Today was the first time I have pulled my Deere TLB110. It weighs about 7800lbs plus the trailer. I was running down the highway and going up a slight incline and the truck just falls on its face. Running about 70...put my foot in it and i'm down to 45-50 in no time. What is up? If this is just how these trucks are, how could anyone pull 23k lbs!? It shifts smooth and everything but just doesn't seem to have the power. I hate to put it this way, but it feels like my Dodge 360 V-8 with 4000lbs behind it!

Does it downshift to 4th?

Clean fuel filter?

Got boost?

Ya it downshifted and i'm halfway through a tank from the truckstop (Amoco fuel). Not too sure about boost since i don't have a guage. Hmmm... I just bought it on the 9th and it had been serviced. I'm not sure if the fuel filter has been changed or not. The oil was though and I bought it at a GMC dealer so I assumed it was ready to go for another 10k.

Sounds like something's not right. I pulled a 5000# boat in OD all the way through West Virginia and it ran 75-80 no problem on 6% grades, and I was holding back due to tranny slip. This was with the Juice on L2 (+75 HP), but your truck sounds like it might not be getting the fuel it needs.

Change the filter and see what happens.

Also might have someone put the Tech II on it and see if it'll hold the commanded rail pressures.

also check the air filter to make sure it's breathing properly.

It most certainly sounds like there is some issue to me. Our 5er weighs in at 11K and I have plenty of power to maintain (even increase) speed in 5th gear on slight grades.

Hmmm, when I first bought my truck it did the same thing. I was pulling my dump trailer up a 6% with about 3000lbs plus trailer (1900lbs) it was similar to your complaint. I never did figure out what the problem was. Maybe it was bad diesel.
I would check your fuel filter, air filter and as SOON AS POSSIBLE order an Edge with tude. Set it to #2 and get gone.
Worked for me!
Marco.

Thanks for your replies guys. I checked the fuel filter visually and it looks new but i couldn't see the numbers or the lines on it. I didn't think about the air filter so i will check that in the morning.

I am planning on some power adders. Exhaust and intake are first followed buy some type of cumputer upgrades.

Did you have the tow/haul engaged. I had a simalar experice as you when my truck was new. Could not get above 50 on a grade that my 460 had handled. The next grade I came to, I didn't use the tow/haul and it zoomed up the hill. Lots of guys are using it but the tranny has some sort of learning process for both modes and I don't know if that is part of it or not......Bill

Don't think it is t/h mode.

I have towed a 13K 5th wheel across the US twice in the last year.

Both times were made in t/h and the truck purrrrreeeeddd up and down some rather steep hills.

My .02

Pull my 14000lb skid-steer & trailer combo @ 70 - 75, and only downshifs on big hills, other wise no problem... Change Fuel Filter, Air Filter, and check mass air flow sensor for being plugged & dirty. It helped mine!

Pull my 14000lb skid-steer & trailer combo @ 70 - 75, and only downshifs on big hills, other wise no problem... Change Fuel Filter, Air Filter, and check mass air flow sensor for being plugged & dirty. It helped mine!

I tried it in both tow/haul and w/o it, didn't seem to make much of a difference.

I checked the air filter this morning, it's new and where is the MAF on these...at the end of the intake tube?? Excuse my ignorance i haven't even looked.

MAF sensor is on the filter box IIRC

I don't seem to have a problem towing anything I hang on the back of mine, 9K camper, skid-loader, excavator, whatever.
156,000 miles:ro)

Today was the first time I have pulled my Deere TLB110. It weighs about 7800lbs plus the trailer. I was running down the highway and going up a slight incline and the truck just falls on its face. Running about 70...put my foot in it and i'm down to 45-50 in no time. What is up? If this is just how these trucks are, how could anyone pull 23k lbs!? It shifts smooth and everything but just doesn't seem to have the power. I hate to put it this way, but it feels like my Dodge 360 V-8 with 4000lbs behind it!
same problem with mine when i got it. fuel filter was clogged at 1500 miles. it was just a bad tank of fuel. anyway if you have never driven a diesel it will take a little to get used to it. momentum is your friend and also just keep your foot in it. a gasser makes hp easily when it downshifts. with the diesel you have to build boost and that usually means a lower gear. i regularly pull 5-11k and never drop below 4th unless the grade is real steep and long. good luck

PLM-1,

A couple things. First, the mass air flow sensor is the electrical connection in the tube between the air filter box and the turbo inlet.
Second, you cannot visually check a fuel filter, while it is still in one peice that is. The only way to find out if it is the problem is to replace it. You can cut it open to inspect it once removed, but it cannot be reused anyway. This a fairly simple process. Do a search and you will find some great step-by-step instructions with pics.
Finally, your LB7 should pull that load with no problem. Definitely use t/h. I pull a 29' and 33' gooseneck flatbed and have grossed 29K locally and 26K on the highway. My truck handles these loads well. I have pulled 24K+ loads that were 13' tall up long, steep hills in VA and maintained 50+ mph. With smaller loads (more areodynamic, not lighter weight) I can maintain easy 65-70 mph. I pulled these loads before I got my Juice. Good luck with your truck. I know once you figure out the problem you will love the pulling machine that a Dmax is.:ro)

John

PLM-1,

A couple things. First, the mass air flow sensor is the electrical connection in the tube between the air filter box and the turbo inlet.
Second, you cannot visually check a fuel filter, while it is still in one peice that is. The only way to find out if it is the problem is to replace it. You can cut it open to inspect it once removed, but it cannot be reused anyway. This a fairly simple process. Do a search and you will find some great step-by-step instructions with pics.
Finally, your LB7 should pull that load with no problem. Definitely use t/h. I pull a 29' and 33' gooseneck flatbed and have grossed 29K locally and 26K on the highway. My truck handles these loads well. I have pulled 24K+ loads that were 13' tall up long, steep hills in VA and maintained 50+ mph. With smaller loads (more areodynamic, not lighter weight) I can maintain easy 65-70 mph. I pulled these loads before I got my Juice. Good luck with your truck. I know once you figure out the problem you will love the pulling machine that a Dmax is.:ro)

John

I do realize that you cannot visually see if the filter is clogged while it is in use. I meant that it looked new judging by it being the only clean thing in the engine bay. I run diesel mowers and tractors so i'm used to diesel engines just not in a truck. I may try and change the fuel filter this weekend, it's not hard.

I'm pulling a skid loader tomorrow with a different tank of fuel, hopefully that was the problem.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

What size Bobcat??
My LLY will struggle with a T190 track loader on 7% grade. But the Alli drops down in third stock and fourth with the juice of lev 2.

If I were you I would look into the Juice with attitude. JMO.

T190=7300lbs plus 5k lbs trailer weight.

The TLB i was carrying was about 8000k plus the trailer. The bobcat is just a p*ssy S175 and the trailer. Last night i was hauling retaing wall block...about 9-10k lbs worth...it was about the same as the other day with the TLB.

This weekend i'm going to try and change the fuel filter. Do I have to get one a the stealer or does Oreilly or Autozone have the correct dual pleat filters now??

I pull a Bobcat and regularly gross at 23K+. I only downshift to fourth at most. I can easily maintain 55 mph. With the quad set at 70hp it rarely downshifts. I would change your fuel filter and give her good hard run.

PLM, what were the outside temps, and what kind of inclines?

If your air filter is clean and stock, your MAF should be fine, but cleaning it is free.

PLM, what were the outside temps, and what kind of inclines?

If your air filter is clean and stock, your MAF should be fine, but cleaning it is free.

The temp was around 80-85 degrees. I'm not too good at inclines, but i would say the hills were anywhere between 2% and 6% grades. Yeah, the air filter is new and stock but not for long!

You need a good guess at your gross. Could be normal. The trailer: double axle? Length? Some are heavier than others.

Did you hear the fan a lot? Headwind?

You need a good guess at your gross. Could be normal. The trailer: double axle? Length? Some are heavier than others.

Did you hear the fan a lot? Headwind?

Grosse weight, i would say less than 10k. The trailer is a 20' dual axle tag trailer. Engine temp was under 210 and the trans temp was normal. No wind really if i recall correctly. 18 wheelers were passing me just fine.

One thing that comes to mind is exhaust. Do you have an EGT gauge? The cat is reputed to failure and loading. One experiment you can do is unbolt the exhaust at the V-clamp (near turbo). Tie up the pipe to the side, or pull it off altogether. Do a 0-60 run before/after.


Also borrow a tuner. Throw a 90 HP tune (program) on it and see what happens. You might just have a low HP flash for some reason.

One thing that comes to mind is exhaust. Do you have an EGT gauge? The cat is reputed to failure and loading. One experiment you can do is unbolt the exhaust at the V-clamp (near turbo). Tie up the pipe to the side, or pull it off altogether. Do a 0-60 run before/after.


Also borrow a tuner. Throw a 90 HP tune (program) on it and see what happens. You might just have a low HP flash for some reason.

I'm curious to know about this "low HP flash". When you say the "cat is repute to failure and loading" what do you mean? are you referring to a catalytic converter?? Because mine is an LB7.

Ooops, sorry if you have no cat. Mufflers have been known to create some back pressure though.

It's probably not a flash issue then either.

What is the highest tranny temps you saw?

Ooops, sorry if you have no cat. Mufflers have been known to create some back pressure though.

It's probably not a flash issue then either.

What is the highest tranny temps you saw?

Never over 200. So this flash thing is just LLYs? I do recall reading something about some 30k(?) mile service that is expensive and the dealer does and at the same time unleashes more power.

Never over 200. So this flash thing is just LLYs? I do recall reading something about some 30k(?) mile service that is expensive and the dealer does and at the same time unleashes more power.

someone else might be more familiar with that. But like I said, throw an edge on there, and see if the problem disappears. I have a feeling you will like it a lot.

I have an lb7 used one sitting in a box. If you were near me, you could try it out.

If you do try a chip keep it on the lower settings. The 90 HP will heat things up fast towing 10K. Later! Frank