daveshan
Durango Colrado
Senior Member
Joined: 04/02/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
What engine? If it's a 5.9 ISB that may be all its got, if it's an ISC I would expect more out of it. That 4dr is a heavy rig, we had one for 3 years, having the wife drive drive it will help.
Also I don't know about yours but in ours the Allison tranny does NOT have the best strategy on downshifting in the mountains. It waits too long to downshift leaving you out of the power band when you get to the lower gear. I found several threads over on irv2 suggesting taking manual control and keeping the revs in the power, it helps with speed a lot. This also helps with cooling.
I've been very happy with our 330/950 HP/TQ ISC running up and down the grades between Durango and Ouray this summer. We run about 26,000lbs plus a 4000lb Cherokee and rarely see 2nd gear unless we have to slow for one of the tight turns, even then it pulls back up to 3rd soon.
EDIT: I see you have a 330 Cat, taking 5000lbs off the back and trying some manual downshifting will help.
'99 Alpine 36SDS/8.3 ISC 330 Cummins
Or
'05 Lance 845
'06 Super duty SC/SB 6.0
Upgrades include: StabilLoads, Air Bags & Timbrens,Swaybars
Usually towing an '01 Wrangler, lifted/locked on 35"s or a mildly built '98 Cherokee on 33"s (only one locker)
|
traveylin
Rockport
Senior Member
Joined: 05/09/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Do watch your fuel usage as it drops from 7-8 to 3-4 going uphill. the 300 miles of fuel in your tank can disappear quick. I have seen heavy haul ry ers stopped at the top of a pass trying to figure out where fuel can be purchased
|
dan-nickie
Grand Prairie, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 02/11/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Made Wolf Creek pass today in a V10 Class C with a toad.
3000 RPM 25 MPH.
Took a while, but no big deal.
Just took my time at my ow pace.
Going down was another matter 
Dan and Nickie, Four Winds 31p, Retired Jan/2011
|
Gappy
NE Indiana
Full Member
Joined: 11/14/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
I think we will try the towed unhooked to start just to see if it makes much difference.
Thanks a bunch for the input. I will report back after our drive to Hooper tomorrow.
Side note, we are at beautiful Mueller SP. Was shocked but pleased to find they allowed campfires.
Tom
2013 Silverado 2500 Duramax Crew LTZ Z71 4x4
2013 Winnebago ONE 32BH
|
wny_pat
Western NYS
Senior Member
Joined: 08/11/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
dan-nickie wrote:
Going down was another matter Just wait til you go down one with hot brakes some day. That smile will disappear real fast. Been there and done that - no fun!
|
|
|
roam1
Gulf Breeze FL
Senior Member
Joined: 04/06/2009
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
|
Drove BV to Rigeway today, unhooked for Monarch pass and towed the rest of the passes, slowed to 35 mph and loved every mile of it! Open the window and smell it to! This is Gods country!!!
|
Gappy
NE Indiana
Full Member
Joined: 11/14/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
Park ranger told me Monarch is tough.
My biggest problem is inexperience in the mountains with a MH. Got use to a diesel truck pulling a TT. Sure I will have a much better feel when this trip done or even sooner.
It is incredible gorgeous out here. We spent the day in Cripple Creek. Very cool little town. We did Molly Kathleen gold tour, very pleasant surprise, well worth it.
|
sowego
northwestern corner of the Nebraska panhandle
Senior Member
Joined: 03/14/2006
View Profile
|
Yuppers...that higher altitude really suffocates an engine! If you are using a GPS with altimeter...take note that most locations on the front range of the rockies are over 4,000 and mountain passes are double that! Take your time, yes it will be helpful to unhook the toad.
If you are coming from the low lands also be careful with yourself. As you go up in altitude your blood needs to thin so drink more water than you are used to, even if you are not thirsty and take it easy with exercise until you are used to the thinner air. The high air is also dryer so you'll need more skin moisturizers and saline spray for your nose.
2002 Tiffin Phaeton
2005 Malibu Maxx toad
|
wallynm
Los Alamos NM
Senior Member
Joined: 09/27/2000
View Profile
Offline
|
WE have the same engine and have driven all over Colorado. Generally we gear down and run about 2000 to 2200 RPM. We try to keep the RPMs up before we start pulling the grade. Do not use the economy mode. Keeping the RPMs up helps avoid over heating. Rule of thumb in going down is to go no faster than going up and use the exhaust brake. We have towed a Suburban over La Veta and Wolf Creek pass. I-70 west of Denver and US 40 East of Steamboat is more difficult. Turbo DPs start to derate above 10,00 feet as they can not keep up with oxygen (air) requirements Gappy wrote:It's a 330 Cat.
DONATE THAT OLD CELL PHONE TO SUPPORT SOLDIERS click here
Have a Diesel Engine Diesel RV Club
Have a Freightliner Yahoo Group or FCOC Web Page
2002 DSDP 3567 PUSHED BY KITTY KAT
THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO REPEAT IT
|
Gappy
NE Indiana
Full Member
Joined: 11/14/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
We are at 10k ft at this campground and can tell. Took my wife a day and half to feel a little normal. We avoided Pikes Peak cuz she felt bad.
I catch myself taking occasional deep breathes like I had just held my my breath.
|
|
|
