Towing cross country.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

OP
OP
UnsatFC

UnsatFC

Active duty NAVY
Military
Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Posts
1,279
Reaction score
653
Location
New Jersey
Ram Year
2015
Engine
5.7
That seems really low to me too... almost impossible low. I'd almost be wondering about a faulty sensor or something. Everyday driving for me is around 160-170. Towing can get close to 200 on a really hot day towing up a hill with lots of shifting. I don't think I've ever crested 200 and have pulled my 11K 5th wheel through some pretty rough stuff out west here in the mountains.

Yeah I'm thinking sensor also, time to go out a mess with the truck a bit.
 

R.L.K.

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2013
Posts
12,803
Reaction score
12,500
Location
Bristol , Tn.
Ram Year
2014 4X4 QC Express 6 speed auto 355 differentials
Engine
5.7 Hemi
@ UnsatFC , thanks a ton for your temps and pressures Sir !

Your XSMN TEMPERATURE seems absolutely NORMAL for a six speed imo Sir , the only time I've ever seen my 6 speed temps above 125° is when I was towing in the hills of NE Tennessee .
In fact the highest I've ever seen mine was 140 something.

The 8 speed xsmns typically run 175 -190 ° as normal , I'd say your xsmn temp and sensors are fine Sir !

I'm thinking some folks are getting the 6 & 8 speed xsmn operating temps mixed up ...
 
Last edited:

MEchase

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2016
Posts
44
Reaction score
12
Location
Newport News, VA
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I'm thinking some folks are getting the 6 & 8 speed xsmn operating temps mixed up ...
Yup, you are 100% correct on the mix up. I was thinking 8-speed all the way. I'm usually pretty good about checking OPs car information, but just happened to not do it this time.
 

mtofell

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2014
Posts
2,631
Reaction score
2,269
Ram Year
2014
Engine
Hemi 6.4
Wow... I wasn't aware any auto tranny could run that cool. That's great... that thing will last forever!

I guess I was thinking of a chart I've seen go around towing forums listing average failure times as it relates to temperature. I don't remember anything on the chart below 160.
 

Shrfdeputy

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2015
Posts
2
Reaction score
1
Location
Wichita
Ram Year
2013
Engine
5.7 Hemi
My truck is a 2013 Express CC with the 5.7, 2WD with 3.55 gears and the 6-speed. I just completed a 3100 mile round trip from Wichita, KS to the LA California area and back. I delivered a super cool 1966 Toyota FJ to Scottsdale, AZ on the way there, and I brought back a bed full of furniture and a Toyota Corolla on the way back. The Corolla literally had about 800 lbs of mother-in-law stuff inside of it so I was towing between 5000-5500 lbs the whole way.

I had massive head and crosswinds most of the time, but I ended up averaging 9.8 mpg for the entire trip. That was driving 75-80. I-40 has some really long 7% grades in NM and AZ. The absolute highest transmission temp I saw was 155 when the outside temp was about 80. It averaged 130. I messed around with the tow/haul button on flat portions and found it really did make the tranny run a little cooler. Other than that I ran tow/haul the entire time.

Right before the trip I put the Airlift 1000 bags on. I also installed the air compressor. I can't remember the exact one a the moment but it is the heavy duty one that runs two different lines. I hooked up each bag independently. It was super cool being able to fine tune the ride while going down the freeway. I would strongly recommend these bags to anyone who ever tows with a Ram 1500. It makes the truck behave so much better.

I routinely tow for my side business (I build fences) so I'm very well aware of my truck's abilities and limitations. Mine is capable of towing 8800, but we all know that we will generally run out of carrying capacity well before we run out of towing capacity with these trucks. That being said, I was still amazed at how well the truck did on this trip. Yeah it sucked gas, but that is to be expected. If I did this all the time I would have a diesel, but my truck brand new was UNDER $30K AFTER I added remote start, tinted the front windows, had the hitch installed, had them put on a hard Mopar folding cover and added the factory trailer brake. UNDER $30K. There was no way I was going anywhere else to find a truck that cheap, and even a cheaper version of a 2500 with a diesel would have been a lot more than that.

As far as the rest of the temps you listed, I was right there with you. These trucks are so much better than they were in previous generations.
 

Rzrman328

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2014
Posts
5,808
Reaction score
3,143
Location
The treeline
Ram Year
2012
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I took a spin today...about an hour of driving, mostly highway, no load or trailer.

My trans temp ranged from 131-145.

Just checked because I thought these numbers reported seemed low too but that's right where mine was.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
194,925
Posts
2,864,171
Members
155,296
Latest member
VLG6963
Top