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Jim
Dodge Dakota
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2/13/2007
21:59:33
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 Subject: Power Loss Towing?
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Message:
I have 2000 CC with 4.7L with towing package and 3.55 gears.
When towing my 3,000lb pontoon boat the truck has a hard time on the hills maintaning speed. Usually loses about 10 mph.
I read of people towing more than 3,000lbs without a problem.
Any thoughts?
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mpb
Dodge Dakota
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2/13/2007
22:34:34
| RE: Power Loss Towing?
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What speed? How big of hills (what area of the country)?
My 5-speed cannot maintain 70 on Interstate-grade hills in 5th, though it can in 4th, but I don't like to run it that hard.
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Jim
Dodge Dakota
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2/14/2007
06:54:27
| RE: Power Loss Towing?
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I am located in upstate SC. I have an automatic transmission and am towing with OD disabled. Driving on I-85 at 65 mph. Some of the hills are fairly steep.
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Kowalski
GenIII
2/14/2007
08:15:38
| RE: Power Loss Towing?
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I hate to have to ask the obvious, but are you giving it more fuel ? If so, how does it respond ? Or are you just expecting it to pull like when you aren't towing with a light throttle aplication ? My '00 4.7, with tow pacakage and 3.55 also, could pull over 5000 lbs up hills very well, but you have to give it more gas. Runs quite well with other guys towing campers with v10's and diesels even - to the point where my friends with other brands would comment on it as we were going to the races; very steep NH hills. The 4.7 likes revs more than the other stock magnums, don't be afraid to let it sing. Also, many of us with the 45RFE behind the 4.7 have been leaving OD on for towing. It only seems to go into OD in lower load situations.
Lead, follow, or get out of the way
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Shatto
Dodge Dakota
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2/18/2007
19:36:15
| RE: Power Loss Towing?
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Message:
Never towed with my 3.9 automatic BUT the adaptive transmission loves loads, and actually performs better than empty. It does require a tad more throttle.
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GraphiteDak
GenIII
2/19/2007
00:20:54
| RE: Power Loss Towing?
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Message:
I'm with Kowalksi. 3000 Lbs is nothing.
Mine usually would be fine on the larger hills just running in 3rd (Auto out of OD) but if you get slowed down enough don't be afraid to let it drop to 2nd gear and build some RPM's. 4,000 RPM's is nothing for it. Running between 5 and 6 to accelerate is fine too.
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Toby
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2007
21:50:34
| RE: Power Loss Towing?
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I have an 02 with the same engine and rear end and regularly pull a 4500 lb trailer. I notice the torque kicks in at about 3000 RPM. I can maintain 70 MPH up a hill better than trying to maintain 65.
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2007
23:48:44
| RE: Power Loss Towing?
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Message:
Yea man,
the 4.7 is one torquey dude!! And as Graphite said, it loves to wrap it out a bit. If you've seen the torque c urve of a 4.7, it gets flat as a pancake around 2500-3750, then climbs steeply again, dropping off a cliff around 5 grand.
Jim, I think if you tried the same, with other similiar v8's, you'd see more of a speed drop.
If it's running well, I wouldn't worry about it. You have to expect a drop going up a grade, especially with over 75% of the vehicle weight being towed!
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