being performed, and what a pig! Every 1500 I ever owned had 3.92 gears, and there is no way in he** I would ever buy a 3.21 truck.

 

[69GWC]

My truck will pull my 28' trailer with no trouble at all you dont need 3:92s to pull that weight, would they help sure but not something you haft to have with the 8sp.
If he has a 8sp amd 3:21s he should be able to pull that just fine.

Dont think the Eco would serve you as well as the Hemi.
Eco, 240hp 420lbs
Hemi, 395hp 415lbs

 

[CanadianNick]

My truck will pull my 28' trailer with no trouble at all you dont need 3:92s to pull that weight, would they help sure but not something you haft to have with the 8sp.
If he has a 8sp amd 3:21s he should be able to pull that just fine.

Dont think the Eco would serve you as well as the Hemi.
Eco, 240hp 420lbs
Hemi, 395hp 415lbs

Yeah, that’s a big difference

 

[DemonSpeedingXIII]

Are you running a 3:21 gear ratio?

My window sticker says it is a 3.92

 

[DemonSpeedingXIII]

Define "struggled". The 5.7 Hemi should have plenty of power to pull a 7000 lbs trailer up a hill. I had a 5.7 Tundra that had about 10 less HP and that thing pulled my 6500 lbs trailer up steep grades without a problem. You will downshift and be pulling higher RPM's, but that is exactly how the engine was designed to run. Looks like you have 3.92 gears, that should be plenty. You can simply get your gears swapped if you truly don't have enough power. My gut tells me that you have the power, you are just uncomfortable taching 5000 RPM's to create it.

When you more than double the weight of your truck (adding 7000 lbs behind it), fuel economy will suffer. 10 mpg sounds about right for towing. My Ram 2500 with the CTD only gets 12.5 to 13 pulling my 9500 lbs camper... less when mountains are involved.

Towing a heavy trailer has tradeoff's. Don't listen to people who say they "can't feel the trailer back there" when towing with a pickup truck. They are either stupid or lying. I can feel an empty landscape trailer that weights 1000 lbs. Its ridiculous to think that someone truly cannot feel a difference towing.

Thanks, new to hauling heavy loads. Just ordered some of these https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Ram/1500/2015/TDRTT1500.html?vehicleid=201510782 to distribute the weight better and keep more weight in the front. Local octane is 85, would mid-grade or premium gas help with power?

 

[grizzstang]

89 (mid grade) is recommended in your owners manual. Many run 87 but they are not towing anything either. I would not run 85 at all.

 

[RedSRT4Me]

Thanks, new to hauling heavy loads. Just ordered some of these https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Ram/1500/2015/TDRTT1500.html?vehicleid=201510782 to distribute the weight better and keep more weight in the front. Local octane is 85, would mid-grade or premium gas help with power?

You'll notice a power increase going from 85 to 89. Is the back end of your truck sagging? Are you lifted?

My truck had no problem pulling my uhaul trailer loaded with beds and furniture moving from WA back to AZ. Plenty of 6% grades going through the rocky mountains.

 

[clay282]

Thanks, new to hauling heavy loads. Just ordered some of these https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Suspension/Ram/1500/2015/TDRTT1500.html?vehicleid=201510782 to distribute the weight better and keep more weight in the front. Local octane is 85, would mid-grade or premium gas help with power?

It's just part of it when your pulling a heavy load and you get used to it. I think the reason a gas motor working hard worries people is because of the RPM. Ford still builds tons of those V10 gas motors for class A RV's and they work hard! If your ever climbing one of those steep hills and see a big RV that's enclosed in back, you can't see vents for the engine = that's probably a gas V10 pulling all that. Roll down your windows and listen to them howl at wide open throttle. And they keep going. I'm sure the HEMI will be just as good at doing it.

Do you have a weight distribution hitch? That would help distribute the load better, I'd think, than suspension helpers. I'm not sure if the octane boost would help and if so, how much. I run a tank here and there of E85 and I feel like the E85 adds power but to be honest, it's not something I can measure and I don't know if it's all in my head.

 

[yillbs]

Lots of 321 hate. I have a truck with 321 gears, a 6 inch lift, and 35 inch tires. I haul 7500 pounds every other weekend with zero issues. Granted, i'm not in the mountains, but still. ******** about the 3.21 gears is ignorant, they do absolutely nothing for going up an incline. If you want more power then manually drop it into a gear that gets you there. If anything you'll get BETTER MPG going up the hill with 321 gears.

 

[grizzstang]

I think most if not all of his power issues are from using 85 Octane fuel in a truck that calls for 89. I tow in the mountains with mine and it does just fine.

 

[clay282]

I had to pull out the owners manual. I didn't know the HEMI needed 89 octane. I just assumed since my Pentastar is fine on regular, the HEMI would be.

5.7L Engine
This engines is designed to meet all
emissions regulations and provide satisfactory
fuel economy and performance
when using high quality unleaded
gasoline having a posted
octane number range of 87 to 89 as
specified by the (R+M)/2 method. The
use of 89 octane “Plus” gasoline is recommended for
optimum performance and fuel economy.

 

[Riccochet]

Yeah, if you are running 85 then I guarantee the engine is pulling timing to compensate, which equates to a loss of power.

Always run 89 when towing. I actually run 91 when towing my camper. It's hilly around me and would rather not have it knock and pull timing in the heat.

 

[huntergreen]

Unless he is up in the mountains. Iirc, in voloColo they sell 85 octane due to the thinner oxygen.

 

[spoon059]

If anything you'll get BETTER MPG going up the hill with 321 gears.

Doubtful...

 

[huntergreen]

Lots of 321 hate. I have a truck with 321 gears, a 6 inch lift, and 35 inch tires. I haul 7500 pounds every other weekend with zero issues. Granted, i'm not in the mountains, but still. ******** about the 3.21 gears is ignorant, they do absolutely nothing for going up an incline. If you want more power then manually drop it into a gear that gets you there. If anything you'll get BETTER MPG going up the hill with 321 gears.

No. The 3.92 will do better in the hills. Flat land is where the 3:21 has the advantages. Either way, both should get the job done.