PepperB
Hernando, MS
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Joined: 04/03/2008
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donn0128 wrote:Since it is painfully obvious that you do not have enough truck, and stopping towing is not really an option unless you plan on parking the TT in your yard and letting it rot, I think the next and probably only suggestions for you are, 1, get a really big trans cooler, and 2 change the rear end gear ration to 4.10. Hopefully you do not have a 4X4? At least those two things will give you a fighting chance of getting to your camp sites in one piece. And finally chalk this up to lesson learned! How do you change the rear end gear ratio? Oh, and thanks for not making me feel stupid by being condescending in your answers!
MIKE-2007 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab, V8 4.8L
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tncruiser
collierville,tn
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PepperB, You are not going to see winds like that very often. When you do slowing down will make a difference. On I-55 you will probably get ran over if you are not going at least 70mph. Get the tranny cooler. They are easy to put in. How was your stay at Village Creek. I hear they are putting in a very nice golf course. The two lakes there have some nice bass or they did years ago. My mail carriers' ( here in Collierville) grandfather owned all that land the park is on. He said that was his back yard. Wish I had a yard like that!
Keith & Patty / TN.
2004 27rl Crossroads Cruiser
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PepperB
Hernando, MS
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tncruiser wrote:PepperB, You are not going to see winds like that very often. When you do slowing down will make a difference. On I-55 you will probably get ran over if you are not going at least 70mph. Get the tranny cooler. They are easy to put in. How was your stay at Village Creek. I hear they are putting in a very nice golf course. The two lakes there have some nice bass or they did years ago. My mail carriers' ( here in Collierville) grandfather owned all that land the park is on. He said that was his back yard. Wish I had a yard like that! It was a fantastic place! We had a scout camp weekend, and other than being cold & breezy ( to put it mildly) it was a blast. I was nervous about driving in those hills, but after that headwind, the hills (and their nice, protective tree cover) were a relief! Though next time I'm getting a pull through spot, not a back in.
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Rear end gear changes are fairly common. Look in the phone book for axle or speed shops and call them and ask. No clue as to how much it will cost but is certainly is cheaper than a different truck at least for now. Education is my goal. I made the same basic mistake on my last truck. Had a really nice 11000 mile Chevy Duramax/Allison and quickly discovered that it was not enough truck for the trailer we bought. So after three years of attempting to tow I finally bit the bullet and got a truck that actually tows the load comfortably. Be aware that whatever you do consider them as stop gap measures until suck time that you can/will justify a better truck for the trailer.
Donn
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Bearnkat
Fort Worth, Texas
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Joined: 07/30/2004
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Yep, just as the poster above related, I too had a hard lesson to learn. We purchased our truck (an F150 with towing package) first, and then purchased our trailer. It was no one's fault except for mine, I didn't do my homework.
We towed with the F150 for almost 2 years and burned up a set of brakes and blew out a rear end. It was then we upgraded to the F250 PSD. It was a costly mistake but we now are towing with the proper truck and feel much safer now. Please note, our Pilgrim is considerably heavier 7,000# empty and close to 10,000# loaded.
Chuck & Terry
2005 Pilgrim 281RB-S
2006 Ford F250 Lariat CC 4x2 PSD
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Road Ruler
Canada
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Joined: 09/11/2003
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PepperB wrote:
As for slowing down, I'm having a logic problem. Aren't I going to have a problem maintaining speed in a headwind regardless of my desired speed? Isn't the truck going to have as much trouble maintaining 70 mph as 40 mph? Will it really be easier if I'm shooting for 50-55 instead of 60-65?
I don't have the exact numbers but you will have about 2Xs the wind resistance at 70MPH compared with 45MPH.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Sounds like you did fine. 192 on the transmission is fine, no additional cooler needed. Running 3500 to 3700 rpm all day is not going to hurt anything. I would tend to pull the shift lever to hold second and set the cruise control at 3500 rpm and turn up the tunes.
217 while backing up is fine.
Now all that said I think you will be very pleased if you change the rear gears to 4.10 minimum or 4.56 if you want to be a little aggressive. Changing gears is a days work at the dealer or a competent transmission shop or off road outfitter shop. Cost is $500 to $1200 and well worth it.
Those temps do not dictate an added trans cooler but if you are out in 100F heat this summer it might be needed. I would opt for the OEM cooler if available otherwise a large stacked plate cooler can be installed by a good transmission shop.
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
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reno82
Cardiff by the Sea, CA
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Yep, slowing down will help, you don't need to be going 60 mph in a head wind. I was pulling my TT through the mountains with a 50+ mph head wind. Even with my 2500 6.0 I was pulling the hills at 45-50. I was afraid I was holding up traffic till I stopped for fuel at the top of the mountain. I guy in a Porsche came over and thanked me for cutting the wind for him, he said he tried to pass me when the wind moved his car over a lane, he said he was more than happy to follow me the rest of the way. When you think about it if you're doing 60 mph against a 30 mph head wind, that’s like pulling your TT 90 mph! Stick your hand flat out the window 30 mph, then try it at 70. That’s how much more resistance there is, slow down and enjoy the view.
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Garfie|d
South-Western Ontario
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Joined: 09/03/2003
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There's nothing wrong with the truck, per se, but you're getting killed by the 3.23 gearing. From my chair, the best solution is to swap out the gears to at least 3.73 (and preferably 4.10). Keep it in third gear and don't exceed 60 MPH and it should work just fine. It's the least expensive of all the options.
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chadsalt
sc
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Joined: 04/04/2005
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WOW, some of you guys are a laugh riot. He ONLY hit 192 in a headwind without a tranny cooler and he doesnt have enough truck? Nonsense, you guys sure are good at spending other peoples money. 160-200 on any modern tranny is fine for normal operating, short runs to 250 at the top of a grade dont bother me...YMMV.
There is nothing wrong with your situation. If you want a truck that will loaf along in O/D then youll have to stay at about 1/2 the load capacity. I say put some 4.10's in it, tranny cooler, let the engine rev to where it makes its power and dont look back. If you want an upgrade down the road then by all means go get one when the time is right, but what you have now will be fine.
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