Hello All-
I'm going to be pulling my 22 foot toyhauler fully loaded up the pass for the first time this weekend with my truck. Can anyone tell me if I should take it out of O/D once I start pulling up the final grade, or should I just wait to see how the trans acts once I start going up. Sorry for the stupidity just want to make sure I don't mess up my auto. Also this is my first diesel and I love it! Also what type of pryo temp should I be expecting to hit?
Thanks, Dylan

 

I know that pass well as i used to hang out for awhile in your neighboring city of Norco. I have never pulled a load up the pass in my dodge. but i did pull a uhual up it with a 1/2ton v6 chevy. and it pulled it ok. Please post your results as i am very curious as to how your truck performs.

 

I've made that pull three times with my 24ft race trailer. I can make it most the way in OD if I really push it, but prefer to back down and take it out of OD as it's easier on equippment. If I can keep the rpms around 2000-2300 while pulling the steeps it will maintain quite well. My trailer weighs approx 8K loaded.

 

dylan,

Please fill in your sig. It would be nice to know what kind if truck you have.

 

Thanks for the replys guys. I thought that I filled out all the info for my sig already but I guess it didn't take it. I have an 04.5 quad cab 4X4. Hey crodtex how do u like that Polaris? I have a 2004 YFZ450.
Dylan

 

Dylan....This is my second DC with an auto...(and the famed weak 47re at that ??) I drive it like it is a manual transmision when I'm pulling a load. I've never had a transmission issue yet (knock on wood!) I can feel the kick down in the throttle pedal a stiff spot. If you push the throttle through it, it will shift out of OD or the next lower gear. If you are pulling hard it will really cause a load spike through the drive train! That's hard on stuff. If i'm pulling a grade and it pulls my speed down to about 55ish mph in OD I'll take it out of overdrive while letting up on the throttle at the same time then get back on the fuel. If it keeps pulling me down in speed I'll do the same with the next gear. I don't redline it but find a sweet spot 2600ish rpm where it likes it and continue on when the speed builds up I back off on the throttle a bit and shift or engage to the next higher gear and give it the fuel again.
Anyway ... If I drove it like I stole it and I really did!!!....i'd just stand on it and let er bang away!

 

When I moved from San Diego to Michigan last June, I went up the 15 and I new right away I had made the right choice in trucks.
I was pulling a 19' TT that was overloaded, I'm sure. The back of the truck was loaded and 3 large adults and a child in the cab.

I never put it in tow/haul. The truck actually stayed in OD the first part of the climb. Toward the end where it was steeper, it dropped out of OD but it sure didn't slow down.

Pulling through the Rockies was a breeze also. What a great truck!

 

Hello All,
I just have to say this truck is awsome... It pulled my trailer(loaded) up the pass at 55 mph(only half throttle) no problem and I got 11.7 mpg doing it. Just thought I would let everyone know how great I think these diesel trucks really are... The pryo went a little above 1200 degrees and the trans temp did not go above 185...
Dylan

 

Keep the rpms up and you may get that egt to drop some. You won't get rid of that stupid grin for awile when thinking of how these things pull.

 

I haven't got to use it much, but I like the Polaris pretty well. It has plenty of power and rides great. Most of it's use so far has been with a Swisher dump bucket. It will pick up and move a load of wet sand with ease.

I was used to Honda 300 before, and the Polaris is quite different. Especially the auto tranny....it takes some getting used to. The biggest downside I have found is the racks. They're attached in a recessed hole with only about 1/16 or less of plastic holding them on. I have fabricated pieces of dowel rod with holes thru them to go in the holes on the rack to beef it up.

 

gone thru there many times towing. I always made it a habit to switch it out of over drive when the tranny kicked it down the first time and left it out untill I was out on the flats again

 

I pulled up that hill (Cajon Pass) this weekend and I would leave it in the tow/haul mode. From what I can tell it just holds the gears a little longer, in fact I leave in the tow/haul mode the entire time the trailer is attached - it still uses all four gears, just hangs on to the gears a little longer. (BTW I was pulling 17,000lbs)