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exaust brakes

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Guns in trailer through Canada to Alaska??

hotshot guys- real mileage gains by slowing down???

You can get an exhaust brake for your 05 auto. Pacbrake and Jacobs offers ones for the autos. I have a 6sp. with a Pacbrake and really like it. I do not have the new pacbrake PRXB. The PRXB is a variable rate exhaust brake that works better in the lower RPM's. you can check out their site at www.pacbrake.com. Jacobs also offers a brake for the auto's as well... . hope this help... happy shopping!!
 
15k seems like a lot to tow w/o an exhaust brake, especially if you are towing regularily. I thought Dodge recommended an E brake if you towed above 10k. I've got a Jacobs on my 6 speed, and I love it. If you get one, you will wonder why you waited so long! :) I went with the Jacobs because it did not effect my warranty. Might be something you want to look into. :confused:
 
Foil Freak 1211 said:
15k seems like a lot to tow w/o an exhaust brake, especially if you are towing regularily. I thought Dodge recommended an E brake if you towed above 10k. I've got a Jacobs on my 6 speed, and I love it. If you get one, you will wonder why you waited so long! :) I went with the Jacobs because it did not effect my warranty. Might be something you want to look into. :confused:



I thought the only brake that Dodge approved was the Jacob. Also... I'm not convinced that this mod is "essential" for a manual transmission. If I was towing in the Rockies on a regular basis I might feel differently but I've never felt the need for one while towing my 12K 5th wheel throughout WA, OR, and ID... ;)
 
klenger said:
Dodge does not recommend or support an exhaust brake on any truck with an auto before 2006.





However it can be done, but you need a controller to keep the torque converter locked when you let off the go pedel. It would also be to your advantage to upgrade to a better T/Q & valve body. If you do all this dodge will not cover certain parts under warranty. I did this to the 01 that I had & never had any issues with it.



As far as needing an exhaust brake, once you have one you'll never want to be without one again. I've been a truck driver for 31 yrs & haul up & down mountains everyday. It sure saves on brakes & gives you a better chance of having plenty of braking power incase of an emergency stop.
 
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My Dodge dealer just installed the BD Ebrake with TowLoc the other day. I am pleased with the result. I pull 17000+. I like the control the TowLoc system provides. The install takes several hours. The end result is worth the wait!
 
Thanks to CBrittan positive results,

I just ordered BD E-Brake and TowLoc System. I too pull around 15K, plus my wife has no problems towing our 5th wheel. I do get a little nervous when she's going down a long steep grade...

Silly me believing my salesman when he said, "No problem upgrading the 05 with the E-Brakes once the 06 comes out, the 06 E-Brakes will be an option with the Automatics"
 
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Had our dealer install the factory approved Jake Brake on our '06, and really love the way it slows us down with our 17k horse trailer. Saves the vehicles brakes for when you really need them. My opinion only, but the folks that say you don't need an e-brake have not driven a loaded truck with one.
 
The variable deal is reaaaaalllly nice, my USGEAR Superduty brake has that (the first I think to offer it)- makes a big diference vs std especially on gen 3 trucks which have proven to be less effective with normal ex brakes (had both myself) due to cam changes (so I'm told on the cam change reason).



for those that don't think they need them- they either live in pretty flat areas or don't realize how hard they are pushing theri service brakes. Once you have a good one you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.
 
My dealer's location is in what I call a 'flatlander' area, when I asked about the e-brake and the 6 speed, they were pretty closed to the subject of needing one. I tow draft horses and when I have 4-up they alone weigh about 12K, then add the trailer weight and that IS quite a good-sized tow. I have started reading about them, and since my truck is new and still under warranty, I am not sure if I wasn the 'only one approved by Dodge'. Having said that, is there a way to get around their 'control' of your add-ons? This warranty stuff is just gestapo like, and I think that we should be able to install something like this as an added 'safety' measure without being constantly penalized by our choices. I would like to see more information about these units being compared/contrasted and would appreciate feedback. When you look them up on the net the only information available is a pic of the unit itself. I would like to also see what the interior install looks like on the shifter, anyone with a pic or 2?



CD
 
I have had six US Gear units on different trucks and sell them too. All you have inside to look at is a small 1"x1. 5"x 1/4" box with an led and a button to arm the system. Mine is on the dash, you could put it anywhere you like ar use a different switch like the nice $50 switch Geno's offers that goes in the shift knob (not sure if then G56 has a hollow shift stem though).



with the six speed simplicity, I can't see any viable issue any dealer could have about any of the brakes- with the automatics, you might want to make sure the transmission interface is worthy or approved.



I've run loaded to 20k+ and can run without the service breaks running down 40 dropping to albequerque (how do you spell that anyway??) and similar up into Durango/Silverton etc.
 
Cummings said:
... My opinion only, but the folks that say you don't need an e-brake have not driven a loaded truck with one.



If I was overloading my truck, had an automatic, or lived in the rockies, I'd consider it, but it just isn't worth the time, cost, and trouble to install an "E" brake on a 6 speed when the above doesn't apply... Just completed my round trip from the Seattle area to Spokane towing my 11-12K fifth wheel There was not a single time, while crossing the Cascade Range, that I sat there and said . . "I sure wish I had an "E" brake... . JMHO... ;)
 
RJOL - I live in the Sacramento mountains, which are part of the Rocky Mt chain, lots of ups and downs and steep grades, my consideration is about those and the fact that it would greatly extend the life of my service brakes on both the truck and trailer. I am not one to overload my truck, to me that is just plain crazy, but I can come close to it with my 6-horse or my flatbed loaded with equipment.



Rockcrawler - I do not know if my shifter is hollow or not, but then, it does not really make a difference if something is run up the outside if installed tastefully, it's about the function of what is being added in my book. Can you give me a link to the US Gear information? I would appreciate it.



CD
 
CDonaldson said:
My dealer's location is in what I call a 'flatlander' area, when I asked about the e-brake and the 6 speed, they were pretty closed to the subject of needing one. I tow draft horses and when I have 4-up they alone weigh about 12K, then add the trailer weight and that IS quite a good-sized tow. I have started reading about them, and since my truck is new and still under warranty, I am not sure if I wasn the 'only one approved by Dodge'. Having said that, is there a way to get around their 'control' of your add-ons? This warranty stuff is just gestapo like, and I think that we should be able to install something like this as an added 'safety' measure without being constantly penalized by our choices. I would like to see more information about these units being compared/contrasted and would appreciate feedback. When you look them up on the net the only information available is a pic of the unit itself. I would like to also see what the interior install looks like on the shifter, anyone with a pic or 2?



CD



cd there is no problem with warranty to put an exhaust brake on your truck. If you have a dealer instal the jacobs exhaust brake it will even be warrantied by the dealer. If you instal another brand than the warranty of the brake will be covered by the vendor.
 
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