Towing up hills

Davidsan · Feb 21, 2011

Hello,
Saturday I loaded up my Kubota M8540 w/FEL and box blade onto my 22k gooseneck trailer that weighs (7300lb). Hooked to my old 89 Ford F350 that has a 7.3L IDI with aftermarket Banks turbo. Truck is in great shape wiht 99,000 miles on it. On flat rolling, the truck does ok. I can make about 45 mph in 4th gear comfortably. I started up a hill in 2nd gear and nearly didn't make it to the top. It dropped down to about 800 rpm and 10 mph at the top. She was lugging with all it had. This is not the first time I've noticed it just doesn't pull real well. I'm wondering if newer diesels would perform better.

I don't see any smoke and am wondering if I turned up the pump just a hair if it would gain a little horsepower that she definitely needs! Or if it would make that much difference?

Guess I'm a little disappointed with my truck and may have it overloaded for it's age???? Should I start shopping for a newer truck?

WM75Guy · Feb 21, 2011

I took my 8N to the shop to get weights and a worklight added last week. Got it back yesterday. My 03 GMC pulls my trailer and tractor at 65 mph on cruise, may slow down to 60 on a hill and gets 15 mpg towing. Highway mileage without a load is 20-22 mpg. My 08 does not get as good on the highway, 16-18 mpg, but about the same towing. Towing it doesn't hardly slow down on a hill. Both are Duramax, the 03 has the 5 speed Allison and the 08 has the 6 speed Allison.

JB4310 · Feb 21, 2011

Davidsan said:
Hello,
Saturday I loaded up my Kubota M8540 w/FEL and box blade onto my 22k gooseneck trailer that weighs (7300lb). Hooked to my old 89 Ford F350 that has a 7.3L IDI with aftermarket Banks turbo. Truck is in great shape wiht 99,000 miles on it. On flat rolling, the truck does ok. I can make about 45 mph in 4th gear comfortably. I started up a hill in 2nd gear and nearly didn't make it to the top. It dropped down to about 800 rpm and 10 mph at the top. She was lugging with all it had. This is not the first time I've noticed it just doesn't pull real well. I'm wondering if newer diesels would perform better.

I don't see any smoke and am wondering if I turned up the pump just a hair if it would gain a little horsepower that she definitely needs! Or if it would make that much difference?

Guess I'm a little disappointed with my truck and may have it overloaded for it's age???? Should I start shopping for a newer truck?

I'm not sure what your problem is but, something is wrong. couldn't get over a hill at more than 10 mph is a hazard not an inconvienance. Engine needs to be analyzed.

Could make some wise crack about it being a FORD

but I don't think it's that easy.

JB.

timswi · Feb 21, 2011

JB4310 said:
I'm not sure what your problem is but, something is wrong. couldn't get over a hill at more than 10 mph is a hazard not an inconvienance. Engine needs to be analyzed.

Could make some wise crack about it being a FORD but I don't think it's that easy.

JB.

Why not?...DP would take that ball and run with it if the issue was with a DMAX.

JB4310 · Feb 21, 2011

timswi said:
Why not?...DP would take that ball and run with it if the issue was with a DMAX.

:laughing::laughing::laughing:

JB.

Dmace · Feb 21, 2011

timswi said:
Why not?...DP would take that ball and run with it if the issue was with a DMAX.

:laughing: Yup, then throw in a random rant about a Dodge rusting even though no one mentioned a Dodge truck.

On topic, are you sure the transmission was dropping down to 2nd gear? My old 94 F-350 diesel had that horrible E4OD 4 speed auto transmission and a couple of times it would get "hung up" in a high gear 3rd or 4th and not downshift when I needed it to. Sometimes I even noticed that it was starting off from a stop in 2nd gear and not downshifting to 1st. This transmission was the first electronically controlled automatic made by Ford and they were known for shifting problems.

If that's not the problem, then I would look to the turbo to make sure it's still in good shape (i.e. no shaft play or oil leak) and make sure it's building boost. If so then next is the fuel system and make sure you have a clean filter and good fuel pressure at the injectors.

Davidsan said:
Guess I'm a little disappointed with my truck and may have it overloaded for it's age???? Should I start shopping for a newer truck?

If you plan on towing more than a couple of times a year than I would. Even a newer half-ton truck will be light years better at towing that load than that old 1-ton. I towed my tractor/trailer (7500lbs +/-) with my F-350 non-turbo diesel dump truck and it was tough but no major problems. Once the transmission started acting up I figured I would try and tow it with my 03 RAM 1500 HEMI since it was within the manufacturers 8550lb tow limit. What a difference! I could actually hold 55-60 up these steep New England hills, braking was better (surge brakes on the trailer), the overall control was better and steering was lighter. I never again used the dump truck for towing and went straight for the RAM.
So I would certainly look for a newer truck and don't think you need a 1-ton dually to tow 7300lbs, I would feel safe with up to 10k behind a newer half ton as long as it's setup right.

rjkobbeman · Feb 21, 2011

Keep in mind an M8540 (ROPS) with FEL and bucket weights about 7,800 lbs. I am guessing the box blade weighs close to 1,000 lbs? (Don't know what size it is.) If the trailer really is 7,300 lbs empty, you are towing approximately 16,000 lbs. For a new F-350 this would not be a "big" problem, but you certainly would know it is back there. For an older truck, this could be a struggle.

Combination of factors: older truck, older truck possible not in best running condition, a lot of weight.

slowzuki · Feb 21, 2011

The old IDI's didn't make a lot of power, the neighbours had a 6.9 and 7.3 both non-turbo. I can tell you on a hill with a 10,000 lb wagon behind, they didn't get out of 2nd gear much.

The turbo's helped them keep from smoking and added a bit of power but didn't transform them into a Powerstoke.

dodge man · Feb 21, 2011

I agree, you are towing at least 15,000 lbs, which may be to much for your older Ford on hills. What is it rated to tow?

Diamondpilot · Feb 21, 2011

Davidsan said:
Hello,
Saturday I loaded up my Kubota M8540 w/FEL and box blade onto my 22k gooseneck trailer that weighs (7300lb). Hooked to my old 89 Ford F350 that has a 7.3L IDI with aftermarket Banks turbo. Truck is in great shape wiht 99,000 miles on it. On flat rolling, the truck does ok. I can make about 45 mph in 4th gear comfortably. I started up a hill in 2nd gear and nearly didn't make it to the top. It dropped down to about 800 rpm and 10 mph at the top. She was lugging with all it had. This is not the first time I've noticed it just doesn't pull real well. I'm wondering if newer diesels would perform better.

I don't see any smoke and am wondering if I turned up the pump just a hair if it would gain a little horsepower that she definitely needs! Or if it would make that much difference?

Guess I'm a little disappointed with my truck and may have it overloaded for it's age???? Should I start shopping for a newer truck?

Something else must be going on here. I never had a IDI 7.3 but did have a 99 7.3 and 3 other diesel trucks and could pull 15,000# up about any hill at 55 mph. My 06 F-350 routinely pulls my 15,600# boat though the smokies and I never drop below 65mph and could easily do more if I wanted to really work it.

Yes, the new ones pull much much better. You are talking 3 times the power.

Chris