Curious: Drive shaft braking (generator?) ok for autos?

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Heard rumor of a decel device that works on the driveshaft (like a generator). Seems if this is real it would help those with Automatics towing heavy loads.

Anyone know of a brand and if this is a practical item for our size vehicles??

 

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David,
I think Jacobs makes one. Very nice unit. One could be had for the low cost of about $5-6,000 big ones. .

 

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A European firm Telma makes one. See www.telma.com. I called their dealer in Elk Grove IL and they quoted me a $8,000 price installed. They are called driveline retarders. If you find an inexpensive one I would be interested as my truck has an automatic transmission and I tow a 5th wheel.

 

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looked into/inquired about same thing--- no one makes a practical one for our size truck-- #ad
could just be a break-even engineering concern-- miniaturization doesn't work for everything, and even FL60 would have trouble justifying one of the existing ones for his rig--also, where would the big amps be dumped on a decel cycle-- i don't think our charging systems would handle that very well #ad
and even if you did like Dennis G's choo-choo trains, where would you dissipate the resistance heat?