MikeNMarge
Member
Vehicle: 2011 3500 Chev Duramax/Allison, Crew Cab, Short Wheel Box, SRW 17,000 miles on the truck.
Trailer: 2013 Big Horn Elite 3260, approx 13,000 Pounds
This past weekend we heading home and was pulling a 6% grade at about 55mph, 2500 rpm. As we approached the top of the grade, we heard a loud bang and lost power. We were able to pull off to the side of the road and upon lifting the hood I noticed the Turbo Aluminum Hose and blown off. Not to bore you with a long story, the Truck was towed to a Chev dealership 35 miles up the road and the 5th Wheel was towed home some 150 miles The dealer did not have the part in stock and could not get it till the next day. After much frustration, the dealer eventually removed the part from a 2013 Chevy and installed it on my truck so I could get home. This whole ordeal took about eight hours.
I have pulled this grade many times with my old fifth wheel which was about 800 lbs lighter and this was the first time I pulled the grade with our new Big Horn.
I am not a mechanic and my knoledge of the inner workings of a Duramax are very limited, at best.
1. Do I need to change my driving habits on pulling grades due to the extra 800 lbs? - even though I have been told the Duramax should have no problems pullilng grades.
2. What causes the Turbo Hose to blow off? I have a friend who had the same problem with a 2008 Duramax but never got a straight answer to the cause.
3. Do I need to get a Turbo Thrust Gauge? If so, can anyone suggest a Brand that does not void my warranty.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks - Mike
Trailer: 2013 Big Horn Elite 3260, approx 13,000 Pounds
This past weekend we heading home and was pulling a 6% grade at about 55mph, 2500 rpm. As we approached the top of the grade, we heard a loud bang and lost power. We were able to pull off to the side of the road and upon lifting the hood I noticed the Turbo Aluminum Hose and blown off. Not to bore you with a long story, the Truck was towed to a Chev dealership 35 miles up the road and the 5th Wheel was towed home some 150 miles The dealer did not have the part in stock and could not get it till the next day. After much frustration, the dealer eventually removed the part from a 2013 Chevy and installed it on my truck so I could get home. This whole ordeal took about eight hours.
I have pulled this grade many times with my old fifth wheel which was about 800 lbs lighter and this was the first time I pulled the grade with our new Big Horn.
I am not a mechanic and my knoledge of the inner workings of a Duramax are very limited, at best.
1. Do I need to change my driving habits on pulling grades due to the extra 800 lbs? - even though I have been told the Duramax should have no problems pullilng grades.
2. What causes the Turbo Hose to blow off? I have a friend who had the same problem with a 2008 Duramax but never got a straight answer to the cause.
3. Do I need to get a Turbo Thrust Gauge? If so, can anyone suggest a Brand that does not void my warranty.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks - Mike