I have a 2006 Dodge 3500 w/ 5.9 Cummins, DRW, automatic, Quad Cab, Edge Juice Computer. I am towing a 4 horse living quarter trailer that is around 12,000 lbs fully loaded. Truck does not seem to have a lot of power on any steeper grade hills. Last weekend drove up a big hill to a show and it would not pull the trailer up the hill in first gear and 4wd high. Shifted to 4 wheel low and truck pulled the trailer slowly up the hill.

This is my first diesel and don't know if it is towing correctly or not.

Anything I should be checking or looking at?

 

Why on earth are you pulling in 4wd? You are going to ruin your truck unless you are talking about pulling the trailer off-raod on a steep hill which I still don't understand. Please be more specific so we can help.

 

I pulled off the main road onto a very steep gravel driveway...without 4wd you would do nothing but spin. In my gas truck 4w high was perfectly fine and although it was a load going up it would pull in 4 high. The cummins would not pull in 4 high...would go a short distance and stop without moving.

Seem like on any hill of substance unless you get a big run for it the truck seems to lose its pulling power that it has on flat roads.

Also, there is not a pulling issue when not loaded with a trailer but also had the issue pulling my tractor on a trailer which was around 7K total.

My thought was injector issues or torque converter but don't know.

 

Yeah, well then something is defnetly wrong. With gassers I have always wheeled in 4wd low, and with my last diesel I always wheeled in 4wd high cause the diesel hd the torque to keep the wheels moving without having to be in low.

 

that def doesnt sound like a good ol' cummins, somethings wrong for sure. any lights on the dash illuminated?

 

No lights on the dash and no codes in the Edge computer. Changed the fuel filter today that was just replaced 1500 miles ago and was somewhat black.

Also, has an S&B air filter on it which may have been over oiled. S&B recommends 5 grams of oil and filter was slightly heavy with oil...may have added to the issue.