partsman01
Poco British Columbia
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Joined: 07/22/2005
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Well back from my two weeks, with my 1977 F-250 2wheel drive 400 CI, C6 transmission 3.55 gears and my 18.5 foot 1989 Prowler fifth wheel, sure slow going up a lot of steep places like parts of what we call the coquihalla, anyways sometimes I was down to 50 Kmh so I figure I better find something better, I am thinking GMC 3/4 ton, want a full size box and extended cab, what is the minimum engine to look for and rear end ratio to get, am thinking 94 up to 1999 as to years I would look for.
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CharlyG
West HIlls, Ca.
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Joined: 04/12/2006
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What was your RPM? Gassers need revs to make power. It would be better if you had a 3.73 or better, but it sound to me like the noise got to you so you backed off, and thus had no power? 2nd gear at 4500 rpm is not uncommon to crest a steep hill.
1998 Chevy C2500HD Silverado ECLB 75,000 miles 5.7L Vortec 4L80E 3.73 Posi 8600# GVWR
2004 Fleetwood Caravan 25S 6000# GVWR
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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
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Joined: 02/25/2005
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If your going with a GM product try to stick with a Vortec series V8 engine. You'll get better power and mileage than the older engines.
Also, with a trailer that size pretty much any gearing will perform well for you.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4 Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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You can breathe new towing life into that '77 F250 with a gear change to 4.10, for less than a Grand, even as little as $500 if you're handy. Sure beats buying a whole other truck, unless you just want a new truck.
92F350 CrewCab 4x4 351/C6
LoadNGo service body
69Bronco ATC250R CR500
20' BigTex flatbed carhauler
B&W TurnoverBall g-neck Curt Magnum rr DrawTite ft
HD springs Rancho9000s Bilsteins poly sway bushings
285/75-16E BFG AT on 16x8 Stocktons
4.56's & Lock-Rite rear
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grampachet
West Coast
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Joined: 12/14/2006
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Our 04, F-250, V-10, 3.73 towed our 28' Wildwood up the Coke with plenty of power to spare. Combined weight of 19,000+ pounds. Yup, that section of highway can seperate the men from the boys.
2004 F-250 KR,CC,SB,SRW,4x4,V-10,3.73
2008 Montana 3000RK
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campercajun
Central Texas Hill Country
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Joined: 08/09/2007
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If you want to go with GM, a 6.0L with a 3:73 or 4:10 rear would probably be fine with your trailer. I pull a 33', 7,075 lb. (loaded) trailer with ours, and it does OK in our Texas Hill Country, where although the grades are shorter, some are as steep or steeper than typical highways in Colorado. You will have to gear down on long, steep grades, but these newer engines are built to rev, and don't develop maximum torque until about 4000 RPM, unlike the old "torquers" such as the venerable 350 (5.7L) GM engine, the last I owned making it's peak torque at 2200 RPM. Don't be afraid to rev the newer ones, they're designed for it.
The 8.1L, derived from the old workhorse 454, would be tops for towing with gas engines in GM pickups, but used ones are hard to find around here, and the engine isn't offered any longer in the latest model GM trucks.
Of course, a diesel pickup would be the ultimate solution for climbing grades, but you may be like me, and can't really afford one, and the diesel to fill it up with!
As SoCalDesertRider says, a gear ratio change would allow your present truck to climb grades easier, but if the engine in your '77 F250 is beginning to get pretty tired, the higher RPM might begin to cause oil consumption and other issues. It would definitely use more fuel than it does at present, especially when not towing.
2003 GMC Sierra Crew HD; 6.0L; Prodigy
2006 Thor Tundra 30RL-DSL; Reese Strait-Line & Dual-cam HP
2001 Honda Elite Scooter
Jim & Gayle Bryant
Murphy's Law: "Anything that CAN happen, WILL."
Bryant's Law: "31 years of RVing? Probably already HAS."
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Peg Leg
Anderson, IN
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Joined: 06/20/2004
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GM in the 94-99 the big engine is the 7.4 and the small block is the 5.7. The 5.7 you'd want a 4.10 gear. I've had both and prefer the 7.4 and with a 3.73 I get better gas mileage than with the 5.7.
The big block makes it's power at a lower RPM.
KA9ATV
K2500 7.4 3.73
Michelin 245/70R19.5 XDS2 on Vision Type 81's
31' Dutchmen
Yamaha EF3000iSE
retired gadgetman
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crickeydog
Marietta, Ga.
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Joined: 01/29/2004
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partsman01 wrote: what is the minimum engine to look for and rear end ratio to get.
Why the minimum engine??? Get the biggest Mac Daddy diesel or big block gasser engine you can stuff into a pickup!!!!! MPG won't be any worse and you can't use what you don't have when you need it. As for gears, I'm partial to at least 4.10 but would suggest even lower to 4.33 or even 4.56 or 4.88.
Happy camping!!! See ya'll down the road!!!
AIR FORCE RETIRED "EITHER LEAD,FOLLLOW,OR GET OUT OF MY WAY"!
2006 GMC 3500 SLT CC DRW 4X4 D/A LBZ,PREDATOR & FS2500 OIL FILTER
2004 HR PRESIDENTIAL 30 SCD 5'ER.
CHEROKEE & CHEYENNE, MINI DOXIE'S
LOADED LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN, FLYIN LIKE A JET PLANE!!
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BruceStarkey
Ontario, Canada
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Joined: 05/02/2004
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OR,  you could think outside the box and explore something a little larger, say an MDT or even a full HDT and in the latter case, get yourself one thats used with half a million KM's on it with 465 HP and 1650 Ft/Lbs of torque that will not come out of cruise control towing ANYTHING of an RV nature on 6% grades and that will not require you to touch the service brakes on the downhill side but instead maintain speed with 1st stage Jake engaged and best yet; will cost you probably a third of what you'd pay for a new diesel p/u with the same remaining life expectancy!
Today is just the tomorrow you worried about yesterday!
'04' International 4400 LoPro 310Hp/950FtLbs 10Spd Harley/RV Toter
'05' Mobile Suites 38RL3
'01' Harley Ultra in the bike barn.
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Fabguy
Auburn, Washigton
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Joined: 03/29/2002
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BruceStarkey wrote:OR, you could think outside the box and explore something a little larger, say an MDT or even a full HDT and in the latter case, get yourself one thats used with half a million KM's on it with 465 HP and 1650 Ft/Lbs of torque that will not come out of cruise control towing ANYTHING of an RV nature on 6% grades and that will not require you to touch the service brakes on the downhill side but instead maintain speed with 1st stage Jake engaged and best yet; will cost you probably a third of what you'd pay for a new diesel p/u with the same remaining life expectancy!
I'd love to see that... An MDT pulling an 18.5 foot fiver!!!!
Jeff
2002 GMC Sierra 2500HD 8.1/Allison/4:10/Prodigy brake controler/Dual Cam HP
Pulling a 2004 Sprinter 274 RLS
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