TOWING IN 4th GEAR????

[V-10 RAM]

I did my first towing with my 99 Ram QC 4x4 V-10 5 speed 3:54 gears. I'm towing a 32' Travel Trailer when loaded as is weights about 9,000-10,000#
I use to tow this with an 86 Ford F250 4x4 460, C-6, 3:55 gears.
To my surprise on the first leg of my towing back to Arizona is my Ram V-10 handled the trailer better but other than that the Dodge really doesn't have any better power or better gas mileage than my old 200,000 mile Ford 460-C-6.
That was a real surprise to me. I expected the V-10 to be a big improvement.
Anyway, I was in an RV store to day talking to the owner & he suggested using 4th gear & stay out of 5th gear. He said towing in 5th gear was hard on the tranny plus I might find better performance & mileage. I tow around 60-65 mph. At 65 in 5th I'm running about 1900-2000 RPMs. In 4th I run around 2400-2600 RPMs
Does anyone have any comments, suggestions, advice, or ideas???

Thanks

 

[txbass06]

Moved this to the right section for ya. I'm sure one of our members will have a good answer for you soon

 

[V-10 RAM]

Moved this to the right section for ya. I'm sure one of our members will have a good answer for you soon

Thanks Mark.

 

[SmokedRam]

All I can add is this...since 5th is your OD, this statement from AllPar regarding how high the 5th gear ratio is, might have something to do why you tow better in 4th...

The New Venture Gear 4500, a 5-speed manual transmission manufactured by New Venture Gear, was used in General Motors and Chrysler products from 1992-2007. The NV4500 gained popularity as a 5-speed manual conversion and upgrade transmission in light trucks and SUVs from Dodge, Jeep, General Motors, Ford and Toyota.

When it was released, many hailed its strengths, particularly the high overdrive, though some have criticized its low gear as not being low enough for off-road use.

 

[Mopar1973Man]

I did my first towing with my 99 Ram QC 4x4 V-10 5 speed 3:54 gears. I'm towing a 32' Travel Trailer when loaded as is weights about 9,000-10,000#
I use to tow this with an 86 Ford F250 4x4 460, C-6, 3:55 gears.
To my surprise on the first leg of my towing back to Arizona is my Ram V-10 handled the trailer better but other than that the Dodge really doesn't have any better power or better gas mileage than my old 200,000 mile Ford 460-C-6.
That was a real surprise to me. I expected the V-10 to be a big improvement.
Anyway, I was in an RV store to day talking to the owner & he suggested using 4th gear & stay out of 5th gear. He said towing in 5th gear was hard on the tranny plus I might find better performance & mileage. I tow around 60-65 mph. At 65 in 5th I'm running about 1900-2000 RPMs. In 4th I run around 2400-2600 RPMs
Does anyone have any comments, suggestions, advice, or ideas???

Thanks

First off...

Be very aware that most all trailer tires are rated to 60-65 MPH so travelling that fast or faster you risk blows on the trailer. I suggest slowing down if possible.

5th Gear towing is fine... I've got a 02 Dodge Cummins and tow in 5th gear all the time. No it will not hurt the trans as long as your no lugging against 5th gear. Make sure to down shift before you lug on it. What happens is the engine start lugging and the gear start to rattle on the shaft slightly working the 5th gear nut off.

As for me and 16,000-17,000# GCW of both truck and trailer I'm getting 13-14 MPG... Empty 22-23 MPG...

Truck below...

 

[Bigtman07]

Good info MoparMan but I have a question. Aren't all our trucks technically a 4spd? 3 forward with 4 being overdrive?

 

[Hotroder383]

If you want the "power" tow in 4th, I have always been told by many people "in the know" that you really shouldn't pull heavy loads in OD can burn up the tranny. Now that being said I can't say as I know this personally, and some of the "people in the know" I don't think knew alot of anything but hot air. =)~ I do know when I had my 2000 chevy 1/2 ton with the scrawny 4.8 v8 I had to tow in 4th or w/o OD because it lacked the balls needed to make it up some of the hills around here.

 

[Mopar1973Man]

Good info MoparMan but I have a question. Aren't all our trucks technically a 4spd? 3 forward with 4 being overdrive?

Huh?

NV4500 (5 speed) below... NV5600 is a 6 speed trans...

More on the 5th gear nut problem...
http://articles.mopar1973man.com/general-cummins/39-transmission-systems/127-fixing-the-5th-gear-nut

 

[V-10 RAM]

First off...

Be very aware that most all trailer tires are rated to 60-65 MPH so travelling that fast or faster you risk blows on the trailer. I suggest slowing down if possible.

5th Gear towing is fine... I've got a 02 Dodge Cummins and tow in 5th gear all the time. No it will not hurt the trans as long as your no lugging against 5th gear. Make sure to down shift before you lug on it. What happens is the engine start lugging and the gear start to rattle on the shaft slightly working the 5th gear nut off.

As for me and 16,000-17,000# GCW of both truck and trailer I'm getting 13-14 MPG... Empty 22-23 MPG...

Truck below...

Very good info. THANKS. Yea I try to tow between 60 & 65 mph I fully agree with the tire thing, even though I just put on a brand new set of trailer tires.
I pulled the last leg today & A lot of my problem was me. I was not use to towing this heavy of trailer with a stick. Too many automatic's I guess. So I started running up the RPMs staying up to 3200 RPMs. Using 4th gear more & The performance changed from night to day. My 460 would of never stayed with this Ram V-10 after I took a driving lesson with it.
I was lugging it way too much.
My mileage still isn't that good but at least I can get down the road in good order if needed. I don't tow or even drive it enough that I want or need a diesel. I have 35 mpg cars to run around in. The Dodge is for when I need a heavy duty truck. We have SUVs that get 22 mpg also so the Dodge is good for what I need it for. It handles the weight very well, way better than the Ford.
Thanks guys for the input & help. I'm still open for any advice or suggestions out there.

 

[Bigtman07]

Huh?

NV4500 (5 speed) below... NV5600 is a 6 speed trans...

More on the 5th gear nut problem...
Mopar1973Man's Dodge Cummins Articles - Fixing the 5th Gear Nut

Oh DUH!!!!!! Wow I'm an air head sometimes! I totally read over the 5spd part.

 

[Mopar1973Man]

Geez... You don't want to see the tach when I'm towing...

1,400-1,600 RPM's

Thankful for diesel engines because the lower RPM's mean less wear and tear but I produce more than enough TQ to pull anything at 1,500 RPM.
​

 

[V-10 RAM]

Yea, if I was going to tow long distance like most Snow Birds some thousands of miles a year I would buy a diesel no doubt.
After this last leg of our trip I was very pleased with the power & performance. I learned that my V-10 likes 2500-3200 rpms when pulling hills etc. On the flats I would slide it into 5th & cruise along. I have not towed a trailer of this weight with a pickup & a stick ever. The last stick I had was in a 79 CK20 Chevy 4x4 & I towed a 4000# TT with it a lot. But that was half the weight of this trailer.
I just bought another travel trailer that is 4300#. I picked it up cheap. It is a 2000 Mallard by Fleetwood a 26' It needs a bathroom floor & bath tub. I plan to fix it in August then pull it back here to Arizona & leave it permanent in an RV Park. Then use it as we want. My wife is a teacher so she has a fair amount of off time. My health is better here in Arizona with the dry heat & warm winters.