Towing 5th Wheel Trailer - Diesel Forum

r8rfan · 03-02-2005, 03:34 PM

I have a 2004 Superduty 6.0 diesel, Crewcab LB 4wd. I bought this truck because I pull a 11000lb trailer when empty and 16k when full. Everyone I talked with said this is the truck you need. When pulling for the first time this last week i was pulling up a long grade and my engine heated up and gauge light came on. I pulled over for about twenty minutes and waited for it to cool down and never did it again. However I was reluctant to after that to get on it. This of course was after traveling about 400 miles on the same route and never having a problem. Is this normal? And should I expect this sometimes?

TC88 · 03-02-2005, 03:59 PM

I'll bite. It looks like you didn't buy enough truck or two much trailer. Your truck is only rated for 20,000 gross combined weight (that is truck and trailer), the last time I checked they didn't make a SD under 4000 lbs. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img] They range from 6K to 8K depending on how it is equipped. That puts you anywhere from 22K lbs (12%) to 24K lbs (20%) over weight. Try a smaller trailer or a F450. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

I would think if you went easy it should be ok but remember you are asking it to do more than it is designed for. Therefore you are running illegal.

Check my sig I am running about 19K lbs loaded.

Ag__Teacher · 03-02-2005, 04:17 PM

I think you have bigger problems than just going over Ford's numbers. I've pulled that kind of weight with a chevy gas 350 and not had the problems you having.

I think you'd better see a mechanic.

llcustom · 03-03-2005, 12:52 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I think you have bigger problems than just going over Ford's numbers. I've pulled that kind of weight with a chevy gas 350 and not had the problems you having.

I think you'd better see a mechanic.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would agree! well with everything but that Chevy part [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

I pulled more weight than that with a 93 Non-Turbo 7.3 for 500+ miles on the floor board up and down hills. It did get hot but never that hot.
Not saying you would not be better off with a F-450 for that weight, but the F-450 still has the same Engine and trans. So that would not help any with the over heating

lheebie · 03-03-2005, 10:20 AM

I've pulled that kind of weight with a chevy gas 350 and not had the problems you having.

I think you'd better see a mechanic.

[/ QUOTE ]

Whoa! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif[/img] I had a Chevy 350 and it may of pulled that kind of weight going down a grade. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] Who are you kidding [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shrug.gif[/img]

Ag__Teacher · 03-03-2005, 10:46 AM

I'm not kidding. However, I'm not sure the elevation of your location in Colorado, but I'm quite sure that it is higher than the 600' elevation where I live. The truck wouldn't work for you. It worked for me.

Thats the trouble with these message boards, you have so many people from so many places and backgrounds, everyone assumes others results will be the same as their own. I've been guilty of that myself.

However, I still say if he can't handle the load with a modern day turbo diesel, something is wrong with the truck.

tuckerd1 · 03-03-2005, 01:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I have a 2004 Superduty 6.0 diesel, Crewcab LB 4wd. I bought this truck because I pull a 11000lb trailer when empty and 16k when full. Everyone I talked with said this is the truck you need. When pulling for the first time this last week i was pulling up a long grade and my engine heated up and gauge light came on.

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't know what you mean by long grade... but I pull 12,000# 5'er with 93 F350 7.3 NA and have never had it overheat, hills or not. Temp has gone above half gauge before but never overheated.

I agree you need to have your truck checked.

Don

karmikacres · 03-03-2005, 02:16 PM

Which rearend do you have? Is your truck stock? Does your trailer weigh 16,000lbs or are you going by what the salesperson told you? Mike

hhills · 03-04-2005, 05:06 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Whoa! I had a Chevy 350 and it may of pulled that kind of weight going down a grade. Who are you kidding

[/ QUOTE ]

me too.

My chevy could hardly pull a 6500 pound trailer 10 mph up an eight mile grade, thought I was going to have to put it in 4 low to make it. Had the heater on to keep it from over heating and had an extra trans cooler, made the trip several times per year.

hhills · 03-04-2005, 05:10 PM

my tranny started to heat up on my 02 the other day pulling a grade, had to stop when it reached 200,

I figure I will have to just back out of it in the future, and maybe select 2 gear instead of drive should take care of the problem. what percent was the grade and how long the duration.

edit: my 5ver weighs 9200 pounds with h20.

Roger45 · 03-04-2005, 06:35 PM

For about $300 I put a larger tranny pan on, added a stacked plate cooler in line, and went to synthetic fluid. Since then I have never been able to get my tranny temp over 180F [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Oh, I also have the dreaded E4OD on a '97

**SmokeyWren** · 03-04-2005, 06:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
my tranny started to heat up on my 02 the other day pulling a grade, had to stop when it reached 200, ...

[/ QUOTE ]

You stopped way too soon. Assuming your tranny temp sender is in the pressure port on the side of the tranny, 200 is at the high end of "normal". The yellow zone is about 200 to 225 - no need to stop but watch that gauge and when it gets over about 220 then prepare to stop. 225 is the red line where you definitely must either immediately begin going downhill or else stop and cool off the tranny to around 200.

If you ever see over about 210, then you need to change to synthetic ATF. If you ever see over about 220, then you need to add tranny cooling capacity.

hhills · 03-04-2005, 07:52 PM

thanks guys, I just ordered the tru-cool max from bob riley, should be here next wed.

StuMas · 03-04-2005, 08:11 PM

Not saying you would not be better off with a F-450 for that weight, but the F-450 still has the same Engine and trans. So that would not help any with the over heating

[/ QUOTE ] Yes It has the same motor and tranny, but a whole lot lower gearing so in reality it would not be lugging or straining as much. Yes a F-450 would be a great choice but you got to make that decision yourself, a F-450 will turn more rpms because of the lower gears, but it really is not working as much as a truck pulling the same load with 3.73's turning lower rpms up the same grade, because the Engine is working more in its zone when under load and there is not as much difference in what the engine is running compared to what the gears are turning. I think your truck should be more than enough for the task you are giving it. What was the weather conditions, and how much were you lugging it, heck you can cause a 600 horsepower Cat C15 get hot if you lug it to much, especially if you are traveling up grade in Hot weather, and you can get by lugging a Cat more than just about any other engine of the same type, so yes it is possible to get the Powerstroke Hot if conditions and driving habits are not to par. Now I am not trying to say anything about how you drive but Nobody drives great constantly, heck I have got my trucks hot before, and sure did not intend to.

Wobblin-Goblin · 03-05-2005, 12:05 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Not saying you would not be better off with a F-450 for that weight, but the F-450 still has the same Engine and trans. So that would not help any with the over heating

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes It has the same motor and tranny, but a whole lot lower gearing so in reality it would not be lugging or straining as much. Yes a F-450 would be a great choice but you got to make that decision yourself, a F-450 will turn more rpms because of the lower gears, but it really is not working as much as a truck pulling the same load with 3.73's turning lower rpms up the same grade, because the Engine is working more in its zone when under load and there is not as much difference in what the engine is running compared to what the gears are turning. I think your truck should be more than enough for the task you are giving it.

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm thinking everything's OK, he just got spooked. Could've happened to me.

BTW, if the 3.73s are a potential issue, I'm thinking a simple switch to 4.10s would suffice.