Maximum Sustained RPM Recommendation?

[justchecking]

Leaving on a 30 day camper trip, just under GVWR and GAWR, and have seen myself that 4th gear seems to provide max cooling to the trans. 5.3 4WD fresh 0w20 oil, trans, transfer case, diffs, coolant with 51K miles and max tow package.
What do you think the max RPM for sustained operation in hot, really hot, temperatures would be towing a camper?

 

[PG01]

9,500.50 …………………

 

[tom3]

That engine would live forever at 3000 rpm. No worries, drive it.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Leaving on a 30 day camper trip, just under GVWR and GAWR, and have seen myself that 4th gear seems to provide max cooling to the trans.
5.3L 4WD fresh 0w20 oil, trans, transfer case, diffs, coolant with 51K miles and max tow package.
What do you think the max RpM for sustained operation in hot, really hot, temperatures would be towing a camper?

After APPROXIMATELY 4875RpM, the H2Opump isn't really flowing anymore coolant because it starts whipping air into the coolant, but anything under that is FINE.
And tow with 5W30.

 

[homesick]

I agree with the bump in oil viscosity.

joe

 

[justchecking]

I agree with the bump in oil viscosity.

joe

Arg! Just had 0w20 put in when I got back from Canada.
So the consensus would be go as fast as I want (actually probably no more than 75mph) as long as I want in 4th whatever that RPM is.

 

[Marky Dissod]

So ... go ... no more than 75MpH, as long as I want in 4th under 4875RpM ...

Fixed it for you.

 

[Geotrash]

Arg! Just had 0w20 put in when I got back from Canada.
So the consensus would be go as fast as I want (actually probably no more than 75mph) as long as I want in 4th whatever that RPM is.

When I tow our 7500 lb camper with our 2012 (3.42 gears), I run in 4th all day long, no issues - seems to like it right there. The 2018 has 4.10 gears and rarely needs to shift below 5th.

Towing at 65mph (speed limits around here are 70) seems to make it effortless. At that speed I'm fast enough that I'm not building up a queue of cars behind me in the right lane, and not so fast that I'm constantly running up on other vehicles requiring me to pass.

 

[homesick]

When I tow our 7500 lb camper with our 2012 (3.42 gears), I run in 4th all day long, no issues - seems to like it right there. The 2018 has 4.10 gears and rarely needs to shift below 5th.

Towing at 65mph (speed limits around here are 70) seems to make it effortless. At that speed I'm fast enough that I'm not building up a queue of cars behind me in the right lane, and not so fast that I'm constantly running up on other vehicles requiring me to pass.

Yeah, the sweet spot- just slightly slower than the rest. Your lane opens up ahead of you like the sea did for Moses.

joe

 

[justchecking]

When I tow our 7500 lb camper with our 2012 (3.42 gears), I run in 4th all day long, no issues - seems to like it right there. The 2018 has 4.10 gears and rarely needs to shift below 5th.

Towing at 65mph (speed limits around here are 70) seems to make it effortless. At that speed I'm fast enough that I'm not building up a queue of cars behind me in the right lane, and not so fast that I'm constantly running up on other vehicles requiring me to pass.

So I towed 200miles today in fourth. The 2019 likes to stay around 72-75 mph with my foot where it is. My previous 2011 liked to stay around 65.
My trans temps were around 185F with 82 Ambient, but did get into the 190’s in traffic. Because we didn’t leave until Cincy rush hour even though we knew 6months ago we were leaving at 2PM but someone procrastinates.
I did install the lower temp thermostat. RPMs were 3K. So I am good.
Oh I did try 3rd for a while which brought me into the high 4KRPMs, but no issues.
I like to experiment with these things.
Tonight we are staying across from Historic Boone’s Tavern.
This guy is worn out due to worry because he knew we were going somewhere but didn’t know if he was going with.

 

[justchecking]

Amazing I ran 1000 miles pulling the camper at 70+MPH in 4th in the heat and apparently didn’t burn a drop of oil.

 

[justchecking]

 

[justchecking]

Returned home last week. 4600 trouble free miles. Found out it does use about 8oz oil per 1000miles pulling the camper. Practically none when not pulling the camper. I wonder what the intake valves look like now after pulling the camper that many miles in 4th in the heat.