BIG RIG GUY
Milton Ontario
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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My 95 Powerstroke with 4.23 rear end, pulling a 40 foot four slide fiver, about 16500 up a fairly steep hill, goes into 3rd gear and sits around 60 k or 36 mph. No tach so can't give engine speed. I am thinking my engine is around 225 hp.
Buddies of mine that have upgraded from my era of Powerstroke to 2004 and up, are telling me it is night and day difference. Like double the power.
My truck is paid for, and the extra power to me is not worth the payment.
There is a method to the madness, disturb the method and the madness begins.
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skylos
Issaquah, WA
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Joined: 06/10/2009
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smkettner - Of course, I don't have a dyno chart on this kind of engine, so I don't know where I am on the power output curves at the various rpms. I do know that usually you get more power at higher rpms (torque * rpm * constant = horsepower)
So to pull my heavy trailer up 6% grade it says...
mph Horsepower
50 323.95
45 281.34
40 241.85
35 205.16
30 170.95
25 138.90
20 108.70
Which would indicate I was using about 150 horsepower to the wheels to climb the hill in the calm desert air. I know my AC is cold but I know it wasn't consuming an additional 100 horsepower. Or what my actual power available at 2K vs. 2.8K rpm is...
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cruiserjs
Aurora, CO, USA/ Mesa AZ/ openroad
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And don't forget the power loss inherent with driving at that higher altitude!
I think your truck, for its age, is doing OK under your local conditions. What's the hurry any way?
Colorado Cruiser
Cruiser CF29CK 5th wheel; 2009 GMC Sierra 2500HD, 2wd, short bed
wonderful lifetime traveling companion/spouse
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skylos
Issaquah, WA
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Climbing out of Laughlin is insignificant altitude really... and according to the calculator, its not even a factor with the turbo.
Long as the climate control keeps working, I'm good. We'll get there, doggies and all.
Skylos
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AGBAT
NM
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Joined: 04/12/2004
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I had a 95 powerstroke with the 4.10 rear and what yours is doing is about what mine did. You could add a chip, skin the cat, oversize the exhaust, increase the intake, etc. but it does not help when you get to pulling up a hill. I did all of that and the truth is the truck pulled up hills the same as before I modified it. I would take the chip out when towing because the egt's were a little lower without the chip. The egt was what always stopped me from towing fast up a hill or even on the flat. I was hell on wheels around town though, could squeal the tires in every gear without even trying. Anyway, be happy until the flywheel goes out and then decide if you want to spend the money for a newer truck.
Chevy 2500 Duramax, 30ft Prowler, 18ft Bass Boat, 2 big dogs,
Boondocking at Rio Costilla, NM
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Miles per hour and horsepower are not related at all. RPM and horsepower are. To get the most out of your engine it needs to be turning enough rpm to be at or near its maximum horsepower rated rpm. That is going to be just below the rpm the governor stops the rpm from increasing. Some time put the truck in first gear and floor the throttle. At some rpm the governor will stop the engine from going faster and just below that point is where it will make the most horsepower. It might sound to you like it is awful fast but the governor will not let it turn too high.
Your fan is thermostatically controlled and senses the temperature of the air coming through the radiator. Its operation has no direct relationship to engine rpm.
Edit: I miss read what the mph hp chart was saying.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
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smkettner
Southern California
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Assuming you have the weight correct, it would seem to me that you might be down on power considering the numbers posted. I would expect 35/40 not 25/28 mph.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
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skylos
Issaquah, WA
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well smkettner, if I WAS to run the rpms up really high as jauguston suggests so as to get peak horsepower, in second gear I would be up by 35 mph or so. So maybe I'm just not racing my engine fast enough.
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sirdrakejr
Las Vegas, Nevada
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No one else asked but I will. What are the weights of the truck and the combo? You MAY be over one or both. A 3/4T truck off any year towing a trailer that large MAY be too small for the job! But I have been wrong before.
Frank
RV.net blog
For those of you looking for expert advice, here ya go!
Frank
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AntiqFreq
USA
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Joined: 03/20/2003
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I didn't want to sound like the 'weight police'
but we have an F250, 7.3L, 4x4, SB and our fiver weighs
in at 8150 empty......and we are right at our limits
when fully loaded up to go.
I would certainly think that his combination is overloaded....
I am just happy we go UP the hill - I don't worry about the speed!
Jo
2007 Keystone Cougar, 291 RLS
2003 Ford F250, 7.3L, Lariat, CC, SB, 4x4
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