"Normal" RPM Range?

[MISailor]

I took my TT out on the highway with the new TV for the first time today. I only went about 25 miles (round trip) to a CAT scale. I'll post something about the weighing elsewhere.

Cruising at 65 MPH on flat roads I was running about 1600 RPM. Slight inclines caused a shift and knocked RPM to about 2100. The ride was quiet and comfortable, but since this is my first vehicle with a tachometer, I have no idea what normal might be. I've got a pretty small TT, so I'm guessing this was a pretty easy workout for the TV, but I'd appreciate hearing what the "normal" RPM range is that others experience.

I did notice that the TV smelled a little hot, I'm hoping this is just because it only has 1600 miles on it and this was the first time I've asked it to do any "work".

Watching the instantaneous MPG numbers was encouraging.....I ran about 12-13 most of the time on level areas at 65 mph.

[hankpage]

First ... Only someone with the identical truck could compare engine speed with you. Engine size and gear ratios will determine rpm at a set speed. (65) Don't put a lot of faith in your overhead console as far as mpg especially if you don't reset it just before towing .... pencil and paper when refilling is the only true figure. That said ..... It sounds like you have a pretty good match-up with your rig. Good luck and enjoy, Hank

[Heather]

This is exactly what I was wondering all last summer.
I'm pretty sure our old tow vehicle was too underpowered.... but folks I asked usually said something like "well it's not like you're redlining it". True, not even close, ......but I always wondered what was normal and what was indications of something in need of improving.

[SlowPoke]

I have a 2012 Silverado CC, V8 5.3L...should have the same 6sp tranny as yours.

With my Passport 3180RE, and at about 7500 miles on the truck, I have found mostly staying around 2k RPM in TOW MODE, and on hills, depending, I've never exceeded 3.1K...

On flat lands, it stays pretty solid around 1800-2000RPM depending on how I'm feathering the pedal, and if I'm using cruise control.

My gas mileage runs about 11 MPG, at around 60mph. Above 60, its starts sucking down the gas to aboout 9MPG at around 70mph. Needless to say I stay around 55-65 MPH when possible.

Of course your numbers will vary, as to wind, air temp, height of the sun, altitude, alignment of the stars, angle of the dangle...etc...LOL But that should give you an idea.

The hot smell I encountered as well, but went away after about 200 miles total of towing. I chalk it up to the tranny getting it's first good workout. The tranny temp guage on the cluster never went above 155 while towing and only read at the highest of 190 after 300 miles, and sitting in dead stop traffic with no airflow....Cooled right back down after getting out of the traffic.

[MISailor]

Thanks, SlowPoke. That's exactly the type of feedback I was hoping for. BTW, I was not using the Tow Mode since the manual suggests using it when you are at 75% of GCVWR. I'm below that but will experiment with it none-the-less in the future.

I really have no worries of overworking this TV with our little "Premie", I have little doubt now, however, that we had been pushing the limit on our Astro. Ignorance is bliss (and often dangerous).

[SlowPoke]

Ignorance is bliss (and often dangerous).

You've been reading my other posts tonight haven't you ?? LOL

Glad to help, sounds like your just fine, I read the 75% rule in my manual as well, and am around that 75% fine line with my TT and gear. So a tow mode I go!

[fla-gypsy]

Higher RPM's are your friend when towing. As noted it depends on engine, transmission and rear gear what ideal RPM's will be. You will learn where your motor is most responsive in the RPM range for your weight.

[TAZ23]

MISailer, Like SlowPoke I also have the same truck as you but in the 2012 version.
fla-gypsy is right, don't be afraid to let your engine rev some. Your peak torque is at the higher rpms. I tow my trailer in fifth gear and it tows at about 1900-2100 rpms on the flat (with tow haul mode on) Higher rpms will not hurt your engine. Locking out 6th gear and using T/H mode will also keep your tranny from shifting as much and cut down on tranny temps.
As hankpage said, the only true way of knowing your mpg's while towing is with a pencil and paper. I get around 9 to 10 while towing and about 60mph.
Also, unless you have different tires than I do they are only rated for 65 mph (as stamped on the tire sidewall)

[Ken / Claudia]

I had a 1/2 chev 02 work truck it only had o/d on/off no tow mode. Pulled a 4500 boat alot never a problem with overheating turned it in at about 105,000 miles. I went with a co worker in his 04 chev that had tow mode with same boat about 8 hours each way traveling at 65+/- his tranny failed acouple weeks later, I asked about the trip and he said he did not use the tow haul mode. I think it overheated the tranny but, do not know for sure. With fleet vehicles they break and you turn them in and get them back fixed many times out knowing much. You might rethink the tow haul mode or find out if it can cause damage if not used.

[Bob Landry]

My toyota pulled 62 MPH at 2000RPM with 6th gear locked out and had no problems. I never liked using T/H with it because for no reason at all the truck would take on a life of it's own and I was running at 3500 RPM. On a level road, I could tow in 6th ar around 1600 RPM. My F250 does about the same, but the T/H works a lot better than it did on the Tundra. Now I'm pulling in 6th ar around 1700, if I remember correctly. MPG towing seems to be a bout the same with both trucks, 10-11 MPG.

[MISailor]

Thanks for the informative replies everybody. They are very much appreciated.

[roadrider10]

I have the 2012 version of your truck and always use tow haul mode. I am towing a 6300lb. loaded Laredo 240MK and a loaded truck weight of about 6200lbs.
Tow haul keeps the truck in the sweet spot and locks out 6th gear. I run about 1900-2100 rpm on flat terrrain with cruise on and drop down to 3rd on the steepest hills. Mileage ranges from a low of 9.5 on hills with some headwind to about 11.5 on flat roads. The truck also automatically downshifts in tow haul when descending steep grades which helps with control. Pretty happy with the 6spd. transmission.

[LittleJoe]

Use towhaul.........your driveline will thankyou. Just because you are running a lower rpm (1600) does not mean you are using less fuel than (2100) as ex.

At the lower rpm the throttle will be open farther than at 2100 in most gas engine cases. Lugging will make the exhaust temp hotter.

Most (if not all) newer gas engines today have there peak torque output much higher than the older engines they replaced. The closer your rpm is to torque peak the better the engine will handle the load.

[lightning79]

Originally Posted by Bob Landry

My toyota pulled 62 MPH at 2000RPM with 6th gear locked out and had no problems. I never liked using T/H with it because for no reason at all the truck would take on a life of it's own and I was running at 3500 RPM. On a level road, I could tow in 6th ar around 1600 RPM. My F250 does about the same, but the T/H works a lot better than it did on the Tundra. Now I'm pulling in 6th ar around 1700, if I remember correctly. MPG towing seems to be a bout the same with both trucks, 10-11 MPG.

Hi Bob,

Yeah, Tow/Haul makes me a little nervous, when I had it on the odd time the transmission shifted and the RPMs went way up. I wonder why it did that? Now, with my setup I don't need it at all, I just sorta wondered.

To the original poster, do all halftons use T/H when towing?

Kevin

[MISailor]

Originally Posted by lightning79

To the original poster, do all halftons use T/H when towing?

I don't know the answer to your question. I always used T/H with my Astro but we were very near (or over ) it's towing capacity.

With my new TV, the owners manual indicates that "Tow/Haul is designed to be most effective when the vehicle and trailer combined weight is at least 75 percent of the vehicle's Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)". Based on a recent trip to the scales, it looks like I'll be just under that weight.

My limited experience with this TV (only 25 miles of towing so far) was without T/H on. I did not experience excessive shifting. The comments and rationale provided by the proponents of T/H mode in this thread make perfect sense to me. I will use it the next time I tow to see how it goes.