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Big towing trip coming up

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1sttimeRamowner

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I am getting ready for a long summer trip. Going to be heading out and doing a 5k mile round trip heading out along old rt 66, and through Arkansas, Texas, NV, AZ, then up toward Idaho, Utah, back east through Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, perhaps dip down into South Dakota and Nebraska, across Iowa, Missouri and then start making our way home.

My last tuck had a transmission cooler, but no real gauge to tell me what the temps were running. I now have a gauge, but no transmission cooler. My trailer is going to be around 4200 lbs when all said and done and I will have about 1000 lbs in the bed and cab counting my family and I. I know I am not even stretching this truck for what I am doing, in fact, it is almost embarrassing. But here are my following questions:

1. What should I be looking for with transmission temps?
2. In my Tundra, I would run the truck in Shift mode, keep it in fifth and sixth gear, but shift back and forth depending on the terrain. This does not have that control. What speed should I go? I normally try to travel around that 65 MPH mark.
3. Any other temp or gauge numbers I should be aware of?


Thanks for all the help.
 
1sttimeRamowner said:
I am getting ready for a long summer trip. Going to be heading out and doing a 5k mile round trip heading out along old rt 66, and through Arkansas, Texas, NV, AZ, then up toward Idaho, Utah, back east through Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, perhaps dip down into South Dakota and Nebraska, across Iowa, Missouri and then start making our way home.

My last tuck had a transmission cooler, but no real gauge to tell me what the temps were running. I now have a gauge, but no transmission cooler. My trailer is going to be around 4200 lbs when all said and done and I will have about 1000 lbs in the bed and cab counting my family and I. I know I am not even stretching this truck for what I am doing, in fact, it is almost embarrassing. But here are my following questions:

1. What should I be looking for with transmission temps?
2. In my Tundra, I would run the truck in Shift mode, keep it in fifth and sixth gear, but shift back and forth depending on the terrain. This does not have that control. What speed should I go? I normally try to travel around that 65 MPH mark.
3. Any other temp or gauge numbers I should be aware of?


Thanks for all the help.
Click to expand...
I am ordering a 2025 3500HD Turbo-Diesel 4x4 Dually Crew-Cab Long-box HD-5th Wheel set up and a HD BumperPull Hitch to tow a DD Safetack 3-Horse Trailer and a future 6-Horse/Stock DD Safetack Trailer. I will be driving from Pennsylvania to Washington State, then the next trip it will be to drive to Texas to get a Mule for Farm, Trail, and Animal Rescue. I was told to put some long inter-state/highway miles on it after I break it in locally.

Hopefully they fixed the Recalls from the past, including all their intentionally manufactured in PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE.

At least giving it a new engine to eliminate a few problems.

I am blessed to have a cousin that is a tractor trailer driver and trainer who has hauled a few loaded Horse Trailers to help this old lady to learn how to drive it and tow it loaded, he also has his own HD, himself.

But, I am a not only a FirstTimeRamOwner, but also a FirstTimeTruckOwner, as well. This will be interesting. My last 3 vehicles are/were mid-size SUVs. I had moved myself a few times with big Penske and U-Haul Moving Trucks, but never towed anything.

Okay FirstTimeRamOwner, I'll be following you. :-) Safe Traveling Mercies.
 
1sttimeRamowner said:
I am getting ready for a long summer trip. Going to be heading out and doing a 5k mile round trip heading out along old rt 66, and through Arkansas, Texas, NV, AZ, then up toward Idaho, Utah, back east through Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, perhaps dip down into South Dakota and Nebraska, across Iowa, Missouri and then start making our way home.

My last tuck had a transmission cooler, but no real gauge to tell me what the temps were running. I now have a gauge, but no transmission cooler. My trailer is going to be around 4200 lbs when all said and done and I will have about 1000 lbs in the bed and cab counting my family and I. I know I am not even stretching this truck for what I am doing, in fact, it is almost embarrassing. But here are my following questions:

1. What should I be looking for with transmission temps?
2. In my Tundra, I would run the truck in Shift mode, keep it in fifth and sixth gear, but shift back and forth depending on the terrain. This does not have that control. What speed should I go? I normally try to travel around that 65 MPH mark.
3. Any other temp or gauge numbers I should be aware of?


Thanks for all the help.
Click to expand...

You should fill out your signature with your truck specs. It helps people answer your questions better.

I recall you recently buying a 2020 6.4L. It definitely has a transmission cooler and that trailer won’t be too much of a a workout for it.

I don’t have an 8HP75 so couldn’t tell you what temps are normal, but I’m sure someone will chime in with regular temps.
 
56ram2500 said:
How about more information, like the year of truck, 4x4 or 4x2, 1500, 2500, 3500, what engine do you have gas or diesel?
Click to expand...

Sorry, I should do that and as @AH64ID said, I have a 2020 4x4 with an 8' bed. It is a 6.4 L V8 and the tires that came with it I believe are good however when reversing there is a slight dragging sound where I think the tire is rubbing. Normal turning does not produce this sound. Only when I am sharp turning backward.


ErikTheRed said:
With a 4200# trailer and 1000# total cargo, it could be a Honda Civic and I'm pretty sure he'd be ok. LOL
Click to expand...
LOL. True. If I had to be very conservative, I would say we are around 1300 lbs, but we would be hard pressed to that point. The only two things I have on the truck is a grill guard that came with it, and I have a tool box that I can pick up myself with my tools in it so give or take a hundred lbs or so. My trailer is a 2022, but here is what it is: https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/surveyor-legend/19BHLE/10293. The hitch, knowing that the weight does not take into account the propane tank, battery, hitch, etc, I am guessing around 700 #'s ish.


dcphifer7777 said:
I am ordering a 2025 3500HD Turbo-Diesel 4x4 Dually Crew-Cab Long-box HD-5th Wheel set up and a HD BumperPull Hitch to tow a DD Safetack 3-Horse Trailer and a future 6-Horse/Stock DD Safetack Trailer. I will be driving from Pennsylvania to Washington State, then the next trip it will be to drive to Texas to get a Mule for Farm, Trail, and Animal Rescue. I was told to put some long inter-state/highway miles on it after I break it in locally.

Hopefully they fixed the Recalls from the past, including all their intentionally manufactured in PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE.

At least giving it a new engine to eliminate a few problems.

I am blessed to have a cousin that is a tractor trailer driver and trainer who has hauled a few loaded Horse Trailers to help this old lady to learn how to drive it and tow it loaded, he also has his own HD, himself.

But, I am a not only a FirstTimeRamOwner, but also a FirstTimeTruckOwner, as well. This will be interesting. My last 3 vehicles are/were mid-size SUVs. I had moved myself a few times with big Penske and U-Haul Moving Trucks, but never towed anything.

Okay FirstTimeRamOwner, I'll be following you. :-) Safe Traveling Mercies.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info, and thanks for the prayers. I will share on another thread as I am going. I do plan on posting questions of things to do in the areas we are going because no one knows an area better than those who are there :).

This is my first HD, and my first Ram so trying to figure out everything is fun. I am coming over from a Tundra, but one of my previous jobs I cleaned carpet. Drove a F350 with an 8' bed, and their big old crew cab. Coupled to it was a 26' enclosed trailer. Driving some of the narrow streets I used to do was exciting, and not always for the right reason, LOL.

The setup you are getting sounds very nice. Please post pics when you get a chance! I'll PM you.
AH64ID said:
You should fill out your signature with your truck specs. It helps people answer your questions better.

I recall you recently buying a 2020 6.4L. It definitely has a transmission cooler and that trailer won’t be too much of a a workout for it.

I don’t have an 8HP75 so couldn’t tell you what temps are normal, but I’m sure someone will chime in with regular temps.
Click to expand...
Yes, and that sounds like a good idea. I will do that. I do have the 8 speed transmission, and everyone who recommend getting the '19 and up, thank you. I did have to take a moment to figure out the RPM's but it runs higher at the lower speeds than what my Tundra did. However, I figure that was because of the Transmission, and being a heavier truck.
 
ETA: Trying signature again, and it works. Thanks for the advice.
 
The transmission temperatures I’m seeing are around 168 degrees Fahrenheit typically even towing.

Although my heaviest is right at or just above 10,000 pounds of total trailer weight.
 
You'll be more than fine for that load/trip. Your truck does have a trans cooler. I'd be shocked if your trans temp goes over 170, even on a steep grade.
 
As others have said, no need to worry about transmission temps, won't even approach 200 degrees. No need to worry about gears, put it in tow/haul so you get the different shift pattern and more downshift for braking, also disables mds so you stay in 8 cylinder mode. This is all good news, having a truck that is way more capable than the job it's doing just makes everything easy and low stress.

That sounds like a really great trip!
 
Riccochet said:
You'll be more than fine for that load/trip. Your truck does have a trans cooler. I'd be shocked if your trans temp goes over 170, even on a steep grade.
Click to expand...
That is interesting. I didn't see a cooler, but then again I was looking on the front of my radiator. Perhaps I should look again to make sure. My Tundra had one and it was mounted on the front. Thanks for the info. I will keep everyone posted.

Perhaps will start a travel thread when we begin the journey. It will be somewhere near Juneish before we go. Got to get to the beginning of summer when school is out and we are able to go.

dieselscout80 said:
The transmission temperatures I’m seeing are around 168 degrees Fahrenheit typically even towing.

Although my heaviest is right at or just above 10,000 pounds of total trailer weight.
Click to expand...
That is way over my weight, even if I wanted to carry more. I am not sure what else I would take, :)! We travel very light because we do not want to be busy trying to just pack up stuff and haul it when we don't even use it. For us, the camper is basically our rest stop. We swing in, eat, rest, and then we are off again. I think, out of the four seasons we have been pulling a camper, we only have had three days where we were at the camper all day (not including our planned rest days). That was because of rain. Usually we go to a spot, park, set up, and then hit the road running. The day before we move on we may spend the day at the camper just getting prepped and rested for the following day's drive.

It has been fun that way for sure!
Dave01 said:
As others have said, no need to worry about transmission temps, won't even approach 200 degrees. No need to worry about gears, put it in tow/haul so you get the different shift pattern and more downshift for braking, also disables mds so you stay in 8 cylinder mode. This is all good news, having a truck that is way more capable than the job it's doing just makes everything easy and low stress.

That sounds like a really great trip!
Click to expand...
Thank you. I will probably watch just to make sure at first, but I don't doubt what you all are saying. That is good to know. I did see the tow/haul mode. I am assuming the MDS button is near the aux buttons? I need to look again to make sure.

Yes. We wanted to stay with the V8's. I love my V8's, and the 6.4 just helps to fit into that role! The fact that I have over 3k #'s of cargo, and a 17,500 # towing capacity, that is icing on the cake and gives me so much more room to rest, as you said low stress, compared to my Tundra.

I will plan on doing a thread as the trip progresses. As I have said in another forum, it may be slow because of our crazy day to day schedule along with our unknown internet capabilities, but I will post as we go along.



Thank you so much for the help, everyone!
 
Next question as I am prepping for the trip. I have the built in trailer brakes. I have never used those but have used an alternative brake controller. I still have the controller but do not want to plug it in if the on board one works. I have ran across on this website, are their issues with using it. It is an Optimus something or another. So, my questions are:

1. Should I use the separate one or use the built in controller?
2. I have the Optimus set for the trailer on my Tundra, but what should I start the built in controller at (or what should the brake controller be set at)?

Thanks.
 
Built in controller works fine. Your trailer is so light I'd start with it set to maybe 4. A good way to adjust is to get on dirt instead of pavement, and at slow speed use the brakes and see if the trailer brakes lock up and skid. If they don't, increase the setting until they do, then back off again.
 
Dave01 said:
Built in controller works fine. Your trailer is so light I'd start with it set to maybe 4. A good way to adjust is to get on dirt instead of pavement, and at slow speed use the brakes and see if the trailer brakes lock up and skid. If they don't, increase the setting until they do, then back off again.
Click to expand...
Good to know and that sounds like a great idea. I will have to get my trailer leveled to the truck, and then try this. Thank you for the advice!
 
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