Pulling long hills
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New User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Pulling long hills
We have a 2002 F-350 7.3 PSD. We pull a 5<SUP>th</SUP> wheel and the combined weight is close to 22,000, slightly over the 20,000 Ford rating. When we pull long hills, not too steep, just long, we have to drop to 2<SUP>nd</SUP> gear and often below 40 MPH. Is this just something we have to live with? Is there something we can do to get more power for hills? We plan on getting an EGT gauge to make sure we don’t overheat on hills.
Thanks in advance for helping out a newbie.
<O
Sandy
Thanks in advance for helping out a newbie.
<O
Sandy
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,111
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
Welcome to the forum. 
The best thing you can do for that much weight is to get a lower axle ratio. You can see by my signature that I have a 4.88 ratio. I don't suggest that you go that low, but a 4.10 would be great. Maybe a 4.30.
With my 4.88's I can climb a 5% grade and easily maintain 55 mph and I gross out at the same weight as you.
Other things can be done too for getting more power out of the engine, but it will cost a lot more than a gear change. You have to get guages so you don't melt your engine, big intake and exhaust, then you can get a chip or a programmer. If you have an automatic you'll need to get a big ATF cooler, beef up the valve body with higher pressure springs so it will hold the gears better.
The best thing you can do for that much weight is to get a lower axle ratio. You can see by my signature that I have a 4.88 ratio. I don't suggest that you go that low, but a 4.10 would be great. Maybe a 4.30.
With my 4.88's I can climb a 5% grade and easily maintain 55 mph and I gross out at the same weight as you.
Other things can be done too for getting more power out of the engine, but it will cost a lot more than a gear change. You have to get guages so you don't melt your engine, big intake and exhaust, then you can get a chip or a programmer. If you have an automatic you'll need to get a big ATF cooler, beef up the valve body with higher pressure springs so it will hold the gears better.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
From: Racine Wi
Like Kwikk said, there are other ways to get there....I have a pretty stock setup with only gages, intake and a tuner. I pull a 5th wheel as well, and gross within 500# of you. With a 70 hp tune, I can pull up most grades at 65 mph in OD with no problem. If I get on a 5% grade, I do have to back off due to EGT's but even then, I only drop to about 50 MPH. If you do gages, the Kwikk filter, a tuner and straight pipe or BTM, you will pull fine and get the side benefit of having a great running truck when you are not pulling. I drive mine every day because it is fun to drive, and then on weekends, it becomes my mule!
Just another opinion.
Just another opinion.
