Towing long and heavy with a 6.5? Read on

[orrum]

Search resultsInterstate 77 Fancy Gap Photos
The top of the climb on I-77 is a summit called Fancy Gap, and is over 3,100 feet elevation. The section from NC to the interchange a couple miles north of Fancy ...
www.roadstothefuture.com/I77_VA_Fancy_​Gap_Photos.html Here is a link to Fancy Gap on the interstate 77 in NC/VA. We go horse camping trailriding every year on Mt Rodgers and we go over Fancy Gap. I pulled it a bunch with my Dodge 318 and intend to pull it with my 6.2 Turbine Doc is familiar with it, hey Doc am I gonna die on the mountain???????

 

[3500GMC]

I confess to tuning this thread out after about two or three pages. After revisiting, I've got some questions.

all answers are 'AFAIK'.......

Optimizer vs P400: what are the differences? Optimizer is the continuation of the GM replacement 6.5, GM quit casting the 6.5 stuff. P400 is a redesign, highlights are forged crank and pseudo deep skirt block

Who or what is Ted's Engine? USED military take outs.

Whatever happened to the guy who was going to tow a 35' travel trailer from BC to Nova Scotia with a 6.5 experiencing heavy blow by? I can't say for sure.....

Who's BJ? Is that Great White?

OP? Yep yep and yep. OP = original poster

WTF is Kenny's Avatar? Is that a hamburger under a storm cloud? Or a volcano blowing its top off? That's Kennys rain cloud that always follows him wherever he goes.

Finally, after reading this towing tail, which included the vaunted 4th of July Pass, I looked up some statistics:

Maximum Elevation: 3,173'
Maximum Grade: 5%

Looks like I have a work assignment in Spokane starting in another couple weeks. I'll give this vaunted 4th of July Pass a run just to experience it. I think I'll have a double latte before I do it, just to be sure I don't miss it.

Take your lucky rabbits foot... or feet..

Like I said, As Far As I Know...

Please understand that this is my opinion...................................

:rolleyes5: :hihi:

 

[buddy]

I think BigT is thinking about in CA we are hours away from the Rockies and 5% grades are driveways, and the coast has 8 and 9% grades all over. Some of our interstates, 4 lanes a side go 30 miles straight up 6% grades and stuff like that, really long straight fun at 4000 to 5000 rpm trying to maintain the speed limit in a 4 banger car. So many of the highways a 4 banger cannot even maintain near the speed limit. When you hit the Rockies and a mile high is when you really start rolling the coal though. The problem is just towing a huge camper in general, any truck is going to get bogged down by that.

 

[Big T]

I think BigT is thinking about in CA we are hours away from the Rockies and 5% grades are driveways, and the coast has 8 and 9% grades all over. Some of our interstates, 4 lanes a side go 30 miles straight up 6% grades and stuff like that, really long straight fun at 4000 to 5000 rpm trying to maintain the speed limit in a 4 banger car. So many of the highways a 4 banger cannot even maintain near the speed limit. When you hit the Rockies and a mile high is when you really start rolling the coal though. The problem is just towing a huge camper in general, any truck is going to get bogged down by that.

Yes Buddy captured it.

Wanna roll coal? ATT with chip starting up from a stop at an intersection at 7,000'. Better yet, tight 3-point turn on rough offroad terrain above 7,000'. You could sell tickets for a steam locomotive ride.

 

[Acesneights1]

My Avatar is Shleprock a character from the Flintstones who as 3500said, bad luck follows him everywhere..

 

[Acesneights1]

Well, not trying to sound emotional, but the original post was "a bitter pill to swallow" for people that have worked hard doing something that was "a waste of time and money". That caught him some flack, completely understandable.

Thank you...That is exactly how I read it as well.
Hell, even you and me bumped a few times but you did not run off and neither did I. I certainly respect your knowledge. I don't know alot about electronics but I can rip a set of heads off and have'm back on and running pretty damn fast. Heck I swapped the motor in my 93 in 6hrs flat BY MYSELF. All that was left was the button up on the front of the motor.
Point is if your gonna open up with statements like Buddy quoted, expect flack and be ready to back it up, not run off because someone called you on it.

 

[Big T]

Kenny, someday I'd love to have some drinks and talk shit with you. It could get quite interesting.

 

[Acesneights1]

Kenny, someday I'd love to have some drinks and talk shit with you. It could get quite interesting.

Who's gonna post bail ??:rof:

 

[Pepperidge]

while the discussion regarding actual tech info is actually intriguing and helps me understand the 6.5 a little more...

... a lot of the comments being made are simply just
:BDH: :BDH: :BDH: :BDH: :BDH:


someone in this thread made an observation about what a new member might think when they came across this thread and took this technical information/opinion as "gospel" and it might just scare them off as a 6.5 owner...

I see the same thing happening to new members when they read the constant character assassinations being thrown around in this thread...

Just some food for thought, as I thought we were all above this kind of drama and BS here at TTS

JMHO

Pepp

 

[Mike K3500]

while the discussion regarding actual tech info is actually intriguing and helps me understand the 6.5 a little more...

... a lot of the comments being made are simply just
:BDH: :BDH: :BDH: :BDH: :BDH:


someone in this thread made an observation about what a new member might think when they came across this thread and took this technical information/opinion as "gospel" and it might just scare them off as a 6.5 owner...

I see the same thing happening to new members when they read the constant character assassinations being thrown around in this thread...

Just some food for thought, as I thought we were all above this kind of drama and BS here at TTS

JMHO

Pepp

WORD !!!

 

[orrum]

Yea lets get back to makin my 6.2 be able to go over Fancy Gap running like a scared haunt! That will impress the newbies of which I am one!!!!

 

[Slim Shady]

I do that stretch of Fancy gap when going to Asheboro, and Lexington to see family. I do that and smoke those ricers trying to get up that hill going out of North Carolina.

 

[orrum]

So thats a long, long hill brother! Do u think my stock 6.2 with about 6500 lbs of horse trailer n horses can make it? Where u from Slim?

 

[Slim Shady]

So thats a long, long hill brother! Do u think my stock 6.2 with about 6500 lbs of horse trailer n horses can make it? Where u from Slim?

Yes it is a long grade, five miles and a little over 6% GOOD GRADE FOR OUR SIDE OF THE CONTINENT. The guys in the west coast have the big dog grades, Fancy Gap is a driveway for them.

I am from Michigan, family on the better half side is down there. I really enjoy them and I travel there (well used to, been a year almost now) at least three to four times a year. That 11 hour drive is getting to be a long haul for me. LOL

You will be taxing the NA 6.2 when going up that hill. You might be with the big rig guys in the right lane smoking and over heating,

 

[Acesneights1]

I agree about the 6.2 sluggin in the slow lane but whether it will overheat...I never had any issue with that at all BUT that was with Squarebodys.
I always wondered if the 6.2 vbelt made any difference vs the serp belt.

 

[jmack91z28]

I don't believe Accurate rebuilds them in house......only IP's. He does exchange on injs....Take em to Metro in Agawam.

I talked to Tim at accurate via email a few months back. They do rebuild in house. They also sell medallion and new delphi's.

This thread is interesting and entertaining...

 

[jmack91z28]

So thats a long, long hill brother! Do u think my stock 6.2 with about 6500 lbs of horse trailer n horses can make it? Where u from Slim?

I've pulled that much through fancy gap with a 2500 dodge cummins. It did fine, I don't know about how your 6.2 will do though.

Like slim shady said, you'll be in the right lane, in first gear, doing 30 mph. Best part is coming back though. Tuck in behind a big rig thats hauling ass in the hammer lane. That's what I use to do.

 

[orrum]

In the slow lane in first gear sounds like a disaster!!!! It dont go 30 in first, only about 10 mph. Hmmmm the math would be 5 mile @ 10 mph equals a half hour of flat grinding away @ the grade!!!! Naw cant be that bad!!!! I hope

 

[Acesneights1]

I talked to Tim at accurate via email a few months back. They do rebuild in house. They also sell medallion and new delphi's.

This thread is interesting and entertaining...

I wasn't sure but I only use the guy in Agawam now. Same price and I can go there and physically see the work. I have however always had good things to say about Tim. Never a problem with customer service at all.

 

[Chief915]

I may have a thread just like this of my own later this fall.

Uncle Sam has decided that he needs me in KY, so we will be moving about 600 miles NW later this fall. I will be towing a quad cab dodge 1500 2WD on an 18' trailer. Not a real heavy load or a real long distance.....but hey....it's something.