Dmax finally met its match

[Hook'em_Horns!]

One of the more common questions presented that I don’t have an answer for is, “How much can your Dmax pull?” My answer has always been, “I don’t know…never have found a hill and a load that it wouldn’t just walk right up with.”

Well, that changed the other day.

I got stuck ¾ of the way up and had to precariously back down to the bottom of the hill. My total gross weight was only 28k lbs and the grade was…well, I don’t know, steep as shit. The motor was running but the Allison wasn’t puttin' it down, it was just slowly coming to a stop as the temp hit 230 and climbing.

Backing down…did you know trailer brakes don’t work in reverse? Ah, fun stuff.

I’ve got the Prodigy’s manual lever maxed out, the Allison still in ‘D’, and both feet on the truck’s brakes with my legs locked and hoping the seat’s anchor bolts don’t give up as the front tires are chirping as they slide intermittently . The adrenaline is really flowing at this point as my legs start to shake uncontrollably. My thoughts are racing in my head, “What will the title of this next DF thread be?”

About half way down, here comes a small truck and trailer around the bend, heading up the hill. As I soon find out, all the locals know about this hill and they floor it at the bottom to make it all the way up, so they’re not coming at me lightly. My little back-down-the-hill adventure is taking up the full width of the road, so my newfound hill climbing partner behind me is now joining me in the fun that I’m having trying to back down.

At the bottom, I pop the hood and raise the RPMs to 2300 and let the fan clutch do it’s thing, while I wonder what just happened and if I broke something. My new hill buddy proceeds to tell me about the number of trucks they’ve seen killed by this hill over the years. Confidence is now really oozing from my pores, thanks there Bud!

Like a good neighbor, they ask if there’s any way that they can help. I momentarily envisioned a chain hooked onto their Mazda pickup…the laugh helped ease my tension a bit.

“No, I’m going to call the site and have them come down to offload a few thousand lbs, and then try it again.” They ask, “Oh…does your phone work out here?” “Sure, thanks for your help.” They floor it and they’re off up the climb.

I pick up the phone to dial, and I see that Sprint has a large font displayed, “SEARCHING”…hmmm, bottom of the hill and no service. I walk up the hill a ways and still more of the same. Finally, thru the marvel that is ‘Digital Roam’ (can’t wait to see the charges for that!), I make contact (barely 1 bar showing on signal strength) only to find no workers are present, just the GC on site.

With no options left, and everything cooled down by now, I start up the hill to try again. When I came up the first time, I had a rolling start from the low water crossing and a blind view of what laid ahead with the steepness. This time, I knew what was ahead. But with no rolling start, I knew it would be worse this time.

As she’s slowing down near the same spot, I shift down to manual and see it’s in 2nd gear. I tap down and she won’t go to 1st gear. Finally on the 3rd try, she slams down to 1st gear and all four tires light up. I think, “If these crap General tires hold up, I’m gonna make it to the top!”

On the return trip back down, I check my elevation at the top…1128 feet according to Garmin. I snap a picture of the impending descent into the valley,



and the burned rubber left behind on the way up…



bottom of the hill elevation? 933 feet.

So, there it is folks. I finally found a hill and load that the Dmax couldn’t pull…



.


.



in 2nd gear.



What a Dumbass!

[Johnasara]

Captivating story Glen. Glad to see you did make it. How is the truck??

[ob_1jr]

Dang, I cant wait home to see the pictures... dang gov't computers filtering out photo sites.

[deskjet_18]

your brave to try it the second time i would definatly been in 4 low for the second time so i knew i had tons of jam and i dont know what i would do if i started spinning like that lol

[Hook'em_Horns!]

Originally Posted by Johnasara

Captivating story Glen. Glad to see you did make it. How is the truck??

It's had some unusual shifts before this incident and I had been thinking of servicing the Allison and dropping the pan for an inspection. I've never had an Allison not shift down to 1st on it's own before. I usually do it at 25k, but it’s only at 20k. With the rain here lately, the ground never seems to dry out enough before the next round (I’m shade tree, not muddy shade tree, mechanic).

Gonna try today I guess, but I picked up (435lbs) my latest project (obsession) yesterday and I’d rather be working on that instead.

Originally Posted by ob_1jr

Dang, I cant wait home to see the pictures... dang gov't computers filtering out photo sites.

When you get back, if you review every forum pic you missed while over there, you’d never have time for the new Wife-y! It’s not anything Grand Teton spectacular, just the TX Hill Country norm.

Originally Posted by deskjet_18

... i dont know what i would do if i started spinning like that lol

Once I put on the new Revos, that crap won't ever happen again.

[ob_1jr]

I have plenty of time for the wife, she is in the PI and she will be sleeping when i get off work. Now, when i go back to the PI, i wont have any time for this site...hehe I only cant see the pictures while at work...But when i get off in my room i can see them.

[chopperpilot99]

Glad you finally got it and oh yeah, I'm not laughing at you, just with you!

[Hook'em_Horns!]

Originally Posted by chopperpilot99

Glad you finally got it and oh yeah, I'm not laughing at you, just with you!

Hell, laugh at me! It was a moment of dumbass, I deserve it!

[midieselguy]

Pictures of hills never do them justice. Looks like a mild 5% grade from the pics.
I used to live on a hill that required the same finesse to climb with a trailer behind the truck. Either start climbing at a reckless rate of speed to make it to the top or throw it in 4-low. Only difference is that was my last truck, a 454. I never did have to back down though

[RedBowTies88]

were you in 4x4 low? crazy story man