48RE + Exhaust Brake: Current Status

[jrobinson2]

Cliffman

I think this post from page 8 is the latest official update

Originally posted by Carlton Bale

No, there is still no warranty approval. The software testing is still ongoing. If all goes well, some 2004. 5 vehicles and all 2005 vehicles (with the revised transmission hardware) could receive warranty approval after a service software/calibration flash is performed. If all does progress as planned, it would be available sometime after 2005 vehicles are available in August of this year. Sorry it isn't sooner.

Jared

 

[Cliffman]

What's up with that! Dodge has dropped the ball again. Hello Duramax.

 

[ACerf]

Originally posted by Cliffman

What's up with that! Dodge has dropped the ball again. Hello Duramax.

I don't think resorting to buying a Duramax is worth it, if you have to give up the Cummins engine! My wife had a client not long ago that wished he bought a Dodge with the Cummins. His Chevy Duramax was on it third engine, since purchasing it in 2003! And as Carlton mentioned the Ford or the GM probably can not handle the E-brake as well as the Cummins. I have had my truck almost a year now, with over 12K on it. It has been back to the dealer once, to change the neutral switch. When we had Fords they spent more time at the dealer than at my house! And most of my friends that have GM's have either front-end, or electrical problems. No thanks! I will keep my Dodge, E-brake or not!

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by ACerf

I don't think resorting to buying a Duramax is worth it, if you have to give up the Cummins engine! My wife had a client not long ago that wished he bought a Dodge with the Cummins. His Chevy Duramax was on it third engine, since purchasing it in 2003! And as Carlton mentioned the Ford or the GM probably can not handle the E-brake as well as the Cummins. I have had my truck almost a year now, with over 12K on it. It has been back to the dealer once, to change the neutral switch. When we had Fords they spent more time at the dealer than at my house! And most of my friends that have GM's have either front-end, or electrical problems. No thanks! I will keep my Dodge, E-brake or not!

I gotta agree with my friend, Al . Maybe you could just get your wife to try out a six-speed. She might fall in love and sorry, butt those GM's are pure ugly



Dean

 

[ACerf]

Whats up Dean?

That is another thing I forgot about the GM's, how ugly they are!



But unless Cliffman's wife is going to tow a trailer, because he does have his 01, does she even care about the E-brake. I don't care to use them for everyday driving around town. I transport motorhomes part-time, and some of our drivers seem complied to use the E-brake for everything. For one thing I hate the sudden slow down at slower speeds ( I stopped doing that), you are not using your brake lights (have people running up my butt when I use the E-brake), and the noise is not pleasent. Every time I use the E-brake, I feel like it is taring it up!



GM also puts those tiny tires and wheels on all their trucks! Ford tried to copy the Dodge in the front... . didn't work! The Dodge interior is better, looks and build. If the trans should not be the show stopper! Dodge is just plain; Better built and better looking!

The Dodge is Meaner and Leaner! :--)

 

[Gonzo 1066]

Originally posted by ACerf

Whats up Dean?

That is another thing I forgot about the GM's, how ugly they are!



But unless Cliffman's wife is going to tow a trailer, because he does have his 01, does she even care about the E-brake. I don't care to use them for everyday driving around town. I transport motorhomes part-time, and some of our drivers seem complied to use the E-brake for everything. For one thing I hate the sudden slow down at slower speeds ( I stopped doing that), you are not using your brake lights (have people running up my butt when I use the E-brake), and the noise is not pleasent. Every time I use the E-brake, I feel like it is taring it up!



GM also puts those tiny tires and wheels on all their trucks! Ford tried to copy the Dodge in the front... . didn't work! The Dodge interior is better, looks and build. If the trans should not be the show stopper! Dodge is just plain; Better built and better looking!

The Dodge is Meaner and Leaner! :--)

I have said all along, that the design team for the new Chevy trucks must have consisted of a classroom of 8th grade boys, high on crack cocane. Each of them with a hatchet.

 

[APrice]

Exhaust Brake

I am very new with the Cummins diesel dodge. I picked it up in November. I have been watching the conversations very carefully about the exhaust brake because I was determined that I needed one.

I climbed under the truck the other day and was amazed at the size of the brakes. Do the trucks handle OK on hills with 23000 lbs. combined or do they present a danger. I would think you could buy a lot of brakes and rotors. For the price of a transmission and and exhaust brake.

Pretty soon I will be able to test this Rig with a 3280 Montana behind it.

 

[DF5152]

its just one more thing to slow u down if your brakes fade to the point where they dont work and your still traveling down hill it wont make any difference how much money u saved will it?

 

[Matt400]

Originally posted by DF5152

its just one more thing to slow u down if your brakes fade to the point where they dont work

I think if you can manage to fade the new brakes that bad you are either hauling too much weight for a pick up, the trailer brakes are not doing their job or your just on em too much.

 

[amsoilman]

APrice



My last two trucks have had an exhaust brake, and I can tell you they are worth the money. My last truck rear brakes went to 129,000 miles without replacement, and the fronts went to 70,000 miles before I had to replace the pads.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[RMcCulloch]

Re: Exhaust Brake

Originally posted by APrice

I am very new with the Cummins diesel dodge. I picked it up in November. I have been watching the conversations very carefully about the exhaust brake because I was determined that I needed one.

I climbed under the truck the other day and was amazed at the size of the brakes. Do the trucks handle OK on hills with 23000 lbs. combined or do they present a danger. I would think you could buy a lot of brakes and rotors. For the price of a transmission and and exhaust brake.

Pretty soon I will be able to test this Rig with a 3280 Montana behind it.

APrice,



Yes, they handle very well on hills at 23K combined - or, at least, mine does - both up and down hill.



BTW, If you check my sig, you'll see that I'm pulling a 3655FL Montana.

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by APrice

I am very new with the Cummins diesel dodge. I picked it up in November. I have been watching the conversations very carefully about the exhaust brake because I was determined that I needed one.

I climbed under the truck the other day and was amazed at the size of the brakes. Do the trucks handle OK on hills with 23000 lbs. combined or do they present a danger. I would think you could buy a lot of brakes and rotors. For the price of a transmission and and exhaust brake.

Pretty soon I will be able to test this Rig with a 3280 Montana behind it.

I haul a 15k trailer. I would not pull it without the e brake. The G3's brakes are a vast improvement over the previous years, but there is no comparison with or without the ebrake. I have had one on my trucks since 98 and I don't leave home without it.



Dean

 

[ACerf]

Originally posted by APrice

I am very new with the Cummins diesel dodge. I picked it up in November. I have been watching the conversations very carefully about the exhaust brake because I was determined that I needed one.

I climbed under the truck the other day and was amazed at the size of the brakes. Do the trucks handle OK on hills with 23000 lbs. combined or do they present a danger. I would think you could buy a lot of brakes and rotors. For the price of a transmission and and exhaust brake.

Pretty soon I will be able to test this Rig with a 3280 Montana behind it.

I have a 11,000lb Holiday Rambler. When going down steep grades I turn off the O/D. If you start at the top of grade slow, I have found that I do not pickuo that much speed at the bottom. I apply the brakes to slow me down 5 mph, let the rig gain the speed back, and repeat step one. Brakes do not fade, and do not get hot! I have the Brake-Guard on my truck which makes this process much easier, and less heat build up.

 

[thejeepdude]

OK, so I'm about to order a new 04. 5... will I have the updated hardware in my 48RE for th exhaust brake, even if the software comes out later and has to be flashed? Should I just wait until '05 models roll out?

 

[RMcCulloch]

Originally posted by thejeepdude

OK, so I'm about to order a new 04. 5... will I have the updated hardware in my 48RE for th exhaust brake, even if the software comes out later and has to be flashed? Should I just wait until '05 models roll out?

If I were you (I'm not, of course) I'd wait for the '05 unless there was some overriding reason not to.

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by RMcCulloch

If I were you (I'm not, of course) I'd wait for the '05 unless there was some overriding reason not to.

The overriding reason is that I sold my '99 and have a boat, 2 quads, and a Jeep to tow around and nothing to tow them with! I wouldn't mind waiting for '05 if I thought there was a good chance of something important coming out that I might otherwise be missing, but I'd be sacrificing a lot of camping trips and fun over the summer unless I could find trucks to borrow. At this point the only thing I can think of that warrants a '05 over a '04. 5 is the possibility of EB approval on the 48RE. However, I'll probably end up having DTT massage the transmission anyways, so maybe the EB approal is a non-issue... it just would be nice to have some time to save $$ for the DTT work and not have to do it right away.

 

[geusterman]

Jeepdude... . don't worry about the e brake for your loads. Buy your truck. By the time you are bombing that baby you will be working up a new transmission anyway and can get your ebrake then. I don't think you will ever need one! george (with new 04. 5)

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by geusterman

Jeepdude... . don't worry about the e brake for your loads. Buy your truck. By the time you are bombing that baby you will be working up a new transmission anyway and can get your ebrake then. I don't think you will ever need one! george (with new 04. 5)

It doesn't matter if I NEED one, I WANT one. And, btw, my enclosed car hauler loaded up with the Jeep and 2 quads is pushin 10K or so... the EB would make the frequent mountain passes more enjoyable.

 

[geusterman]

I tow 10K myself in the NW and it is just fine in Tow mode. I would have to haul a lot more to want an ebrake and I have had diesel motorhomes with the brake, but all over 35K. Get your truck and work it out as you go. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING THAT AIN'T RIGHT no matter how long you wait or how good you plan. Right? George

 

[thejeepdude]

Originally posted by geusterman

I tow 10K myself in the NW and it is just fine in Tow mode. I would have to haul a lot more to want an ebrake and I have had diesel motorhomes with the brake, but all over 35K. Get your truck and work it out as you go. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMETHING THAT AIN'T RIGHT no matter how long you wait or how good you plan. Right? George

I agree that it's quite possible to tow 10K just about anywhere without an exhaust brake. I've been doing it for a while. That doesn't change the fact that it would be much more enjoyable and easier on on the pads and rotors to have one. Even if I end up with a non-EB certified truck, it'll still have an EB on it eventually, one way or another... it would just be nice to hear from DC that they'll back me up if I have issues.