1st time towing w truck and concerned

[BeachGirl]

I have a 2013 1500 4x4 5.4 hemi, w tow/haul and aftermarket trailer brake. About 154k miles. Camper and extra weight, about 4000lbs total
I towed my camper for the 1st time last week. Did some mountains going the southern route around Asheville NC including Black Mountain.
I forgot the tow/haul thing, but did have it off overdrive and down shifted as necessary. (Used to have a stuck shift)
On the way my thermostat died. I got that fixed, learned how to find the screen that shows exact temps and went on my way.
On the way home to AL, I had the tow/haul on, it seemed like it struggled going up some of the mountains. Felt like I had to floor it to go 50-55mph. Hottest the temp got was 1 time 244. Most of the time 230-240. It was 90-95 outside.

Am I supposed to push t/h and let it do its thing or still down shift?
Is this normal to feel like it was struggling? I'm well below the weight limit, and bought a V8 hemi just for this year of camping.
I want to go out to Colorado but am a little hesitant.

 

[MADDOG]

If the T/H function was engaged and not shifting down automatically then I suspect it's not working.

Were you in cruise control as well?

 

[nlambert182]

Hello neighbor! (I'm in Gurley) You really shouldn't be struggling with that small of a camper. You should just be able to hit T/H and let it decide what to do. 230-240 temps is pretty warm. Something doesn't sound right all the way around. You shouldn't need anything bigger than what you have to tow that camper and it should tow it well. You might struggle a little in mountains mainly because of elevation but nothing that the truck couldn't handle just fine.

 

[ramffml]

You'll definitely see 230 - 250 pulling that load in hilly/mountainous terrain, anything with higher rpms and low MPH will cause temps to rise as there is less air flow over the engine. 240 is absolutely nothing to worry about, and you should expect to hit peaks of 250 as well in some conditions. I just towed home this past weekend and got caught in stop and go traffic, then had to climb a steep twisty grade for about 1 minute in first and second gear all the way up, it was toasty at the top, about 250 as well and that's just because it was at 3000+ rpms with no air flow. On the freeway at 2200 RPMs it should stay at <= 230.

"struggle" is highly subjective though. With T/H engaged you'll notice the truck uses higher rpms, higher than if you left it off, this is by design as the truck makes most power at 4000+ RPMs and it will rev up to get you there when needed.

So it's hard to guess whether you're just new to towing and seeing a truck work for the first time, or whether there is something wrong with your specific truck.

Does your truck have lots of power otherwise, outside of towing? If it's just something you're noticing while towing then my guess is you're just seeing a N/A v8 work (possibly at higher altitude/mountains where it loses power with height).

Do you have a 6 speed transmission or an 8?

 

[nlambert182]

If it's a 2013, it's definitely a 6-speed.

230-250 seems nuts to me, but I'm used to my Cummins and it doesn't break 210 towing heavy up the side of a mountain. Granted I never towed very heavy with my 1500 but I can't recall ever breaking 220-230 temps. Maybe that's normal, but it just seems hot to me. I guess more importantly are trans temps. I wouldn't want to see those climb north of 230 for very long at all.

 

[tjfdesmo]

Temps do seem high, but keep in mind there are two kinds of loads your truck is facing, the physical weight of the trailer, and the aero load from the frontal area of the trailer. It's like pulling a parachute.

 

[ramffml]

Well there is a difference between "high" and "abnormal". In terms of any other stock hemi pulling the same load, they will all run that hot. So there is nothing wrong with his truck per se, it's running as designed.

 

[CamperMike]

Are those temps oil temp or coolant? If oil temps that is normal towing in mountains. If coolant it is not. At least my 2018 will usually be 220 or so coolant when towing thru mountains with occasional spikes to 226 or 230 pulling long grades. Oil temp can see 260. Any higher than that i back down speeds until they reduce but usually i don't have to resort to that. 240 coolant is at or near overheating iirc.

 

[Sherman Bird]

If it's a 2013, it's definitely a 6-speed.

230-250 seems nuts to me, but I'm used to my Cummins and it doesn't break 210 towing heavy up the side of a mountain. Granted I never towed very heavy with my 1500 but I can't recall ever breaking 220-230 temps. Maybe that's normal, but it just seems hot to me. I guess more importantly are trans temps. I wouldn't want to see those climb north of 230 for very long at all.

230 trans temps will shorten the life of the trans, significantly. My advice to OP is to install a large external aux. trans oil cooler, and look for temps under 200, tops! Hayden makes an external cooler with a thermostat to address BRR cold winter temps. I generally install one for folks who tow under severe conditions (OP described conditions which, when added up, are severe) rated for 14000 pound (7 ton) motor homes.

As to which trans, is it possible that it might be a 545RFE? Those were in production until 2018.

 

[dhay13]

My 2013 had the 5 speed auto trans with the 5.7 and 3.55's

 

[ramffml]

Are those temps oil temp or coolant? If oil temps that is normal towing in mountains. If coolant it is not. At least my 2018 will usually be 220 or so coolant when towing thru mountains with occasional spikes to 226 or 230 pulling long grades. Oil temp can see 260. Any higher than that i back down speeds until they reduce but usually i don't have to resort to that. 240 coolant is at or near overheating iirc.

Good point, I was assuming he meant oil temps. Coolant in my truck never exceeds about 226 or so either.

My trans temps have never gone past 183 but I have the ZF.

 

[joesstripclub]

OP didn't mention what rear end gear the truck has either. Guessing a highway rear gear combined with 5/6 speed and maybe truck needs a tune up. A 4k lb camper is like pulling an enclosed cargo trailer, you should notice its back that but it shouldn't significantly slow you down.

 

[caulk04]

Op needs to first confirm RFE trans (column shifter) or ZF (dial shifter). Both were options in 2013. RFE carried on as an option much longer for Canadian spec trucks too.

People say and read 'like it wasn't even there' online too much and think hooking up to a trailer will not be noticed. Others feel that the normal effect of a trailer is 'struggling'. That's hard to discern without some input from someone experienced with trucks/towing. 240-250 coolant temps are definitely not ideal though, there could be an issue with the clutch fan not locking up and doing it's thing. Again, hard to tell through a keyboard and monitor.

 

[62Blazer]

I agree with the posts saying that "struggling" is highly subjective depending on the person. You can have the exact same truck and trailer setup and one person will say you can't even tell the trailer is there, and another say it's struggling and can't hardly make it up a hill.
While I obviously haven't driven this exact truck and trailer setup, from experience I would say that the truck shouldn't have any issues pulling it....but you would know it was there. Especially climbing a steep mountain grade.
Whether in tow/haul or not, you should just be able to go and the trans will downshift as needed. If it was a really steep grade and the trans had downshifted a few gears you probably do need to give it a lot of gas. Not necessarily for the power but just so it's revving up enough to maintain 55 mph in the lower gears.

 

[goldtr8]

I have a 2013 also with Hemi and 8speed with 3.28 rear end. Power is more than adequate but cooling struggles just like yours. I have disabled the louvers and swapped to a 192 deg thermostat. Those changes have made a difference. The 203 thermostat has a tendency to stick closed and not let coolant flow at spec opening temp.

 

[BeachGirl]

If the T/H function was engaged and not shifting down automatically then I suspect it's not working.

Were you in cruise control as well?

It did shift up/down automatically in t/h. On the flat, I had cruise on. I had to give it gas to go up the mountain.

 

[BeachGirl]

If it's a 2013, it's definitely a 6-speed.

230-250 seems nuts to me, but I'm used to my Cummins and it doesn't break 210 towing heavy up the side of a mountain. Granted I never towed very heavy with my 1500 but I can't recall ever breaking 220-230 temps. Maybe that's normal, but it just seems hot to me. I guess more importantly are trans temps. I wouldn't want to see those climb north of 230 for very long at all.

Unfortunately I didn't pay as much attention to trans at the time. The mechanic did tell me what temp to not exceed, but I've forgotten it now. I like it didn't get near it.

 

[BeachGirl]

Hello neighbor! (I'm in Gurley) You really shouldn't be struggling with that small of a camper. You should just be able to hit T/H and let it decide what to do. 230-240 temps is pretty warm. Something doesn't sound right all the way around. You shouldn't need anything bigger than what you have to tow that camper and it should tow it well. You might struggle a little in mountains mainly because of elevation but nothing that the truck couldn't handle just fine.

Please private message me. I'd love to go on a drive w you towing the camper to see if it's something I don't realize I'm doing

 

[BeachGirl]

You'll definitely see 230 - 250 pulling that load in hilly/mountainous terrain, anything with higher rpms and low MPH will cause temps to rise as there is less air flow over the engine. 240 is absolutely nothing to worry about, and you should expect to hit peaks of 250 as well in some conditions. I just towed home this past weekend and got caught in stop and go traffic, then had to climb a steep twisty grade for about 1 minute in first and second gear all the way up, it was toasty at the top, about 250 as well and that's just because it was at 3000+ rpms with no air flow. On the freeway at 2200 RPMs it should stay at <= 230.

"struggle" is highly subjective though. With T/H engaged you'll notice the truck uses higher rpms, higher than if you left it off, this is by design as the truck makes most power at 4000+ RPMs and it will rev up to get you there when needed.

So it's hard to guess whether you're just new to towing and seeing a truck work for the first time, or whether there is something wrong with your specific truck.

Does your truck have lots of power otherwise, outside of towing? If it's just something you're noticing while towing then my guess is you're just seeing a N/A v8 work (possibly at higher altitude/mountains where it loses power with height).

Do you have a 6 speed transmission or an 8?

6 speed. I grew up towing with a V8 Grand Torino wagon. Did good to get 5mpg back then and have towed with a V6 Rodeo that could do about anything and also had a V6 Ranger that was used to move from NC Coast to AL. But none of them had t/h . Just manually shifted (all automatics,) as needed.

I watched a video yesterday and the guy explained while driving, how in t/h it does rev up to higher rpm before shifting. Maybe that's all it was.

 

[BeachGirl]

Good point, I was assuming he meant oil temps. Coolant in my truck never exceeds about 226 or so either.

My trans temps have never gone past 183 but I have the ZF.

Coolant temp. W brand new fluid.
ZF? Is that an engine model code?