Diesel Power

[billr]

I found out how much power the Cummins engine has 'stock'! I won't say I'm proud of what happened but it did happen. I hooked up the fifth wheel to take to the dealer for some work on the air conditioner. It is a 33 foot Cardinal and the GCWR is pretty close to the limit of 20,000 pounds. When I pulled out of the driveway the cable to the safety disconnect switch, evidently, got jammed under part of the fifth wheel hitch and it pulled the pin. That locked up the trailer brakes and I pulled it 4 miles before I saw the smoke coming from under the trailer. I shut it down, reconnected the pin and went on to the dealer. The engine did not even strain nor did the rear wheels slip.



I have the 2002 HO with 6-speed manual transmission. No power modifications made yet.

 

[LSMITH]

WOW!!!:--) Talk about pulling power!!

 

[dan_gilson]

This happens to the big rigs too. The hit the brakes hard and then they do not retract and go down the highway with an axle locked up.



I have not see it where they were all locked up though. Wow!



You probably would have noticed it if you came to a stop and then tried to start out again.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I've had a similar problem with our 5er, when backing UPhill into a space on pavement, and the lanyard on the trailer E-brake got caught and pulled out - it seemed harder than usual to move the trailer in reverse, so I got out to see what was going on - and saw I had been sliding all 4 trailer wheels uphill for about 20 feet...



Several times when starting out aggressively from a side road onto a busy street or freeway, I have had the rear wheels break loose on the truck from the power - my hitch weight is about 1000 lbs, and with a fuel/tool box and other stuff over the rear wheels, that's close to 2000 lbs - pretty impressive power!