GregM

I pulled a dual axle trailer yesterday carrying two 4-wheelers, and my truck proved it is totally gutless. I started out with the tow/haul mode off, and it was constantly rowing through the gears. I switched it to tow/haul and it never got out of 3rd gear and still downshifted a lot. I have a '01 5.3 4x4 with an intake and exhaust, 3.73 gears. This trailer is not heavy, and it only had two 4-wheelers on it....I was not happy when I finally made it to where I was going. Anyone have any ideas on why my truck is so gutless? It just feels like right around 1700rpm's it de-tunes itself, not just yesterday, but all the time. Would a tune help fix this? I'm seriously thinking about trading this truck for an old body-style Ram, at least I know they pull like whipped mules. I usually pull this trailer with a 98 Ram 4x4 with the 5.9 and 3.55 gears. I know its apples to oranges, but that Dodge would run off and leave my truck with the trailer hooked up. Decisions, decisions.
GregM

Leroy_454

I have not had any problems pulling with my truck, but i know what you are talking about. I went from a 5.7L old body style chevy to this 04 and i noticed less power down low, but it has much more pull from 3500 rpm up. When i tow with this truck i always run in 3rd. I cant stand the downshifting from OD to 3rd or the torque converter constantly unlocking. I think a computer tune would help our trucks out a bunch, but I havent decided what to go with yet.

12sec.5.3

iTrader: (1)

Yep, get a tune, exhaust, intake, & long tube headers and you'll yank the axles off that trailer.

JERRY2500

Turbo and nelson tune. Then you could pull what ever you want

02Z06man

thats why you shoulda bought a ford

02_2500avalanche

Or you could buy something with an 8.1

SimpleManLance

iTrader: (9)

**** i just tow my Quads at about 85. the truck seems to never have to downshift at about 22-2500 rpms. anything under that and it just sucks.

GoldenVelvet

That seems odd. I tow often with my truck and its only got an itty bitty 4.8. I tow a car and tailer to the dragstrip. About 5000lbs with no problems.

GregM

No Fords for me thanks! I have been kicking around the idea of regearing my truck to 4.56 ever since I got it. I had planned to run 33" tires and I know the low-end power would suffer even more putting taller tires on. How involved is regearing the front differential in these trucks?


GregM

1slow01Z71

iTrader: (36)

I have a nelson tune in my truck plus the mods in my sig before i blew my tranny i had one 4wheeler in the bed plus 4 more in on a 20 foot low boy trailer and it pulled it pretty well except going over a big *** bridge but just have to a little and itll keep it moving. As far as the gear change in the front its not that difficult its just extremely time consuming due to all the **** that has to be taken apart i put a locker in the front but basically the same thing. My opinion i would get a tune and headers i think that would make the biggest difference for the money and time.