portablevcb
Tijeras, NM
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Joined: 05/04/2006
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Yep, same kind of thing here. Nice to have a 5 speed though. Would really like to have the newer six speed, but, not worth trading now.
When going up hills I let the transmission do the work, unless it starts 'hunting', then I'll manually shift into the gear I want. Most 6% grades I run around 3300rpm with some peaks down shifting to third and 4000rpm.
Transmission temp is not really harmful til you hit 230, but, as said above being under 200 is great when under load.
charlie
PS wait til you tow in a wind that makes you downshift to 2nd!
2006 Toyota Tundra Crew Cab
2003 Skyline Nomad 24ft Fiver
Me and Wife
Maggie the Old English Sheepdog
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Heybate
Edmonton, AB
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Joined: 06/02/2008
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kmfvfr wrote:Perfectly normal for that load. Be interesting to see what the Tango itself weighed, as I have a 2008 Tango 276 RBS. I had it fully loaded with water this past weekend and did a pretty long (11 miles) climb to a mountain campground. I calculated the grade using the distance between every 1,000 ft in elevation change, and the grade varied between 6.3% and probably closer to 8% in some sections. The truck would pull in 3rd (it is a 6 speed) at 50 MPH on the lower grades and 40 MPH in 2nd on the steep sections. I just kept my foot out of the throttle and cruised up fine. Sounds like your truck is good for the load you have.
Actually I did weight the Tango empty and it was within 50 lbs of the dry weight on the brochure. From what I understand this is a rarity! I haven't weighed it loaded yet, although I suspect it was somewhere around 6500#.
2008 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 5.3 L / 3.73
2008 Pacific Coachworks Tango 257BH
Loaded TV and TT combined weight 12,500#
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Canadian9999
alberta
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Joined: 10/20/2007
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i have an 04 hemi 4x4 quad cab and a tango 299 bhs. it workds pretty good for the most part biggest thing i have learned is to keep my foot out of it or i get 6-8 mpg keeping up with trafic. i to am in 3rd around 2800 rpm on the flats and pretty much 2nd with any kind of hill aound 4000. think the worst of it is my truck has the 3.56 gears and hurts it alot, was looking into getting some new gtears but 2000 dollers plus kinda made me think twice. i have a quad to that i would like to take in my box but i figured it would be to much for her but might give it a shot now with someone with the same truck and almost trailer doin it.
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Garfie|d
South-Western Ontario
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Joined: 09/03/2003
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Heybate, your performance experience is identical to what we got with my Yukon in the SIG when which has exactly the same specs as your truck except for lower cargo carrying capacity. We towed a 5500 lb (loaded) 2005 Trail Cruiser 30QBSS for three years and had no problems. Let the engine rev when it wants to -- it's much less stressful on the engine/tranny than trying to keep the RPM's down.
I always towed in 3rd gear BTW. Even with our new-to-us Airstream I don't think OD is possible with the 3.73. It might be with the 4.1 gearing.
Gary
2001 Airstream Safari 25SS tugged by 2001 GMC Yukon 5.3L 3.73
Hensley Arrow • Jordan Ultima • Barker 3000 • Mckesh
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mecreature
Indianapolis, IN
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Joined: 09/27/2004
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I have whats in my sig.
My 3.42 gears are the downfall of my set up.. I tow in 3rd with tow/haul on all the time.
at about 62 mph my rpms are right at 2500.. I would love a couple three hundred more but I am mostly in flat land anyway..
when I do hit an upgrade and it goes into 2nd it will go to 4000 rpms and stay there pretty good.. if the grade is on the steeper side I back off the gas and can hold it in 2nd at 54 or 55 at about 3800 rpms steady as she goes..
that is these eastern mountains ... I am sure the Rockys would take my rpms up a bit or maybe my speed down a bit..
no problems yet..
btw: I bet your differential has synthetic in it from the factory.
98 Skyline Nomad 1950 Compact
2004 Silverado 1500 EXT. 5.3 3.42 Axle 2wd
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HarvinJeep
Va Beach, VA
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Joined: 04/23/2008
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We are looking to do about the same, so BTT for more opinions and experience.
2006 Sunline 276SR
(Gone is the 2007 Sunline Que SE, and the 2006 Ainer)
2008 Ram 1500 QC 4x4 5.7L
2005 VW Passat TDI
2001 Jeep Wrangler
1975 Jeep CJ-6
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HarvinJeep
Va Beach, VA
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Joined: 04/23/2008
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We are looking to do about the same, so BTT for more opinions and experience.
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Highbeam
Buckley, Washington
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Joined: 09/26/2002
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Yep, I run at 4000-4500 on the big grades to maintain speed. Trans temp up to and slightly over 200. That's how you do it.
1998 Chevy ECSB, K1500, 5.7 V8, AM trans temp and vacuum gauges. Scangauge. HD light harness with 4hi. Timbren overloads. 168,000 miles.
10,000# GVWR EQ trailer
1995 Nash 25' bunkhouse TT
10,000# GVWR EQ trailer with 4500# tractor, yep, 7000# trailer.
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Halfton Guy
Los Alamos Ca
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Joined: 06/15/2007
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Same story here as well(see sig)......4000 rpm's on most 6% grades and about 2500 rpm's towing on flats out of overdrive. I do have synthetic differential fluid with a deeper cover. Tranny temp as high as 190 degrees on some grades. I believe my halfton makes its peak torque at 4000 rpm's so I let it rev.
The Wife, our Boy and BlackLab named Zia
2002 Chevy Silverado 1500 Longbed 5.3L 3.73 gear
157.5" Wheelbase
Timbrens
DrawTite Intella Stop
Diablo Power Chip
LT D Tires
1996 Wilderness 24C
2003 Yamaha TTR-225
2007 Yamaha TTR 90
Yamaha EF3000ISE Generator
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Supercharged
Az.
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Joined: 01/01/2005
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I had the same happen to me with my 2003 5.3, it will do the job. I got a model with a supercharger/incooled now. My torque went up by over 100 lbs and now I pull on level ground in o/d all the time and I would be pulling most of the hills in three, now and than 2nd if I come out of a turn or something. My biggest problem is running up to fast behind many of the diesel's that are pulling far more than they should be pulling. Hemi is the same problem, they can't come close in a pull on a good steep hill.
2005 Chev 5.3 Supercharged 395HP 425 T hp. Two wheels on front, 2 on back. one seat, tint windows. front and rear bumpers, headlights, windows. Door on each side. Heater, floor mats, junk behind seats, some dirt. Pulls so hard.
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