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Old 03-14-2019, 09:57 AM   #1
Rick and Donna
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Pulling in mountains

We live in Iowa and want to visit NP's in Utah. I'm concerned about pulling in the mountains. We have a gas 2016 Chevy 2500HD 4wd pulling a New keystone hitch pull TT. Trailer is about 10k loaded with a Reese hitch with sway control. Truck pulls and stops great but never pulled in the mountains.
Worries are pulling the long hills and trailer pushing me down them. Any thoughts.
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Old 03-14-2019, 10:27 AM   #2
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You don't mention your engine size or transmission gear ratio. But.. We had an F150 with a 5.4L Triton V8 and 373 gears. Our TT then had a 7500# GVW. We pulled for 3 years throughout the Rocky Mountains. You will be shifting a lot both uphill and down, but that's normal. Your 2500 should be equipped with "tow/haul" mode. Use it. Plan on seeing 3500 to 4k rpms keeping your truck in it's best power band. All should be good in my opinion. Key to maintaining control downhill is to start slowing early. Down shift early and use the marked speed limits for big trucks as your guide.
Feel tree to PM me if you'd like any specific info on the parks or camping in our "Pretty Great State" http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums...hp?albumid=761
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Old 03-14-2019, 11:27 AM   #3
Rick and Donna
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Thanks. It's a 6.0 L with 4:10 gearing. I guess going down has me more conserned. Some great pictures. That's why we want to go.
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Old 03-14-2019, 11:37 AM   #4
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I suggest big bend national park Utah get there early 7 $ a night there are a few sites that will accommodate 100 ft rigs . I remember pulling hills for ever and looking at my instruments 3 mpg. The 410 on you truck is a good thing .
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Old 03-14-2019, 12:25 PM   #5
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2016 f250 4.30 gears tower 14000 lbs. May be a bit slow going up 10000 ft hills but always make! I installed hyd disc on camper really work great going down the hills. Enjoy plenty to see, and big bend is nice.
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Old 03-14-2019, 01:14 PM   #6
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Where have you crossed the Rockies headed to Utah from the midwest?
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Old 03-14-2019, 01:28 PM   #7
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Thats what trailer brakes are for, slow up slow down.
I know because thats all we have here in the PNW.
Oregon + Washington = Hills
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Old 03-14-2019, 01:29 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick and Donna View Post
Thanks. It's a 6.0 L with 4:10 gearing. I guess going down has me more conserned. Some great pictures. That's why we want to go.
4:10 gearing and 3/4 ton makes your Chevy a "towing machine"! You won't have any problems with the mountain passes either on the freeways or the scenic secondary roads (our favorites). As before, use the tow haul mode and keep the engine running in the power curve when going uphill and slow early on the downhill.
We have many really beautiful as well as interesting National Parks, Monuments and State Parks depending on your interests. NP campgrounds can fill early and reservations are most always a must. If dry camping or Boon-docking are options, there are many opportunities on BLM and Forest Service land at little or no charge.

Edit: Not aware of a Big Bend NP in Utah
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Old 03-14-2019, 02:12 PM   #9
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Check your TV owner’s manual for how the Tow/haul mode works.

On our F250 gasser, tapping the brakes for a couple of seconds down shifts the tranny. Going down hill in the Rockies, I never had a need to brake, I only tapped and let the tranny control my speed. That way I knew I would have brakes if needed.
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Old 03-14-2019, 03:13 PM   #10
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With the 4.10 you will pull the hills fine, just spin some rpms if it's over 6 % or so. Use tow/haul for sure. Remember coming down to use the tranny to keep you going slower, don't let speed build up too much and DON'T just ride the brakes worrying you're going to go too fast. On a long downhill it's possible you could experience some fade depending on how well all the components are working and how you utilize them - you don't want that. I have never experienced that towing an RV but I watch my p's and q's. If you think you have overdone it and you've heated up the brakes too much there are usually pullouts on long steep grades....use one to let it cool off.
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Old 03-18-2019, 12:38 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bazowie View Post
Thats what trailer brakes are for, slow up slow down.
I know because thats all we have here in the PNW.
Oregon + Washington = Hills
You should be fine going up the long passes, just don't look closely at your gas mileage.....

I wouldnt worry to much about it, just be prepared.
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Old 03-18-2019, 05:28 PM   #12
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You should be fine going up the long passes, just don't look closely at your gas mileage.....

I wouldnt worry to much about it, just be prepared.

Sold my F250 this past weekend and it had the 460 cubic inch displacement gas drinking machine. Don't brag on your V10 till you have owned a 460 aka 7.5L. The truck ran great and pulled my little 5ver effortlessly (but not fast).
I am in the process of finalizing buying a Chevy C3500 dually for economy sake!
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Old 03-18-2019, 06:19 PM   #13
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Sold my F250 this past weekend and it had the 460 cubic inch displacement gas drinking machine. Don't brag on your V10 till you have owned a 460 aka 7.5L. The truck ran great and pulled my little 5ver effortlessly (but not fast).
I am in the process of finalizing buying a Chevy C3500 dually for economy sake!
I love my V10...... but next will be a 6.7...
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Old 03-18-2019, 07:47 PM   #14
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down hill

Just remember the time to slow down is at the top of the hill,and proceed down at a moderate speed , if a lot of faster traffic use 4/way flashers,and common sense. have a fun trip.---Lou---
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Old 03-20-2019, 10:13 PM   #15
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Your unit will handle the hills fine. I do recommend patience as the key and make sure your cooling system is in top shape.
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Old 03-21-2019, 07:29 AM   #16
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I had a 6.0 with 3.73 rear end. Pulled a Cougar X-Lite 28SGS on flat land pretty good. You can expect sustained high RPM's on long uphill pulls.
Just me, but if you're due an oil change before you go, you might want to throw synthetic oil in it. Shell just released a Rotella T6 synthetic for gas trucks, but about any of them are decent. You may be running some high engine temps up hills then cooling down pretty quick coasting down hill.
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Old 03-21-2019, 09:06 AM   #17
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I have the same truck and similar size trailer. We spent 2018 winter in the area you are going to visit. I used tow/haul mode and would switch the transmission to manual and manually downshift on the downhill sections to preserve the brakes.

I-70 thru Colorado is your easiest route. Alternately swing south through southern Colorado and visit Mesa Verde NP on your way to Utah.

PM me if you have any questions.
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Old 03-24-2019, 08:21 AM   #18
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Towing at altitude with gas engines calibrated for lower altitudes requires a bit of attitude change. Your truck will run harder, hotter, thirstier going up and down. My old Chevy 6L 2500 gasser ran between 5000 and 5500 rpm both going up and down passes. Use the cruise control in addition to the tow/haul mode and ignore the speed limits going down! Even with my 2017 2500 diesel Chevy pulling 10k Sprinter 5th wheel, going down the west side of the Eisenhower tunnel (I70) at 7% grade, I stay around 40 mph or less. Big rigs are limited to 25 mph, so that tells you something.
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Old 03-24-2019, 11:37 AM   #19
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About all I can add is try not to get too below 1/2 a tank on your trip and maybe
consider carrying 2 5 gallon gas cans in the bed of your truck.

Our last trip to California for Thanksgiving with our new 5er I was a little worried
about only having a 34 gallon diesel tank so I carried 2 5 gallon diesel cans in the
bed of my truck. Did not need them. But I found I averaged 9.5 to 10.5 mpg
which compared to my previous MH which got 6 to 7 mpg.
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Old 03-24-2019, 12:04 PM   #20
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I 2nd the suggestion, read your truck manual. It will tell you how to use the engine/transmission and brakes up and down grades. It is is the towing section.
If you do not understand some of the language, ask for clarity. Many people who drive cars and pickups only use drive gear in the tranny. They ride the brakes down hills and lug the engine down while going up.
Using the transmission to go through gears and in your case the tow haul mode also will provide proper use of a vehicle to pull heavy loads up hill and help hold back a runaway vehicle down hill.
As others said brake at the top of a hill, if possible not after your picking up a lot of speed. Use the proper transmission gears to hold your speed as you travel down. If braking, try to only brake before a curve not in it when going down hill. Doing all that will give you maximum control of the vehicles.
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