Total loss of power when towing

Craig614 · Aug 26, 2019

I hope someone can help me. I purchased used pre certified 2016 2500 HD with the 5.7 Hemi back in April 2019. I went camping this weekend towing my camper that weighs around 7,000 pounds which is well within the trucks limits. Going up hills was an absolute stuuggle as the truck didnt want to down shift and when it did there was no extra power. Also there were times when at a stop sign I would push the pedal to the floor and the motor would rev and we would barely move. I have owned 5 Rams all were 1500 with 5.7 Hemi's and they seemed to have more power but not towing because the trailer was over the trucks weight limit. I know everything is computerized, is the computer not talking to the trans, or is there a transmission/rear issue? I have never had this issue before. It's disturbing.

Thank you for your knowledge and guidance!

Elevated 2013 · Aug 26, 2019

I've got a 2013 1500 Sport with a 5.7L and 6 speed trans with the 3.92 gears and I just bought a roughly 3000 lb boat/trailer setup. My truck struggles to pull that as well. I figured with the bigger rear diff gears it would be fine, but it doesn't want to leave the light very well and it sometimes struggles up hills as well. I'm an ex truck driver so I know I need to get a little help from speed ahead of time with going up bigger/steeper hills, but even that doesn't always help. It almost seems like an all or nothing type situation like you say. I'm contemplating going to get my truck dyno tuned a little sooner than I was just because of this. I'm not sure what it is either, but it's annoying when I see my friend with a newer Silverado 1500 High Country with a 5.3L and 4 wheel drive out tow my truck with a bigger boat.

GrumpyOleMan · Aug 26, 2019

Something doesn't sound right in both posts. There is no way a GM 5.3 should out tow a Hemi with 3.92's. I definitely would seek guidance from mechanical guru's.

Elevated 2013 · Aug 26, 2019

That’s what I’m thinking Grumpy!!!

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muddy12 · Aug 26, 2019

All I can add is this.
When I was shopping for my truck, I test drove two almost identical trucks. One was a 1500, and one was a 2500. Both had 5.7 and 6 speed trans. Both were crew cab short beds(although the 2500 short bed is a little longer than the 1500 short bed).
I’m guessing it was due to the 2500 being a heavier truck, but the 2500 was noticeably less “peppy” than the 1500.

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OC455 · Aug 26, 2019

I would definitely have it checked out. 5.7L has enough ponies to get stuff moving.

RedSRT4Me · Aug 26, 2019

I've moved plenty of times with my truck stuffed and it had zero problems with acceleration.

Start with checking your fuel/spark and go from there.

Saskwatch · Aug 26, 2019

How clean is your air filter?

crash68 · Aug 26, 2019

Craig614 said:
I went camping this weekend towing my camper that weighs around 7,000 pounds which is well within the trucks limits. Going up hills was an absolute stuuggle as the truck didnt want to down shift and when it did there was no extra power. Also there were times when at a stop sign I would push the pedal to the floor and the motor would rev and we would barely move.

Did you have the Tow/Haul on and how high was the engine reving up?

Craig614 · Aug 28, 2019

Thank you all for your feedback. I know it should have some resistance but almost no ponies in some cases. I just replaced the air filter 2 weeks ago and yes dhad the truck in the Towe/Haul mode. I have had nothing but Rams and even all the 1500's seem to have more power and i know this is not right being the current truck is a 2500HD with the same 5.7. What if I had a fifth wheel that was 10 to 12 thousand pounds? Would I be dead in the water? With no load on the truck you cant tell anything is wrong. I know if I go to the dealership they are going to tell me they cant find anything wrong.

Vne182 · Aug 28, 2019

Go do a 0-60 test with a gforce speed app on your phone, see how it compares to published 0-60 times for your truck. The average time seems to be 8.5 seconds for the 2500 with a 5.7L. A 1500 5.7L runs significantly quicker with less weight, 5.5-6.5 seconds.

I had a 2005 Duramax before my 2012 Ram 1500 and the Ram 1500 tows so much better. The chassis seems to handle the load better and the Hemi has significantly more power. That's towing a 4,000 Ib boat with 1,500 Ib of people & gear.

crackerjack1957 · Aug 28, 2019

Craig614 said:
I hope someone can help me. I purchased used pre certified 2016 2500 HD with the 5.7 Hemi back in April 2019. I went camping this weekend towing my camper that weighs around 7,000 pounds which is well within the trucks limits. Going up hills was an absolute stuuggle as the truck didnt want to down shift and when it did there was no extra power. Also there were times when at a stop sign I would push the pedal to the floor and the motor would rev and we would barely move. I have owned 5 Rams all were 1500 with 5.7 Hemi's and they seemed to have more power but not towing because the trailer was over the trucks weight limit. I know everything is computerized, is the computer not talking to the trans, or is there a transmission/rear issue? I have never had this issue before. It's disturbing.

Thank you for your knowledge and guidance!

Sounds like a transmission/torque converter issue you are describing to me.

indept · Aug 28, 2019

Feel the rear wheels for excessive heat to make sure its not a stuck parking brake. Most likely not but it can't hurt to check

Saskwatch · Aug 28, 2019

How fresh are your spark plugs?

Mr Rich · Aug 29, 2019

One thing I was thinking was to manually shift the auto trans rather than let the programming do it. I think the factory programmed the trans to hit sixth gear at 45 mph; maybe slightly higher. Being a GM guy I managed to get 225K out of my 700R4 in my '89 K1500. I think one of the reasons was that I kept the truck in third around town and didn't go in to OD until out on the highway. I'm essentially doing the same thing with my 2500 Ram. I've been running in third and fourth around town and then go in to fifth and sixth on the highway. I think the truck responds much better this way.

2003F350 · Aug 29, 2019

You definitely have some issues going on, and it sounds like a weak trans - I'd have it looked at.

Something I've noticed happening a LOT around these parts is people buying 12-15k fifth wheels, then trying to pull them with gasser 3/4 ton trucks. They'll do it, but they just don't like it. Then they're compounding the problems by trying to pull those heavy campers 75-80 mph, and wonder why the truck just won't hold up.

Loggato · Aug 29, 2019

Think about it. 7000 lbs plus a 6000 lb truck.. that is A LOT for the 5.7.

mine struggled to pull a car on a trailer that was close to 6000 lbs.. it was still capable of doing the speed limit, but it took a while to get there and you had to plan ahead.

You have to put yourself in a state of mind that it IS NOT going to move quickly with all that weight.

Pauls72 · Sep 2, 2019

Craig614 said:
Also there were times when at a stop sign I would push the pedal to the floor and the motor would rev and we would barely move.

This here sounds like a transmission/torque converter slipping.
I would watch the transmission temperature on your display.

Mudders Beast · Sep 2, 2019

Does trailer have brakes and if so sticking? 5.7 1500 pulls #6000 ok, but mpg drops by 1/3.

ErnieD · Sep 2, 2019

22 years of Experience as a truck, tractor and trailer tech here. Look, start with the basics - and don’t get to doom and gloom just yet. If you don’t know for sure, have the Air filter, fuel filter, PCV valve, and in high mileage cases, the transmission filter and fluid changed. ( Do not flush the trans, only change fluid and filter) Next give the engine a proper tune up, with spark plugs and possibly O2 sensors depending on the mileage. I’d only recommend spark wires if they are serviceable.

After all this is done, run a test drive again with the exact same load and drive conditions. See what changed.

If you still have problems after the major service, it’s possible you could have a sticking EGR valve, as this is being commanded open and closed under peak loads to limit the
emissions you engine is putting out, inversely affecting horsepower and torque if the valve is getting stuck. For this I always recommend a person with a diagnostic tool or a shop. Please don’t just toss parts on it as this gets very expensive.

Total loss of power when towing

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