We recently took our first camping trip with our "new" 2001 Screw 4x4. We had to drive out of town over a ~6500 foot pass to get to our destination. The truck pulls our little pop-up trailer well on the flat but going over the pass (with OD off) it was all we could do to go 45-50MPH up the hill. We were probably dragging about 2500lbs of extra weight with passengers, gear and the popup trailer. This is the first V8 vehicle we have had since I burned down (http://copester.net:4763/index.php?o...d=38&Itemid=69) my old '84 Ranger with the 302 (which had a much better power to weight ratio ). This Screw has a 5.4 liter engine (260 hp?) with the 3.55 Limited Slip. It ran well, other than seeming a bit winded, and didn't over heat or anything. I was hoping for a bit better power going up the hill. I know there are a lot of variables (grade of hill, etc.) Any thoughts if this type of performance is to be expected at this elevation or should I start looking for problems? It was just a bit of a bummer when the Dodge guy roared by towing a larger trailer popup. He probably had a Cummins though…

Thanks,

Layne

 

Must be quite a hill......... I'm thinking if you really mat the skinny pedal, it would do better?

 

Yeah, I could kick it a bit more and it would go down to 2nd and go... But then the RPMs were a bit high... 4000ish I guess? Maybe just a matter of the 3.55 gears and the hill... It pulls right up the hill without the trailer so maybe I am just having a bit of wishfull thinking... HMMM, maybe a supercharger is in my future...

 

If you think that was slow come over to my house and hook up to this.

 

HOLY CRAP! Maybe I should just shut up and color! LOL Nice rig by the way...

 

rofl @ shut up and color! aint hear that since i was lik 6

 

Thanks Man.

 

There's your problem. 3.55's aren't exactly towing gears. With 4.10's or even 3.73's you would have fared much better. Must be quite a hill...

 

Well, as long as it is to be expected then I guess I can live with it for now... Gotta save up for other toys (new Harley)... It is a pretty good hill. Lets see... Oh, I found a site that says the hill is a 6% grade for about 5 miles...

 

6500 feet is a pretty big hill to climb. When we go riding we hit one thats like 4200 at 6%. I bog down to 2nd gear at 45mph running about 3100rpm with half the pedle left. I used to run 50 and 3500 but that is kinda high for the old guy. So I just find some trucker going the same speed and kick back and ride it out.

Oh yah, Get a programer it help a little.

 

4000 RPM's are no problems for these engines wind it out

 

I know how you feel on the towing. I had a few more on the clock than you do i suspect but i didnt want to put the pedal down to much on the hills either. I tow a 30ft travel trailer weighs about 5000lbs loaded. I am in the midst of some changes to help with the towing. I would agree that gears would be huge. I have 3.73 in mine i was even thinking about 4.10. I will wait on that till i am done the other and figure out where the rpm's at crusing.

Josh

 

I pulled my 5020lb gooseneck around town a few weeks ago since I put my gears in just to see how it did, and i can feel it back there, but I have no problem accelerating. I still take off faster than most people at the stop lights. Gears make a huge difference. I had 3.55, put 4.10's in

 

That altitude will knock down the power of any vehicle by about 25%.

 

Exhaust,tuner and intake help these trucks alot.
If you can afford it get some 4.10 gears first,that will prob be your best bet