I have an '03 dually with 3.73 ratio that I use to haul my #4000 camper and #4000 boat. I like to keep it around 60 but around 58, it drops into overdrive(approx. 1750rpm). I'm in tow/haul and my question is, even though it has plenty of power, is this lugging it to where my exaust temps are getting high? No pyro so maybe you guys with them might clue me in. If I keep it under 58, the rpms are a little over 2000. Thanks for any advice.

 

Leave the tow haul off unless your breaking. The tow\haul takes it out of overdrive so you stay in the meat and potatoes. I pull a 8000lb trailer 3 to 4 days a week and never use the tow\haul.Your truck will stay in overdrive too.
4000lbs is nothing for that truck.

 

With that load I don't think you will have any problems at all.

I just got back from my first haul with the EGT (pyrometer) installed. I tow a 30' toyhauler trailer loaded to around 10,000 lbs.

My pyro prob is installed on the exhaust manifold near the rear most cylinder on the drivers side.

With an outside ambient temperature that ranged from 80 to 101 deg as indicated on my overhead console, the highest EGT that I saw was 1139 deg. This is about one hundred degrees under the 1250 deg that most folks seem to feel is the danger point.

The high temp was during a sustained full throttle acceleration up a mile or two long grade that was probably in the 6% range or so.

In general the temps I was seeing up most hills ranged from high 900s to low to mid 1000s. On the flat the temp ranged from 600 to 800ish depending upon conditions.

On the down hills the EGT would drop quite rapidly and I saw it go as low as 130 deg on one of the longer down hill runs.

The tranny temp topped out at 192 deg but was usually in the 175 deg range.

This was almost all mountain towing between Ramona, CA and Idyllwild, CA.

Daryl

 

Daryl,

Great info and feed back. This is the kind of real world information we can all use

 

Daryl, you have any other mods than the gauges?

 

Maybe I wasn't clear in my original post, I'm moving #8000. Carrying a #4000 Lance and towing a #4000 boat. However, thanks for the valuable info... that's what I was interested in knowing. Daryle, do you leave it in tow/haul all the time you're towing? I'm heading out for Lake Havasu in the morning and it's a constant pull outside of Barstow. I'll leave it in tow/haul and let it do its thing. Thanks

 

Pull 11,000 lb. 35 ft toyhauler 5th wheel. Mileage was poor on 400 mile trip, and don't know what the temps were stock running about 70. didn't seem to make any difference on mileage from 60 to 65 to 70 to 75 or 80. recently installed programmer and pyro. pulled one time with it so far on 50 mile trip and temps only got as high as low 1100's. mileage improved somewhat, but was not a real test. that is coming up in about 2 weeks. my truck is 04 F-250 crew cab, long bed. have only used the 40 and 60hp modes have not tried the 80, 100, and 115 most likely will not when pulling as temps will be high. same install on pyro as darylhunter, he must have edge also

 

You wrote poor, what actually was it?
Your trailer is the same size as mine.....hence the question.

 

My truck is stock other than the X-Monitor gauge package. I may get a programmer at some time in the future, but installed the gauges because I do pull a fairly heavy load in hilly country and hot weather.

My truck has the Dec 03 flash where the tranny will freewheel in high gear in T/H mode so I leave it in T/H most of the time while pulling.

Sometimes, if I'm at a downhill section where the tranny brake is activated and I know that there is no curve ahead to worry about, I'll take it out of T/H mode to kill the braking.

BTW, I averaged around 8.8 mpg for the trip per the overhead.

 

I use T/H mode in my 04/04 F-250 towing 8,000 lbs boat and at 60 mph on flat terrain, it will shift into OD. I don't think it is hard on it by any means, and the trans brake is always active. If I am doing something wrong, let me know, but I do love that trans brake.

 

I pull around 12,000 and 15,000 pounds on the weekend. Keep in TOW/HAUL Mode at all times when the trailer is behind me..................

 

FWIW, I tow 8000lbs worth of trailer quite often...like 25K a year...I keep the tow/haul mode on at all times when I'm hitched up.

I have yet to get my FLASH updated...and it's truly antiquated - something like March of 2003??

I experience what I think is VERY poor gas mileage, as I can only get about 4.5hrs on the highway before I have to fill up...I also have issues with idle, downshifting and it seems the power isn't "there" when I need it sometimes??

Is it possible that getting the most recent flash update would cure some of my woes?? I've considered the Diablo tuner/chip, and realize that I would need to have a December '03 or later flash to run it, but too often get complacent (sp??) with how the truck runs...read as: it gets me from A to B...don't fix it if it aint broke!

One could surmise from this board that keeping up with the latest flash...once they got it "right" (Fall of '03??) is a good thing??

 

What is really poor MPG?

 

Good question, I guess I thought 4.5hrs of driving would cover it...so I got to thinking, how much mileage is that??

Well, on my trips I generally try to average 65-70MPH - so I guess I'm talking 325 miles before I'm in the "hairy zone" for refueling...so that's about 11MPG??

I dunno, NEVER have been concerned with gas mileage until I got this PIG...I love the damned thing, it tows like a dream and hauls A** too! I've read various posts that suggest the newer flashes helpout with gas mileage...guess that was my question:

Does it?

Thanks again, I'm learning more and more about this beast.

 

BTW ?*** is against the rules. It is considered "masking" profanity with symbols. Please do NOT do not type this way.
I know it was just a slip and your desire is to keep FTE a family site, like it is.