ZF Powerline for 2025 RAM HD Diesel

[Diesel85]

One of the thing I hate about the Ford trucks is the lack of exhaust brake options.

I like it on my Cummins work truck with the Off/On/Auto modes.

I do wish for the On mode, it had a "high" and "low" option. But can't be greedy I guess.

When it is turned on, the exhaust brake is amazing. For someone who has driven stick for 90% of their life, it actually feels like I'm driving a stick. I let off on the fuel pedal and my vehicle slows down. Just the way it should be for safety.

I've never liked the idea of coasting with automatic transmissions to begin with.

 

[AH64ID]

One of the thing I hate about the Ford trucks is the lack of exhaust brake options.

The 6.7 powerstorke has an exhaust brake button with the same basic modes as the Ram 6.7, and has for a while. I can’t recall if it appeared in 2015 or 2017.

It’s just a lackluster exhaust brake, so still really nothing to write home about.

 

[Diesel85]

The 6.7 powerstorke has an exhaust brake button with the same basic modes as the Ram 6.7, and has for a while. I can’t recall if it appeared in 2015 or 2017.

It’s just a lackluster exhaust brake, so still really nothing to write home about.

I know that. It's just that the RAM has the Off/On/Auto modes. Ford has always has Off/On and up until recently, it used to get reset when you turned the truck off. Kind of like they didn't want you using it.

 

[AH64ID]

I know that. It's just that the RAM has the Off/On/Auto modes. Ford has always has Off/On and up until recently, it used to get reset when you turned the truck off. Kind of like they didn't want you using it.

My brothers 2017 also has auto, when Ford got the switch it started with On/Off/Auto, just like a 13+ Ram.

Ram pickups also turn the EB off when guy turn the truck off (most the time, still haven’t figured out the rational behind when it stays on). Only the C&C’s have EB memory.

 

[Diesel85]

My brothers 2017 also has auto, when Ford got the switch it started with On/Off/Auto, just like a 13+ Ram.

Ram pickups also turn the EB off when guy turn the truck off (most the time, still haven’t figured out the rational behind when it stays on). Only the C&C’s have EB memory.

That's odd, because my work 2020 3500, if you leave it to On or Auto it stays there.

Not sure if I've encountered it turning off or when it happened.

 

[AH64ID]

That's odd, because my work 2020 3500, if you leave it to On or Auto it stays there.

Not sure if I've encountered it turning off or when it happened.

Is it a P/U or C&C?

Without a trailer hooked up mine never remembers. With a trailer hooked up it remembers, sometimes.

 

[Diesel85]

Is it a P/U or C&C?

Without a trailer hooked up mine never remembers. With a trailer hooked up it remembers, sometimes.

Oh, I know why now... a while ago I bought a cheap chinese rechargeable LED light that I have plugged into the 7 pin receptacle off eBay. It uses the trailer brake wiring to charge the small battery. So when I'm not pulling the trailer (which is rare), I plug that in. I can unplug it and use it as a torch, and it acts as a very broad reversing light.

 

[bcbender]

That's odd, because my work 2020 3500, if you leave it to On or Auto it stays there.

Mine only remembers and stays on when I have a trailer in TOW, so very likely that is the algorithm, or the intent at least. I suppose if you keep something in the plug all the time then the truck will think it is towing all the time, but then that puts you in sever service mode for sure.

 

[Diesel85]

I got the work truck at my house right now, and I went out and pulled the trailer plug and started it. Yep, engine brake confirmed OFF.

I betcha when it was going off all those times I didn't have a trailer or that light plugged in I probably thought I was going crazy. LOL

 

[AH64ID]

I got the work truck at my house right now, and I went out and pulled the trailer plug and started it. Yep, engine brake confirmed OFF.

I betcha when it was going off all those times I didn't have a trailer or that light plugged in I probably thought I was going crazy. LOL

Is it plugged into the bed or bumper plug?

The trucks use the brake circuit to know a trailer is attached, so that’s still kinda odd IMO.

 

[Topzide]

@AH64ID, It was probably seeing the battery load, thinking it was a break-away battery for the trailer. That would be the only explanation for the circuit staying on when truck was turned off. Could be a nice hack for those of us that are outside of factory warranties! That way, we know that we're not in severe service which the dealership would see when they hook up the computer.

 

[Diesel85]

Is it plugged into the bed or bumper plug?

The trucks use the brake circuit to know a trailer is attached, so that’s still kinda odd IMO.

It's plugged into the 7 pin socket where the trailer would plug in to.

I got it several years ago from eBay. It is suppose to flash, but it only flashes SOS, not a strobe. I was hoping I could've used it as a mini-strobe for certain applications.

Still a neat little light and for the measly $15 bucks I paid for it, I'm surprised it still works great!

Without taking the light apart, I have no clue how it's wired. Which I'm not going to do till it's broke.

 

[AH64ID]

@AH64ID, It was probably seeing the battery load, thinking it was a break-away battery for the trailer. That would be the only explanation for the circuit staying on when truck was turned off. Could be a nice hack for those of us that are outside of factory warranties! That way, we know that we're not in severe service which the dealership would see when they hook up the computer.

Possible, but even that doesn’t have an ammeter on it. The brake controller does measure resistance. It’s easy enough to test thou.

I was excited the ‘22 has a trailer brake option that includes none, but it doesn’t register trailers without brakes so it’s a non-sensical position. Ford uses resistance on the light circuit, which makes a lot more sense. Ram would “have” to include “trailer” options for slide-in and pop up slide-in.

Problem with “severe” service is that it’s defined anything other than frequent.

By Rams definition I could have a slide-in camper in 24/7 and never tow, so it won’t meet the owners manual “frequent towing” statement. If the truck counts trailer mileage off batteries it would look like a trailer.

It's plugged into the 7 pin socket where the trailer would plug in to.

I got it several years ago from eBay. It is suppose to flash, but it only flashes SOS, not a strobe. I was hoping I could've used it as a mini-strobe for certain applications.

Still a neat little light and for the measly $15 bucks I paid for it, I'm surprised it still works great!

Without taking the light apart, I have no clue how it's wired. Which I'm not going to do till it's broke.

Sounds like the bumper 7-pin. Does the truck have the 5th wheel prep?

I’ve never noticed my EB staying on thru a power cycle with the bumper plug, on the the 5th wheel plug.

 

[bcbender]

I’ve never noticed my EB staying on thru a power cycle with the bumper plug, on the the 5th wheel plug.

I'll report back, I have my Dump hooked up on the bumper now.. I think it is same, but I did NOT have 5er prep so I think its a piggy back of the same circuit, gives me something to look at tonight with a beverage...

 

[Diesel85]

Possible, but even that doesn’t have an ammeter on it. The brake controller does measure resistance. It’s easy enough to test thou.

I was excited the ‘22 has a trailer brake option that includes none, but it doesn’t register trailers without brakes so it’s a non-sensical position. Ford uses resistance on the light circuit, which makes a lot more sense. Ram would “have” to include “trailer” options for slide-in and pop up slide-in.

Problem with “severe” service is that it’s defined anything other than frequent.

By Rams definition I could have a slide-in camper in 24/7 and never tow, so it won’t meet the owners manual “frequent towing” statement. If the truck counts trailer mileage off batteries it would look like a trailer.



Sounds like the bumper 7-pin. Does the truck have the 5th wheel prep?

I’ve never noticed my EB staying on thru a power cycle with the bumper plug, on the the 5th wheel plug.

Yes, the truck has the 5th wheel prep package too. I use the bumper 7-pin to keep it plugged in.

 

[Diesel85]

Diesel Army is now talking about it...

https://www.dieselarmy.com/news/eight-speed-transmission-ram-hd-trucks/

I hope the TDR can get us folks more information too.

 

[AH64ID]

It’s all pretty generic at this point. More info is needed.

All I’ve seen is the 68RFE is being replaced, but I highly doubt that Ram stays with 2 trans in the pickup when the ZF is a MD trans.

 

[bcbender]

Fired up the truck in the shop, set EB and TH mode to on, cycled trans..(Did not move though). Shut down, Restarted and EB / TH did NOT remain on. Idk if I need to drive or not, I will be going after stone next week so I will check then if it remains on or not. I know EB stays on when I tow my 5er and GN, but they are both GN style and plug into the bed plug, so at this point I cannot confirm or deny the logic........ Stay tuned.

 

[bcbender]

I'll report back, I have my Dump hooked up on the bumper now.. I think it is same, but I did NOT have 5er prep so I think its a piggy back of the same circuit, gives me something to look at tonight with a beverage...

When and got a load of boulders today, stopped at Lowes and the super market, every time I shut the truck off and restarted it, the EB stayed ON. ( of course you have to hit TH sw every time) . I will say that it does not immediately come on, it illuminates "after" the trailer type splash page pops up and the truck has checked and knows there is a trailer back there... Possibly if one is not waiting a few seconds they would miss it and think it did not reset to ON. Anyhow that was on a tag trailer so seems both trailer plugs will keep the EB ON if was ON when shut down and the trailer is still plugged in on startup.

 

[Cummins12V98]

5er bed plug or boat on bumper plug my EB comes on every time.