Gears ? For towing

[TCheek]

So, I'm curious - what's "way too long" for running over 3,000 RPM?
I run that for a mile and more quite often and that's when I'm NOT towing. Today, for example. At least two stretches of road with enough hill and weight and wind resistance I was well over a mile at over 3,000 rpm and never batted an eye.

I tow 5,000 pounds with larger tires than a Sport (32.2 is stock on Overland and I believe Sport tires are just under 32) and with 3.73 gears in my truck. 3500 isn't screaming. In fact, I'm really comfortable with it running 3,000-3,300 rpm.

I used to tow with a 2011 Silverado with a similar gear ratio and routinely saw 4,000-5,000 RPM. Chevy people thought I was crazy for worrying about the RPM.
I find in our long hills here and with the weight of a snow plow on the front (and the wind resistance), such as today, I was at 3,000 RPM for well over a mile, no big deal.
people get so used to the sub-2,000 RPM times that anything 3,000 is freak-out time.
If it was ok for my Chevy - it's ok for this little engine that has to hit some RPM to make any power.

Also - towing with any load or resistance, you are best at 65 or less. Some states used to have "towing speed limits" of 65, some were less. That's changed over the years, but still, I keep it no higher than 65 when towing. Better on the tiny trailer tires and bearings, better on everything.



Just for kicks - anyone recall the days when highway cruising speeds meant your engine was running 3,000 RPM, maybe more? My 70 had 3.15 gears, 3,000 RPM at highway speeds. I wonder what those guys running 3.54 gears were hitting on the highway!?

I'm running a 2020 Gladiator Overland with no mods and towing a 16' cargo trailer to camper conversion. It is nowhere close to the 5000 lbs your talking about. My RPMs are similar to yours. I haven't found a reason to be concerned. On the steepest hills of the Appalachians, I may have to manually shift for short durations.

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