2500Ram

I'm getting ready to go hunting next week and the camper will be the heaviest it's ever been, full water tank gear and food for 6 days and nights I'm going to guess 7500-8000lbs.

We live in Colorado and will be going over 12,000 feet on our journey to camp with some long 6-8% grades. Qwestion is will it be better to lock out OD and just pull in 3rd or let the auto tranny do it's thing up hills, I know how to feel the TQ lock in 4th so that's not a question just wondering about some 7 mile pulls up hill. Truck is in my sig and only have a fuel gauge no pyro as of yet soooo...


TIA
Bill.

J BODY

My race trailer weighs around 8-8.5K, and when it comes to steep grades, start driving by the rpm's not the mph. I find, in comparison to my egt's, that keeping the engine at 2200-2400 rpms is a happy spot while pulling the steeps. If I feel the engine starting to lug while in 4 lock up, I'll back off the throttle a bit and turn off the od, and then ease back into the throttle. This will allow the trans to, unlock, shift to 3, and then lock up when easing back into the throttle. I don't like to stay in the throttle hard when the trans is shifting into lockup. I feel it's a little hard on the lockup clutch.


..... and when you get back buy an EZ edge and restrict your waste gate. You'll wonder why you ever towed without it!

2500Ram

Is that a function of the EZ edge or are you talking about welding or clamping the WG closed?

J BODY

Edge is a boost fooler as well as a fuel timing modifier. Turnbuckle the wastegate arm and you'll push your boost level up to 29-31 psi. Does wonders for keeping the EGT down pulling those long grades.

G1625S

When in doubt, shift down and wind 'er up RPM's are your friend

g

2500Ram

[Ricky Ricardo voice on] Plz splain Lucy Turnbuckle the wastegate arm [/Ricky Ricardo voice off]

J BODY

J BODY

I also put a couple of zip ties around the turnbuckle so in case that it loosens up it won't fall off (don't ask me how I learned that one ).

2500Ram

I'm even more confused seeing that, any pics on the truck. Just for my knowledge how does limiting or eliminating the wastegate reduce EGT's?

J BODY

Factory the waste gate will open at 18 to 22 psi. Adding a performance box with boost fooling capabilities will allow for more air volume to the combustion chamber. Pretty easy to see the difference when pulling a hill. I didn't do the wastegate mod right away when I installed my EZ. Finally did and it brought the egt down quite a bit. You'll most likely see higher EGT than I do since my 6% grade starts at 400 ft sea level and goes to 3800. Even with the long grade, I still have a bunch more air down here than you will at 12K.

crobtex

If possible, don't fill your water tank until the last possible place. This will save pulling a lot of weight up those grades.

Where do you hunt? I like to hunt the White River between Silt and Collbran, but the price of fuel has nixed my trip the past two years.

P.O.R.

keep it out of O.D. and keep the r.p.m.'s up around 2000 - 2250 down shift acordingly,let er rip, good luck, what are you hunting,we are heading out there for the 2nd gun season for our annual elk hunt.

JAF

I tow 20 - 25k and use my OD switch to adjust the rpm. If you can keep it over 2100 it will make the hill no problem

2500Ram

Thanks everyone, we hunt by the Granby Grand Lake area, Mt Baldy if anyone knows the area, Archery Deer and Elk, I can't rember the area number from the DOW maybe 52?

crobtex

I know where you are. Good area. I've been on horseback throught the Roosevelt, north of Silverthorn, and seen huge herds of elk and a lot of big bulls.

You'll have plenty of places to fill your water tanks after you get close.

Have a good time. Wish I was there.