For those that tow heavy

[bike-maker]

Looking to compare with others that tow big trailers.
Drug the 5er out to the cost this past weekend. It's 31' long and about 10k pounds. After I put in the rebuilt Uhaul pump a couple months ago, she's making quite a bit more power than before. On the steeper grades (about 6%), I would get drug down to about 20mph at over 3000 rpm in second gear; luckily the hills weren't very long. Temp gauge never even got to 200 degrees. She'll cruise right along at 65 on flat ground, but any sign of hill slows her down pretty quick.
Just trying to get an idea about how much better this thing will pull up the hills with additions like turbo, better IP/injectors, intercooler, etc. If I can't keep this thing within a few mph's of the speed limit on hills, I'm going to start thinking about a different power plant.
It sucks when the newer trucks with the huge toy haulers (considerably heavier than my trailer) blow past me at 55mph while I'm killing off the local mosquito population at 20mph......

 

[hesutton]

With my '86 crew cab, I was able to haul my 32ft fifth wheel at 65-70 on flat ground, with speeds dropping to 55-60 on larger hills. That was with a cracked head and two intermittantly working cylinders (#2 had a dead injector and cylinder #1 had a blown headgasket). That sucker vibrated like a SOB at around 2000-2300RPM. The turbo will certainly help. I never even tryed to hauling with the truck N/A. The US Gear underdrive unit also is a big plus in getting the trailer rolling in town as well.

I have the 6.9 completely broken down now and will rebuilt it. I want it to be a bit more powerful, but really reliable for hauling the camper. I'm thinking of getting the rotating assembly balanced, ceramic coating the pistion crowns, Moose IP and injectors, and possibly a cam and intercooler. What have you got planned for your rig other than a trubo?

Heath

 

[Black dawg]

on a 6%, pulling my usual load (about 18k total) I have no problem going 45. It will pull much faster, but coolant temps quickly become a problem. On a cool day, I hit the bottom of the pass at 70, and really got on it. It maintained 70 for a couple miles (all out) until coolant temp got out of hand.


before I did the intercooler I had a hard time hitting the bottom of the pass at 45.

 

[bike-maker]

I don't have any real plans for it for right now, just looking towards the future.
If I stay IDI, it would be nice to go with a turbo, I/C, better injection system, and maybe a type 4 cam. Nothing fancy, I just want more power and retain reliability. If I was going to go with a different power plant (would REALLY like to be running a DT360; but would also consider a PSD or Cummins), I want to make that decision now, before I start dumping money into the IDI.
Right now my truck's lack of oomph is limiting the use of my trailer. My sister keeps trying to get us to go camping on the other side of the mountains; but that requires going over a pass (Willamette Pass for those that know Oregon) that is about 6% grade for about 20 miles, ending at about 4500 feet above sea level. I fear my marriage might be in jeopardy by the time I got to the top of that sucker......
If I could get the IDI to pull that pass at 55mph, I would be happy.

 

['94IDITurbo7.3]

6% grade for about 20 miles, ending at about 4500 feet above sea level.

I think a turbo is in order for you.

 

[IDIDieselJohn]

I towed a car behind my motorhome last year, N/A 6.9 C6 3.54

I was tipping around 16k lbs and wasn't to bad on flat land, sure was a **** off the line.

 

[RLDSL]

I gross a bit over 18k with my 5er and over 22k with my carhauler, Having a Brownie helps out a bunch in the mountains for having just the right gear all the time
Don't think the new rigs passing you is all HP, a lot of it is their newer trailers don't weigh anything to speak of in a lot of cases. Where my old 5er has a steel frame and the structure is framed in wood, the new things have lightweight steel or aluminum frames and either aluminum structural framing or none at all with FRP exterior walls serving as wall and structure. very lightweught rigs in comparison unless you get into the 40ft monsters with the triple slide outs

I can keep up with the majority of the big trucks climbing long grades. Can't really ask for anything more than that ( you can, but it's just sillyness at that point, exactly how fast does one really need to go )

 

[typ4]

Bike maker, you need a turbo, bad, and then your engine temps will go over 200*. Ic and a cam will help a lot.

 

[FordGuy100]

Turbo will make a night and day difference.

Remember if you throw a used turbo on it...and decide later on to go with another power plant, you could sell your turbo and regain your money. It's a win-win situation.

And yes they make a ton of difference.

 

[bike-maker]

The road I was on was hwy 126 between Florence and Eugene (Russ, you're probabky familiar with this one); the hills that drug me down to 20mph are not big by any means.
My trailer is a 2002, so it's a newer aluminum frame style, it's just big. The toy haulers I referred to are 38'+ with multiple slides, generators,etc, and are definitely heavier than mine.

On a side note, I may have just solved my own dilemma; I think I just bought a engine.
I'll know tomorrow what the real story is.

 

[Black dawg]

you need a green inline.

 

[FordGuy100]

you need a green inline.

John Deere?

I've been on the 126 a couple of times. Costal range isnt comparable to the passes through the Cascades. We normally went over the Cascades through Santiam Pass (Usually to go skiing at Hoodoo), but I have been through Willamate Pass many times as well. Those are some long grades.

What kind of engine?

 

[Black dawg]

dt360. maybe its blue?? look kinda green to me

 

[bike-maker]

Usually to go skiing at Hoodoo

Hoodoo Eh? I was a season pass holder there for many a year, although not so much in recent years. My parents still get season passes every year; they camp in the parking lot in their motor home all the time.

As for the engine, I don't want to jinx it; it looks to be a smolkin' deal.

 

[FordGuy100]

I started skiing later on but had season passes with my parents. They would park their Rv on that wall of snow and hookup to power. Fun times at Hoodoo! Thats definatly one thing I really miss...considering I'm in the armpit of hell here in east Texas