My 6.4L Hemi towing review

[kxnate]

First tow with the 6.4 Hemi today. Made about a 300 mile tow from Billings MT to the top of the Bighorn Mountains and back, pulling a 4 place enclosed snowmobile trailer. I don't know the exact weight, but I'm guessing about 8000lbs roughly. For those that don't know the area, lots of hills all the way to the base of the mountains, and then a steep mountain climb from about 3900ft to about 8000ft. Here's my takeaway.

1. The engine is more than capable
2. The transmission shifting under load is smooth as silk
3. Those 429 ponies are REALLY FREAKING THIRSTY!!!
4. HOLY CRAP THOSE RPM's!!!

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

The 8 speed really does shift smooth as glass under a load.

 

[kxnate]

The 8 speed really does shift smooth as glass under a load.

It really does, I was impressed. If it weren't for the engine screaming at almost 5000 rpms, you wouldn't even know it down shifted.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

It really does, I was impressed. If it weren't for the engine screaming at almost 5000 rpms, you wouldn't even know it down shifted.

No redline no worries!

 

[kxnate]

No redline no worries!

that's funny, I did notice there was no red line on the tach

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

that's funny, I did notice there was no red line on the tach

They are fine to rev high nothing to worry about except fuel millage lol

 

[kxnate]

Yeah, I ran 75 for the first 50 miles out of Billings, then dropped it back to 70. Got fuel at a town at the base of the mountains before going up the mountain about 120 miles in. Computer showed 6.4mpg average at that point, calculater said 5.85mpg. Ouch, hope the mpg's pick up a little once it's more broke in.

 

[JohnandDonna]

Do you have the 3.73 or 4.10 gears?

 

[Deleted member 80]

I pull at 65, so that helped a bit when I had my 6.4, but other than that my MPG didn't improve with miles. The six speed was nowhere near as smooth as your 8 speed.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Yeah, I ran 75 for the first 50 miles out of Billings, then dropped it back to 70. Got fuel at a town at the base of the mountains before going up the mountain about 120 miles in. Computer showed 6.4mpg average at that point, calculater said 5.85mpg. Ouch, hope the mpg's pick up a little once it's more broke in.

Keep it 60-65 you will see a huge difference in millage

 

[Deleted member 80]

With the toy hauler loaded up I went across the scales at a bit over 23K, and the 6.4 averaged 7.5-8.5 MPG. Add in lots of long pulls, and I can see it dropping into the 6's pretty quick. Being a NA gasser, I could really feel it get wheezy at elevation.

 

[kxnate]

Do you have the 3.73 or 4.10 gears?

3.73

 

[kxnate]

Keep it 60-65 you will see a huge difference in millage

Our interstate speed limit is 80 and 2 lanes are 70. I'll probably just keep it at 70 and live with the mileage.

 

[Deleted member 80]

Our interstate speed limit is 80 and 2 lanes are 70. I'll probably just keep it at 70 and live with the mileage.

I towed across 80 mph Texas at 65. They can pass me all day long. Set the cruise, and relax.

 

[kxnate]

I towed across 80 mph Texas at 65. They can pass me all day long. Set the cruise, and relax.

It's not so bad on the interstate with a passing lane, but on the 2 lanes around here at least, you get traffic stacked up behind you and then people get stupid passing and pass when the shouldn't. We have a couple 2 lanes outside of Billings that are notorious for head ons from people passing when they shouldn't. Sometimes I wish they'd dial the speed limits back to 65.

 

[Deleted member 80]

It's not so bad on the interstate with a passing lane, but on the 2 lanes around here at least, you get traffic stacked up behind you and then people get stupid passing and pass when the shouldn't. We have a couple 2 lanes outside of Billings that are notorious for head ons from people passing when they shouldn't. Sometimes I wish they'd dial the speed limits back to 65.

65 won't fix it. We have some two lanes here posted 65, and there are fatal head-ons all the time from people making banzai passes. It's a shame, but you can't fix stupid.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Our interstate speed limit is 80 and 2 lanes are 70. I'll probably just keep it at 70 and live with the mileage.

Must be nice there is no limit above 60 where i am in the entire province and most roads if you get up to 80 your loosing your license and vehicle for a week lol

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

People like to drive 20 over here.

I don’t care what other people are doing.

67 is my sweet spot when towing. I can get away with it from 55mph zone to a 70mph zone and even construction zones. Set it and forget it. Nets me right around 11mpg

Ymmv

 

[jadmt]

It's not so bad on the interstate with a passing lane, but on the 2 lanes around here at least, you get traffic stacked up behind you and then people get stupid passing and pass when the shouldn't. We have a couple 2 lanes outside of Billings that are notorious for head ons from people passing when they shouldn't. Sometimes I wish they'd dial the speed limits back to 65.

people who do not live here do not understand..If you drive even only 5 or 10 over the speedlimit you get old ladies who flip you off lol. that is a grind to the top of the big horns. Is there still a pile of snow?

 

[whitexc]

Let's talk about the snowmobiling that was done once you got there! It's only gas lol.

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