300 I6 pulling power
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 973
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Just take it nice and slow from a stop anyways. You dont wanna be taking off real fast with a heavy load anyways. That's when things tend to break. I recently broke a 5000# and a 2000# straps because i pulled out and floored it and broke the load free, it slid half way off the trailer. That was only 2000#'s, the trailer was loaded to 4000#'s total, 2 different parts each strapped with a 5k and a 2k strap.
Your towing 6000#s, thats a fairly heavy load. not too heavy, but heavy enough that you gotta take it a little slower and defiantly change your driving habits to keep you out of trouble.
I have the mazda 5speed, and I regularly tow 6000#'s with out a problem, and even at that the truck will take off from a stop like a rocket.
that sluggishness is just a downside of having an auto.
And a TC lockup switch wont work unless your moving.
Your towing 6000#s, thats a fairly heavy load. not too heavy, but heavy enough that you gotta take it a little slower and defiantly change your driving habits to keep you out of trouble.
I have the mazda 5speed, and I regularly tow 6000#'s with out a problem, and even at that the truck will take off from a stop like a rocket.
that sluggishness is just a downside of having an auto.
And a TC lockup switch wont work unless your moving.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,545
Likes: 4
From: Coal Region
we have a 95 dodge 2500 at work with a 360/auto and i tug all kind of stuff around the yard and it doesnt immediatly take off either. it kind feels like it isnt going to move at first ha. just as everyone said, its the nature of the beast. i think the stock stall is 1500 rpm.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,021
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From: Almost Heaven
we have a 95 dodge 2500 at work with a 360/auto and i tug all kind of stuff around the yard and it doesnt immediatly take off either. it kind feels like it isnt going to move at first ha. just as everyone said, its the nature of the beast. i think the stock stall is 1500 rpm.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 436
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From: Lincoln, Nebraska
Bill this is great, you got your first good pull behind you. The only problem is that if you were going to pull anything that large or larger you may want to think about a tranny temperature gauge and and extra tranny cooler. IMO you would'nt know much of a difference if you were pulling 6K than 11K on take off but the stopping it would be tougher.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Almost Heaven
Bill this is great, you got your first good pull behind you. The only problem is that if you were going to pull anything that large or larger you may want to think about a tranny temperature gauge and and extra tranny cooler. IMO you would'nt know much of a difference if you were pulling 6K than 11K on take off but the stopping it would be tougher.
I wouldn't say it was a great pull, I only went around the block several times. However, I did learn real quick to make sure I have plenty of room to stop and to make sure I have plenty of time to pull out into traffic. I backed the Elky into a tight space also so I got good experience all the way around.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 647
Likes: 3
From: Brumley, MO
Man your truck and the ElCamino are slick. If I were you I wouldn't pull much more than that in a short bed reg cab truck, I'm not an expert but I have heard they aren't the best for towing heavy stuff.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,408
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From: Trenton, MI
My 79 F150 do same thing what you mean. It would do better at 2,300- 2,400 rpm that what I do while tow lot stuff that I was supposed to use for 1 ton truck.
Did you fix overheat issue? no overheat when pull trailer?
Did you fix overheat issue? no overheat when pull trailer?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Almost Heaven
Really? Interesting. I never officially fixed the overheating issue. My truck seems to run fine at the moment. We'll see..
FTE Legend
Joined: May 2008
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From: In my own world
hey bill, food for thought, my dump truck has a 485 hp cummins in it with an 8 speed. empty it will give most cars and trucks a real run for the money off line. sometimes it's kinda comical. but.... put 23 tons on er, and well, hope your not in a real hurry through the 1st 4 gears. once you hit 5th, it's rock and roll time.until you go to stop, that's another story though. like I said, just food for thought
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Almost Heaven
hey bill, food for thought, my dump truck has a 485 hp cummins in it with an 8 speed. empty it will give most cars and trucks a real run for the money off line. sometimes it's kinda comical. but.... put 23 tons on er, and well, hope your not in a real hurry through the 1st 4 gears. once you hit 5th, it's rock and roll time.until you go to stop, that's another story though. like I said, just food for thought
FTE Legend
Joined: May 2008
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From: In my own world
yeah, in md, tri axel can be 70,000 lbs with the axel down. next time you see a dump truck with his tarp back, and axel down give him lots of room, you know he's got a load on. even empty, my truck weighs 26,000 lbs
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Almost Heaven
My dad drives semi-tractors for a living. I think he has a 500 horse Cat in the Kenworth. These big rig motors are veeery impressive.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,074
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From: Mass.
but for towing with an automatic, a tranny cooler is a good investment, and a trans temp to monitor it all is a plus to keep an eye on it. heat is the biggest enemy of auto transmissions, so the hotter it gets the more it slips. whens the last time you changed the trans fluid and filter? that could help you get your power to the ground slightly quicker, and not have to rev as much to move.