What says you?

ctbruce · 08-15-2019, 06:22 PM

Followed a big Montana on I35 between Liberty and Kearney, MO (birthplace of Jesse James ) doing 75 down the highway. Oklahoma plates, no Forum sticker. Just made me cringe.

**chuckster57** · 08-15-2019, 06:32 PM

If he was towing it a 1/2 ton truck, then as long as he didn’t have a forum sticker he’s golden!!!

Ken / Claudia · 08-16-2019, 11:45 AM

There always seems to be one of those guys on my freeway travels. It usually goes like this. I am on CC 63-65 mph flat area, in the slow lane. A guy with a TT or 5fr is approaching in the fast lane. They usually take awhile to pass as they go 75 or so. They pass me many times with cars stacked up behind them. Cut over to the the slow lane, next hill their slowing down, down, down. I continue at my speed and pass them up, over the hill and going back down. Here they come again 75 in the fast lane just to pass me again. Then repeat at the next hill.

66joej · 08-16-2019, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

There always seems to be one of those guys on my freeway travels. It usually goes like this. I am on CC 63-65 mph flat area, in the slow lane. A guy with a TT or 5fr is approaching in the fast lane. They usually take awhile to pass as they go 75 or so. They pass me many times with cars stacked up behind them. Cut over to the the slow lane, next hill their slowing down, down, down. I continue at my speed and pass them up, over the hill and going back down. Here they come again 75 in the fast lane just to pass me again. Then repeat at the next hill.

Yes I hear you Ken! I can hear the conversation in that rig "honey that guy with the Cougar is passing us again. no worries dear we'll get him on the flats".
Interesting thing you both arrive at the time.

FlyingAroundRV · 08-16-2019, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

There always seems to be one of those guys on my freeway travels. It usually goes like this. I am on CC 63-65 mph flat area, in the slow lane. A guy with a TT or 5fr is approaching in the fast lane. They usually take awhile to pass as they go 75 or so. They pass me many times with cars stacked up behind them. Cut over to the the slow lane, next hill their slowing down, down, down. I continue at my speed and pass them up, over the hill and going back down. Here they come again 75 in the fast lane just to pass me again. Then repeat at the next hill.

About that time I'm looking for a rest area. Getting tangled up with someone like that is a good excuse for me to have a pit stop.

Ken / Claudia · 08-16-2019, 11:04 PM

Yes, the last 2 comments are spot on.

notanlines · 08-17-2019, 04:44 AM

75 is a little rich for my blood. We are generally the 62 in the right hand lane. While not towing I like 65 to 70. Regretfully, I also like 65 even if the limit is 55. It's hard work driving 55...

LewisB · 08-17-2019, 06:29 AM

What???? Our GCVW is just under 28,000 - no one told me we were supposed to slow down for hills! Is that something new?

We run about 67 just to keep ahead of about 90% of the trucks. We slow down for Wolf Creek Pass. I didn't know I was supposed to slow down for "hills"!

Gotta love 900 foot-pounds of torque!

Laredo Tugger · 08-17-2019, 07:14 AM

On I-40 the other day I was headed east and got to the grades just west of Williams. I was working up a fairly steep grade and the auxiliary cooling fan was screaming but I was able to maintain about 67 mph without the feeling I was tearing apart the engine. Then a guy towing an older Montana (maybe 34 ft .) with a Ram dually blew by me doing (I guess) 75 mph,at least.
I have the same TV except his was a dually. I have the Aisin and the HO motor and this guy just blew by me. Not that I want to go faster,just wondering if he was either detuned (doubt it,looked like a newer model) or he just had his toe in the carburetor and didn't care.
RMc

LewisB · 08-17-2019, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laredo Tugger

On I-40 the other day I was headed east and got to the grades just west of Williams. I was working up a fairly steep grade and the auxiliary cooling fan was screaming but I was able to maintain about 67 mph without the feeling I was tearing apart the engine. Then a guy towing an older Montana (maybe 34 ft .) with a Ram dually blew by me doing (I guess) 75 mph,at least.
I have the same TV except his was a dually. I have the Aisin and the HO motor and this guy just blew by me. Not that I want to go faster,just wondering if he was either detuned (doubt it,looked like a newer model) or he just had his toe in the carburetor and didn't care.
RMc

Difference in pumpkin gearing? Dually's often come with lower ratio (bigger number) rear end gears. He also may have dropped it down a transmission gear or two and been running the engine RPM much closer to the peak torque. Without knowing all that plus comparing your GCVW, it's hard to say.

Badbart56 · 08-17-2019, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

There always seems to be one of those guys on my freeway travels. It usually goes like this. I am on CC 63-65 mph flat area, in the slow lane. A guy with a TT or 5fr is approaching in the fast lane. They usually take awhile to pass as they go 75 or so. They pass me many times with cars stacked up behind them. Cut over to the the slow lane, next hill their slowing down, down, down. I continue at my speed and pass them up, over the hill and going back down. Here they come again 75 in the fast lane just to pass me again. Then repeat at the next hill.

Yep. I see this scenario daily,
my wife and I are OTR truckers and the summer brings the RV's out in mass. This is so true also of people who don't have enough truck for the RV's they're pulling.

Our truck is governed to 65 mph and unless we have a heavy load we can maintain that through most hilly areas. When we're light or empty we can blast up the passes with almost anybody! 900 cubic inches with 455 hp and 1750 ft/lbs of torque. And the beast is cruising at 65 mph, turning just 1220 rpm, averaging 8.4 to 10 mpg, depending on how heavy we are. A 28K pound RV would be nothing for this thing so I understand why some of my friends have gone to class 8 truck for pulling their RV's.

But eventually those guys that are holding up traffic have to get off the road for gas or whatever and I can go over 1200 miles between fill-ups. I just try to give them plenty of room.

Laredo Tugger · 08-17-2019, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewisB

Difference in pumpkin gearing? Dually's often come with lower ratio (bigger number) rear end gears. He also may have dropped it down a transmission gear or two and been running the engine RPM much closer to the peak torque. Without knowing all that plus comparing your GCVW, it's hard to say.

Thanks Brad
I'm not sure what peek torque RPM is on my rig. Pretty much run it by ear. I guess I could manual shift down a gear. Mostly just been towing and letting the truck pick its gear. I do know my fan was screaming pretty good so I just took it easy. I, like many others on here am in no hurry to get in an accident or tear my equipment up.
RMc

Badbart56 · 08-17-2019, 01:45 PM

Max torque on the Cummins 6.7 is at 1700 rpm. When torque can't get it up the grade it drops a gear to let horsepower take over. Max hp occurs at 2800 rpm on your 6.7. Gas engines rely on horsepower as their torque is generally in the 400 ft/lbs range or less, about half what the diesels make. The hp is about the same but they have to turn 5-6K rpm to make it.

There are a lot of Dodge Rams on the interstates doing Hot Shot duty (light commercial hauling). And these guys don't baby them either, 75-80 mph, max loaded. Very tough, reliable trucks.

It looks like your SRW 3500 only has one axle ratio available, 3:42. The duallies have 3:42, 3:73 and 4:10's available.

Laredo Tugger · 08-17-2019, 03:57 PM

Good info Bart, Thanks
Yes I notice a lot of the "hot shot" TVs are Ram Duallies. And yes they are pulling some big loads.
Correct on my rear end ratio. My trailer is not as heavy as I could tow so I am very happy with the trucks performance. My fifth wheel is plenty for DW and I. I do not see any upgrade to a larger unit in my future.
Thanks again
RMc

deleontow · 08-22-2019, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notanlines

75 is a little rich for my blood. We are generally the 62 in the right hand lane. While not towing I like 65 to 70. Regretfully, I also like 65 even if the limit is 55. It's hard work driving 55...

Funny i feel the same way. My rig seems to like 65. I have a large trailer so regardless of where we are at 65 is the max.

Blackrock · 08-22-2019, 07:41 AM

I have run 75 on I-80 with a tailwind but normally cruise along about 69. There is a long tough grade on I-17 around Black Canyon City Az. up to Sunset Point where I do have to hold 4th gear and 2200rpm with my gasser rig but I still pass a few diesel rigs pulling big 5th wheels.

wiredgeorge · 08-22-2019, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notanlines

75 is a little rich for my blood. We are generally the 62 in the right hand lane. While not towing I like 65 to 70. Regretfully, I also like 65 even if the limit is 55. It's hard work driving 55...

Got your note but am having on and off problems. When I attempt to reply to a PM, I can't type anything as a reply. I guess the gurus who run this site have to enforce the OVER-STUPID rule or there is a tech issue. I am just happy to be able to babble responses to posts! Business going good and the Silverwing will never be a classic due to odd engine configuration!

Phil Saran · 08-22-2019, 10:26 AM

My 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 4x4, 4 door 6.5 bed with 6.7/auto has 3:73 gears
My average mpg with a 12,000 pound 5th wheel is 10 - 11. If very flat land
and very few hills I've gotten 12 mpg. I keep my speed between 65 and 70.

revkerry · 08-22-2019, 01:40 PM

I just bought my first RV. Outback 230RS. I pull it with an Expedition. My first trip was 1000 miles home from buying it and I found going 67 was really nice. Far less frustrating. Truck suck was the only surprise. My mpg fell from 20 to 8.9, that was a bit of a shocker.

Local150 · 08-24-2019, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken / Claudia

There always seems to be one of those guys on my freeway travels. It usually goes like this. I am on CC 63-65 mph flat area, in the slow lane. A guy with a TT or 5fr is approaching in the fast lane. They usually take awhile to pass as they go 75 or so. They pass me many times with cars stacked up behind them. Cut over to the the slow lane, next hill their slowing down, down, down. I continue at my speed and pass them up, over the hill and going back down. Here they come again 75 in the fast lane just to pass me again. Then repeat at the next hill.

Iam guilty sort of. I will get a little run down hill to keep speed up for the next

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