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Refer to your owner's manual.  You want to keep engine RPM in your engine's 
best powerband for pulling a trailer.  I drive a Dodge diesel and don't 
believe my RPMs go to 6000 on that little 5.9L straight six Cummins.  3000 
is more like where the engine should be allowed to go (maybe 3200), and I 
pulled through the hills around Asheville mostly in 6th gear at 70 miles an 
hour/about 2400 RPM if I recall (only about 8000 pounds, though--not as much 
as mentioned below.)

Bottom line is, try to keep your engine in its powerband.  If it sounds like 
it is screaming, good things are probably not happening to your engine 
and/or transmission.  Temperatures get hot in a hurry and cook things.  Your 
engine shouldn't redline--back off before you do.


Mike
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Spottedracer@xxxxxx>
To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2007 12:45 PM
Subject: [RC] truck RPMs


> I'm no mechanic, but here's my experiences:
>
> GMC 1/2 ton - pulling a 16' gooseneck horse trailer - PACKED with 5 
> horses. (nice having short horses)... Stayed around 2.5-3 RPMs until we 
> hit the mountains... Shot up close to the red (think that's around 6), and 
> we slowly lost speed until the top... Yep, truck WAS struggling to get up 
> that mountain!
>
> Dodge 2500 Diesel - heavy duty custom ordered for pulling.....Pull a 24+" 
> 5 horse slant, gooseneck steel trailer (Trailer's half the weight of 
> equivalent aluminum)... Fully loaded with five heavy horses.. (Approx. 
> 11-12,000 lbs)... Stays at 2-3 RPM.. In the mountain climbs (6% or 
> steeper) - it'll drop down to low gear and RPMs shoot to right under red 
> (approx 6 or so).. Truck loses velocity slowly... Yep, it's struggling!
>
> So the higher the RPM - the harder the engine and transmission is working. 
> Proper working range is from 1.5-3 (little cars or nothing on your truck - 
> it should be around 1.5)  If you go into the red to long - something's 
> going to blow.. (you should see what my friend ends up having to tow....)
>
> - LP
>
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