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Towing with new 6.4L

Just pulled my 13,000lb FW on a 1000 mile journey from IA to Farmington, NM. From home to Denver I was running about 70 and once I got through the mountains about 65, averaging 7.5mpg for the trip. The truck did better then I expected in the mountains, but still nothing like a diesel would have. If this was a regular trip a diesel would be about a necessity, but for a most likely one time thing (plus one to back home) it was awesome. Definitely can't be afraid to hit some high rpms, especially up and down the 7% grades. 1000001811.jpg
 
Just pulled my 13,000lb FW on a 1000 mile journey from IA to Farmington, NM. From home to Denver I was running about 70 and once I got through the mountains about 65, averaging 7.5mpg for the trip. The truck did better then I expected in the mountains, but still nothing like a diesel would have. If this was a regular trip a diesel would be about a necessity, but for a most likely one time thing (plus one to back home) it was awesome. Definitely can't be afraid to hit some high rpms, especially up and down the 7% grades. View attachment 78192

What routes/passes do you take?

Farmington is one of our usual haunts when we camp/boat at Navajo Reservoir. There's a good Mexican restaurant in Aztec we like to stop at.
 
Just pulled my 13,000lb FW on a 1000 mile journey from IA to Farmington, NM. From home to Denver I was running about 70 and once I got through the mountains about 65, averaging 7.5mpg for the trip. The truck did better then I expected in the mountains, but still nothing like a diesel would have. If this was a regular trip a diesel would be about a necessity, but for a most likely one time thing (plus one to back home) it was awesome. Definitely can't be afraid to hit some high rpms, especially up and down the 7% grades.

That’s awesome! What were your oil and coolant temps like?
 
What routes/passes do you take?

Farmington is one of our usual haunts when we camp/boat at Navajo Reservoir. There's a good Mexican restaurant in Aztec we like to stop at.
I took 285 out of Denver, then 160 to 140. It was a beautiful drive. I think on the way home I'm gonna stay on 160 instead of hitting 285 though. I gotta figure out where that 9 mile 7% grade was because I don't really want to go up that. Besides, it will be the middle of December when I head home so I want to stay out of the mountains as much as possible.
 
That’s awesome! What were your oil and coolant temps like?
I never saw that coolant get above 219, and that was just for a a little bit toward the end of the 9 mile 7% grade downhill. I was hitting about 5,000 rpm for a minute before slowing down and starting over. I don't think it even got the high going up the other 7% grade. It was usually below 215. The oil was around 230 I think and the trans was 174 at it's high. It was 47⁰ out when I left Denver and the coolest I saw in the mountains was 34⁰, so I'm sure that helped.
 
I took 285 out of Denver, then 160 to 140. It was a beautiful drive. I think on the way home I'm gonna stay on 160 instead of hitting 285 though. I gotta figure out where that 9 mile 7% grade was because I don't really want to go up that. Besides, it will be the middle of December when I head home so I want to stay out of the mountains as much as possible.

On 160, that's Wolf Creek Pass. It's a hard slog for sure. Eastbound is steeper. Watch that slow speed (35?) curve near the bottom, it's no joke.

I'd take the southern route 64 through Dulce, Chama over Cumbres pass to Antonito then pick up 160 east. If you don't need to go through Denver, I'd stay on 160 and go up through Rocky Ford and Eads to get beck to I-70.
 
... and the trans was 174 at it's high.
There are tons of discussions about diesel vs. gas and your comments are about how I feel, tow heavy all the time and you want a diesel, do it now and then and a 6.4 is very capable. What I don't see discussed much is the 8 speed on the 6.4, and what I mean is unless I'm missing something that transmission is super reliable and unfazed by some pretty heavy towing. You're towing 13k on a long trip, seeing only 170's for temp, and sounds like you were using transmission braking about as hard as it can be used plus some good climbs.
 
There are tons of discussions about diesel vs. gas and your comments are about how I feel, tow heavy all the time and you want a diesel, do it now and then and a 6.4 is very capable. What I don't see discussed much is the 8 speed on the 6.4, and what I mean is unless I'm missing something that transmission is super reliable and unfazed by some pretty heavy towing. You're towing 13k on a long trip, seeing only 170's for temp, and sounds like you were using transmission braking about as hard as it can be used plus some good climbs.
Our trailer is 6200# and I have towed it at about 7400# most of the time.

I have been super impressed with the 8 speed transmission. I've gone up and over Vail and through Eisenhower/Johnson several times this year. Temps on Oil, Coolant and Transmission barely move. Maybe 10 degrees difference between 5000 feet and 10000 feet. But I am not doing 75 up and over either. Not that it can't, I just don't drive much over 65 towing anything.

I went to an RV dealer and asked them to let me tow a 11K trailer they had on trade for 10 miles. They let me. It had anti-lock and the electric anti-sway. Amazing performance. I am more and more convinced that suspension and brakes are the two most important things when towing, other than the obvious of not being overloaded and a good frame.
 
I am more and more convinced that suspension and brakes are the two most important things when towing, other than the obvious of not being overloaded and a good frame.
Definitely. I know I've posted this before in other threads, but it isn't ancient history that we all were towing heavy loads with 180 hp 350 ft.-lb diesels and 220 hp 270 ft.-lb gas engines. It was slow to get started, long hills were a question of getting over 70 before starting up and hoping you were still over 55 by the time you hit the top. The power levels we have now, both gas and diesel, are pretty amazing.
 
I think on the way home I'm gonna stay on 160 …it will be the middle of December when I head home so I want to stay out of the mountains as much as possible.

I guess you roll the dice on any route but Wolf Creek area generally tops the list for getting blasted with the most snow in the state. Just something to consider.
 
Just pulled my 13,000lb FW on a 1000 mile journey from IA to Farmington, NM. From home to Denver I was running about 70 and once I got through the mountains about 65, averaging 7.5mpg for the trip. The truck did better then I expected in the mountains, but still nothing like a diesel would have. If this was a regular trip a diesel would be about a necessity, but for a most likely one time thing (plus one to back home) it was awesome. Definitely can't be afraid to hit some high rpms, especially up and down the 7% grades. View attachment 78192
Cool to see a 6.4 towing heavy.

Is your truck a 2500 or 3500?

Also what axle ratio does it have?
 
There are tons of discussions about diesel vs. gas and your comments are about how I feel, tow heavy all the time and you want a diesel, do it now and then and a 6.4 is very capable. What I don't see discussed much is the 8 speed on the 6.4, and what I mean is unless I'm missing something that transmission is super reliable and unfazed by some pretty heavy towing. You're towing 13k on a long trip, seeing only 170's for temp, and sounds like you were using transmission braking about as hard as it can be used plus some good climbs.
The computer really does an excellent job of controlling it. There was several spots where it started to flatten out so I shifted up a gear, but it still held that lower gear until I touched the gas pedal. There was also times when I was coasting and when it started to speed up the truck downshifted.
 
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There are tons of discussions about diesel vs. gas and your comments are about how I feel, tow heavy all the time and you want a diesel, do it now and then and a 6.4 is very capable. What I don't see discussed much is the 8 speed on the 6.4, and what I mean is unless I'm missing something that transmission is super reliable and unfazed by some pretty heavy towing. You're towing 13k on a long trip, seeing only 170's for temp, and sounds like you were using transmission braking about as hard as it can be used plus some good climbs.
I'm a weekend warrior, pulling 10-11k mostly through the summer. I could have gone either way and been OK. My previous 1500 had the 8 speed and I knew it would be solid. The 8 speed vs 68rfe was actually kind of the deciding factor for me going with the gasser. As I suspected, that transmission makes these trucks. So far, no regrets. I really wish ram would do what it takes to put a zf behind a Cummins.
 
Did a long weekend trip with the gasser towing the Reflection this weekend. Average right around 8mpg hand calculated. The truck suits my needs and tows my 5er quite nicely. If I were towing more, heavier and or had more grades to deal with my tune may change.


Sent from me
 
I had a 2018 3500 SRW with the 6.4 and 3.73 rear end. I bought it to tow a 32' travel trailer that weighs in at 14k. The truck struggled with the trailer in the areas we camped (PA,MD,WV) and I ended up trading it on a 24 3500 SRW Cummins which is a dream vehicle for towing.
Prior to the camper, I towed my classic car and tractor on a car trailer and the truck did just fine. I think using the gas motor to pull something on the upper limits is just asking for trouble, especially in hilly terrain.
 
I have really enjoyed my 6.4 for towing our vnose camper and my work equipment. Usually nothing over 10k. The camper is probably 7000 on the high end and it's fine all over new England. Much more weight and I would consider a diesel. I'm also on 37s. Again no issues. My mini excavator on the equipment trailer is a bit of a workout at around 10.5k total. I live in the mountains in VT so it's up and down all the time. I believe that zf trans is what makes it work so well.
 
As far as gas powered trucks go, as I've mentioned before, I have a 2012 6.2 Ford F350 dually dump body with 4.30 gears. The tires are 245/70 17s. The Ram has 3.73 gears and 37s. The Ram out pulls the ford as far as acceleration goes, even on hills. The ford is heavier of course, so that could be part of it. And I realize that it's not much of a scientific comparison, just seat of the pants.
 
As far as gas powered trucks go, as I've mentioned before, I have a 2012 6.2 Ford F350 dually dump body with 4.30 gears. The tires are 245/70 17s. The Ram has 3.73 gears and 37s. The Ram out pulls the ford as far as acceleration goes, even on hills. The ford is heavier of course, so that could be part of it. And I realize that it's not much of a scientific comparison, just seat of the pants.
What is the transmission in the 2012 Ford? Despite the gearing and tire size difference, I'm pretty sure it's the tranny in the Ram that makes it perform better.

Yes those rolling hills in VT can be a towing challenge!
 
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