Exhaust brake on 2004.5?

[Larv]

We just purchased our 2004. 5 QC yesterday with a 6 sp manual and 3. 73 gears. We tow a 7k trlr (empty) in the west, primarily in WY, MY, and ID and are planning a trip to AK in 2005. The salesman felt with the manual transmission we wouldn't need the exhaust brake. I'm not convinced he's right but would like some input from you guys who have more experience than I do. I still like the idea of an exhaust brake!



We traded in a '99 DC that we couldn't keep brakes on. We were looking at our 5th brake job since '99 ( two on the rears and this would have been the third on the fronts). Plus the towing mileage was crappy, not what I expected at all. It was an a/t with 3. 54's. (On our 7 wk trip to So. TX we averaged 9. 2 mpg towing).



Thanks in advance!!



Larv:

 

[GerryDrake]

Exhaust brake

We got our 2003 in NC in September when our Stoker stroked its 4th transmission, and had 1400 miles on it before we towed. I took it just like it was on the dealer's lot, except for having them install the Jacobs/Mopar exhaust brake and the fifth wheel hitch. We are now back in the Seattle area (14K now) with our trailer that weighs in at about 13K on the road, and feel the exhaust brake is an absolute necessity when towing. It undoubtedly saves greatly on the brakes of both the truck and the trailer, and gives such a sense of security when you have that added braking. There were many instances where the downhill was slight enough that a bit of toggling of the exhaust brake was all that was needed, and a few where the exhaust brake AND the foot brakes were necessary. I highly recommend getting it, and if you get the one from Dodge, it is UNDER warranty as opposed to possibly having them VOID your warranty, justified or not.



Driving SOLO, it is really nice too, drifting up to stop lights and coming down the end of an off ramp... .



Get it. . you'll love it...



Gerry

 

[DE Jeeper]

Got a Jake on my '03, 6 spd. I pull a trailer ever other weekend into the Pocanos with 7-10k on it. The Jake adds a huge sence of security on the down grades. Get one it is worth every penny.



BTW, my HO is getting 12-13 with about 10k on the back. I just picked up a goosneck to haul my toys this year. I can't wait to get it on the road.



Also, I have 35k on the truck and at least 50% pad on the front. I am proud to say i burned up 2 tires before I needed brakes and run the Jake all time (with or without trailer).

 

[Sarge]

I had a Jake on my 01' and liked it a lot. My 5ver is 11K+ and I would not tow without one. However, I opted for a PacBrake on the 04. 5 instead of the Jake. The main difference is that the Jake adds an air pump to the motor, and requires a longer fan belt to make it work. The Pac uses a seperate small air compressor, and adds no additional drag to the engine. Both the Jake and the Pac hook into the ECM on the Cummins to control the brake, so there will be no warranty issues. And the Pac is significantly less $. Just my . 02, but which ever you choose, GET ONE! Sarge

 

[Larv]

>>>>>>So, Sarge, does the Jake air pump rob you of any power? Larv

 

[LPChristensen]

The Jacobs/Cummins exhaust brake is a great item to have on any truck hauling a heavy load or pulling a load, especially in the mountains. I will never have a heavy duty truck again without an exhaust brake. As an added benefit, put a straight through exhaust system, such as the one in my signature, and then come down a slop with with the brake on, boy does it make a nice sound.

 

[SRadke]

The advantage to the Pac (besides the price) is the electric compressor. If it were to fail you would still have all the vital parts of the vehicle. It's not the power robbing effect of the Jake it's adding one more possibility for error into a very important belt. If you havn't gottten the hint yet from the others, BUY ONE you will not regret it. Anybody pulling a trailer should be required to have one IMO.



-Scott

 

[Dean Upson]

I have had the Jacobs e-brake on my last 2 trucks and they have been awesome. I tow heavy and would not leave home without it. The Jacobs product comes under the Cummins/DC warranty.

I do not think that you absolutely need an ebrake with the weight you tow, but you would certainly never regret putting one on.



Dean

 

[CoastyAV8R]

Speaking from experience, a 7000 lbs trailer is heavy enough to validate having an exhaust brake, especially out west where you live. I was towing one that heavy down a pass and started out a little too fast and by the bottom of the hill I literally had no brakes on either the truck or the trailer. An experience like that will make the cost of the E brake seem like a great deal. Even though it was my own fault, it's always nice to have fresh brakes when towing and the E brake gives that extra safety factor. Just my opinion and you know what they say about that...

 

[Sarge]

No, the Jake does not rob power. The question is, is it an added drag on the motor? The answer is absolutely. Is it noticable? Probably not. I just didn't like adding another mechanical item for the fan belt to have to spin. I am sure that it is a quality unit. It comes down to preference, and if you are in the market for one, be INFORMED before you buy. After all, that is what this site is for, right?? Sarge

 

[Larv]

Does the Jacobs (or any other) come with an "on/off" switch so you can disable it if you wish? I asked my salesman and he didn't know. Larv

 

[amsoilman]

Larv,

Yes the Jacob's as well as others I have been around have on/off switches. I have the 6-speed with the Jacob's brake,and the on/off switch is mounted on the shifter.



One of the best investments I have made for my truck!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[SRadke]

The Pac comes standard with a switch that you mount somewhere (usually the dash) and it is an on/off. In the "on" position the brake is activated only when the ECM reads the engine to be at zero throttle and "off" equals off. If you want another switch like on the shifter or on the floor like mine it can easily be added.



-Scott

 

[favord]

I think I'm gonna remove the U. S. Gear off my 98. 5 and slide it right in where the cat is/was on the 04. 5.

 

[Fred Swanson]

Look beyond just towing

If you want the benefit of longer lasting brakes, get the e-brake.

It will add considerably to the life of your truck brakes, and more than offset the cost of the initial e-brake purchase, if you own the truck for any length of time.