F250 Rocky Mtn Power Show

[capn chris]

At the risk of setting off a debate, I'd sure like some counsel for my '04 PSD and pulling our new Montana 2955 over the US and Canadian Rockies to and from Alaska this summer.
Question is - should I invest in chip and/or exhaust upgrades for the heavy hauling/steep hills? We've been real happy w/truck performance here in MD, PA, and NJ but wondered what folks recommend who have done Rockies, both US and Canada?

[Bill Hill]

Chris,
IMHO the first thing you should do is get gauges: exhaust gas temp(pyrometer), turbo boost, and transmission temp if you don't already have them. Our 2980 is slightly heavier than your 2955 but not that much, and that's a lot of weight behind your truck. Once you see what your engine is really doing, you can start making more informed choices about where to go from there. I think you'll be surprised.

[Montana Sky]

Chris,
I will second Bill's advice on having the pyro, boost, and trans temp gauge installed if you dont already have them. My truck had tranny temp standard in the dash so I had the pyro and boost gauge installed two weeks ago. Well worth the money in my opinion as well. As far as your truck goes, I do not see any reason to change anything. As you can see by my profile I use a 2500HD to tow my 3400RL and have not had any trouble yet. I am not up to date on the Ford, but I really do not see a need for either a exhaust brake or chip. In my Chevy the transmission has the grade braking built right in and I think Ford does now as well. I would wait until sreigle responds to this as he has probably out towed any of us here, and has the Ford truck with first hand knowledge. Best of luck on your decisions and enjoy your trips this summer.

[ken]

Chris
I would go along with everyone advise on the gages. They are important, especially when you put a strain on the engine in hills and mts. We have a 2000 Ford F350 with the 7.3 Diesel and did put a chip in. It made a lot of difference in the towing on hills. We also put in an electronic brake that closes the air in the turbo and acts like an exhaust brake going down hills. Both work fine. They are manufactured by Western Diesel in TN. They have a web page and tells all about them. Their chip was not as sever as some are and thats why I went with them. With the newer 6.0 engines, they seem to have more go to them and may not need a chip. Again, wait till Steve drops in here as he has the new 2005 Ford F250.
Ken and Velda Taylor
Dahlgren VA
2005 3475 Montana
2000 Ford F350 Diesel

[capn chris]

Thanks all! Just the kind of help I was looking for. Gauges first,it is. Suggestions on where or who I should look for the work??? And I will watch for Steve to post. He and I have talked before and he has same motor/tranny.

[sreigle]

I agree with getting the gauges. Absolutely. I live by those things.

Chris, we're towing a bit more weight than you are and have done so in all the states you mention but not in Canada. We have towed the Rockies through and within Colorado, to over 11,000 feet, including Vail Pass on I-70, west to east. My opinion is the grade braking will do you just fine. I personally see no need for an exhaust brake with the Ford 6.0 and TorqShift transmission combination. That's probably true of the GM D/A, too, but we're talking your Ford here. From what I've seen, the main roads through the Rockies are no steeper than some of the ones you have in Maryland and Pennsylvania. I've been up and down the 8% grades on I-68 in western Maryland. The difference is in Colorado the grades are longer and higher altitude. Still, it's never been a problem for us at all. I do watch the pyro (EGT) carefully when towing a long grade. Our '03 PSD was bone stock, other than gauges, and this one is the same. A chip would likely make it even better but I've not yet really seen the need for our type of towing.

Montana Sky, there are probably others here with more towing experience than I have but thanks anyhow. There are a lot of very knowledgeable people in this forum. I've learned a lot from many of them.