Everyone else pretty much summed it up, but I'll add that the increase in tire size raised (numerically lowered) your gear ratio even more down to around a 3.35 or 3.40. Go back to stock size tires and change out those axles (you have a 4wd, right?) to 4.10:1. It'll feel like a completely different truck. It'll be around $2000 or so to change gears and get tires, but I think it beats the heck out of the cost of a new truck.
68 Me & DW
93 DD
03 DD
06 F150 Screw 6.5' Bed, 4x4, 5.4, 3.73
04 Tahoe 23RB-GL Honda EU2000 Parallel Cables "I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for...food." Col. Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1.
I used to tow my 6,000 lb TT with a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2L with a manual transmission. I'm not sure what my gear ratio was, though it was stock. However, I had the same issue as you. The only way I could make it up the hills was to keep it in second gear.
The 3.55s and larger than stock tires are hurting your power. that said, even with 4.10s, you'd still see second gear - just not as often. I had a 2001 Dodge 2500 with 4.10s and a 360 gasser for 2 years.
I have a 1997 Dodge extended cab 4x4 360 auto I upped to 4.10s, I tow a 29' about 6500 loaded. It tows up hills in 3rd with the torque converter locked no sweat at 65. I have done some mods on the tranny and engine but not much. Are you using oil, if so you might want to have the plenum gasket checked, that is a very common problem. Went to the Grand Canyon 2 years ago and the truck did well. They will pull well, if there aren't engine problems.
mike54 wrote: I only have two long trips coming up the rest are close to home so I'll just have to deal with it.
I really don't see any reason this truck has to struggle to pull this camper up hills I see 1/2 ton trucks pulling campers as long and as heavy as mine all the time I was even passed on hills by 1/2 ton trucks pulling campers coming home today. Maybe I'll have to start looking for different truck and sure won't be another piece of junk Dodge.
You are letting your emotions cloud your judgement.
This past weekend I was passed climbing a hill by a newer Chevy Duramax pulling a smaller construction type box trailer. I fully realize that truck should pass me as it is putting down much more power than my older gas powered Dodge, and was possibly pulling less weight than I was. Didn't hurt my pride a bit, though I would love to have that kind of power at my disposal. Those Duramaxes are nice!
What I am getting at is that unless your truck is failing you mechanically, it is doing what it needs to do to climb the hill and you shouldn't consider it a piece of junk or whatever it was you called it before the moderator changed your post.
Your 1999 Dodge is simply not putting down the power that newer 1/2 tons are whether they are newer Dodges, Fords, Chevies, Toyotas, Nissans, etc. Also, your 3.55 gears combined with your larger than stock tires are only aggravating the situation. The first, cheapest thing you can do is go back down to a tire size that is stock or at least closer than your current tires. The next thing you may consider is swapping to some 4.10 or even 4.56 gears for better hill climbing performance, but this may or may not hurt your empty fuel mileage. I would start with the tires and go from there.
And believe me I know how you feel. The previous owner of my 95 foolishly installed LT 285/75/16s on my truck. I have just about worn them out and will be replacing them with some LT 245s in the near future.
Good luck with whatever you decide, but tires and even a gear swap are much cheaper than a new truck. I would only consider a new truck if your current truck has many miles and is in need of many repairs. I often drool over newer Hemi equipped Dodges, but my old 95 just keeps plugging along and with only a little over 67,000 miles on the odometer should still have lots of life left. I wish I had a quad cab, but no further than we go (100 miles or less) it doesn't cost too much for the wife and kids to follow along in her Neon. So, I can simply not justify jumping back into long term payments on a new truck when the truck I have is doing the job, even if I am a little slower up the hills.
2005 Surveyor SV-291 Tows smooth as silk!
1995 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie SLT 4x4 5.9L V8 low miles, It ain't pretty, but it's paid for!
mike54 wrote: Only one problem truck would not go make the hills unless it went into 2nd.
TT is 27' weighs close to 6500 lbs
truck is a Dodge Ram pickup 1999 1500 4x4 with the 360 motor 355 rear end it's rated to pull 7300 lbs.
If I had higher gears put in would that help on hills?
Mike; Many of us have seen (and heard) our half ton trucks revving at high rpm's in 2nd gear pulling a trailer up those hills. It's not a problem and really isn't hard on the vehicle. 245 hp almost 10 years old pulling and hauling around 7000 pounds will cause any brand of pickup to utilize those lower gears on occasion in the hills. I guarantee an older 350 or 351 will scream just as loud. If all else is ok with your 99 truck, keep it and "tow on".
Mike, to add to the other good comments here - remember that a gas engine makes the most horsepower at much higher rpms than diesels. Doesn't make them better or worse, it's just the nature of the beast. Don't be afraid to let that motor rev!
Chris and Brenda
2006 Dodge Ram Mega Cab 1500, Hemi, 3.73
2004 KZ Sportsmen Sportster 26P
2005 Honda Gold Wing
American Legion Riders, Kansas Patriot Guard
PGR/IBA/AMA/HRCA
"Took a bead on the Northern plains, and just rolled that power on..." -Bob Seger
I think that your Dodge 360 was only rated about 250 hp for around that year, so even if the newer Dodge next to you is in 2nd gear also, that Hemi is going to be putting out a bunch more power going up the same hill...They put a fair amount of those engines in smaller Class C motorhomes and guys just drop down to 2nd stomp the pedal...
If you're on a hill where the truck is right about to pull 3rd gear, but just can't quite do it, then a set of 4.10's would help, but even with 4.10's you could still be down in 2nd, but the truck will be happier doing it...
BTW...You don't need to wing that 360 like newer engines, it just wasn't designed to make HP/Torque at those upper RPM numbers...
"I won't camp next to you, if you don't camp next to me!"
2004 Titan King Cab, 2wd, 5.6L V-8, 5 Speed Auto Trans, Tow Package.
2004 Jayco Qwest Baja P/U
.jpg)
Offline
Those Duramaxes are nice!
