Exhaust Brakes vs. Trailer Brakes

[JBiltz]

Hello CTD owners



Just wanting some imput and ideas here. I'm thinking about getting a jake brake or something similar for my ram. Although when I'm towing my horse trailer around, i have nooo problems what so ever getting it stopped. Those huge rotors on these new dodges really are a huge bonus from previous ram trucks. I understand that a e brake will save the brakes some, but doesn't a e brake controller for trailer brakes work the same. Can you use both while descending downhill... . Meaning, on the brakes and engaging the exhaust brake. I don't know much about these and not sure it they even offer it for my truck... . Thanks

 

[Big MAK]

Just my opinion; but the e-brake is only really needed for mountain driving unless you're always towing and always towing heavy. But for mountain driving... DEFINITELY get one. Warped the heck out of the rotors on my first Ram. I've never taken a trip through the mountains towing w/o an e-Brake since.



Although... . it's handy to help warm up the truck in the winter and I would occasionally turn it on just to listen to it... but then I'm a fanatic.



Don't have one in my '03 yet. Now that I sold the Camaro maybe I'll have a couple bucks left at the end of the month for some BOMBS

 

[Dean Upson]

I tow a fairly heavy trailer (15K or so) and have a Jacobs brake and wouldn't leave home without it regardless of the type of terrain I would be driving through. I have had an exhaust brake on my trucks since '98. I wouldn't put one on if I was towing a trailer less than 10K, unless, as Mac said, you are doing a bunch of mountain driving. The e-brake sure makes a difference with the wear on your service brakes, too. All of your brakes are working (trailer, ehaust and service brakes) when you step on the brake pedal, you will not need to apply the service or trailer brakes nearly as much with the exhaust brake.



Dean

 

[JBiltz]

question

I thought the jake brake kicked on or engaged when you let off the accelerator pedal..... and not necessarily pushing the brake pedal... .

 

[Dean Upson]

That is correct, but your foot would be off the accelerator when applying the service brakes, thus the ebrake would be engaged. The trailer brakes would come on when you applied the service brakes. The e-brake and service brakes work independantly or together as needed, the trailer brakes work with the service brakes or independantly, but have nothing directly to do with the exhaust brake, although some trailer brakes are proportional and the ebrake would have some effect on those (I think).



Dean

 

[y-knot]

I am not sure of your question? If you are wanting to know should you have electric trailer brakes, or a exhaust brake of the truck, when my answer would be to have the electric brake controler for the trailer brakes. This is not only very important for stopping and control over the trailer. But in most states it is the law. Now if you have that issue taken care of, and would like to add an engine exhaust brake to help with the braking loads, then Yes by all means get one. They are great and will aid in that department.

 

[Big MAK]

Good point y-knot. Maybe we weren't answering the question. The ebrake and associated controller is completely seperate from the trailer brake and it's controller. If your trailer is over 2 or 3 thousand pounds then it should have it's own brakes and associated controller in your truck. An exhaust brake is added stopping power and less wear and tear on the truck and trailer brakes; but in now way 'replaces' or decreases the need for trailer brakes. The trailer brakes are totally mandatory once you're over a few thousand pounds.



I think I'll copy this over to Towing and RVing forum for generalized ebrake and towing info.

 

[merryman]

Its not just a matter of whether your truck service brakes and trailer brakes can stop you!!



An experience of mine will illustrate my point.



We were going down the west side of the Willamette Pass, which is many miles of mostly 6% grade, grossing about 18K. I had the exhaust brake engaged and in a gear that was holding me at about 50ph.

It was a real easy trip down untill we came around a curve just as a road grader pulled out onto the highway just ahead of us.

The highway there was strictly two lane with a steep embankment on the right, a line of oncoming traffic in the other lane and a very deep canyon on the left of the highway.

My choices were plow into the hill, take other traffic head on, go into the canyon, hit the grader in the rear or slow enough to match the grader speed of about 15 MPH.

By having service brakes on the truck and trailer that were not at all hot, I was able to match the grader's speed with no more than 10 feet between us.

Had my service brakes been hot from holding speed in check for the prior 10 miles or more, I really do not think I could have slowed enough.

And sure, under anything but that sort of emergency, my truck and trailer brakes would have done fine; somehow, I have trouble planning my surprise emergencies.



Vaughn

 

[DHayden]

I dont tow all that much but the BD exhaust brake is the best mod I have on my truck. I have a shifter mounted controller and I use it whether loaded or not. Saves my brakes (and sounds cool ). It definately saved our butts the first trip we used it, truck would probly still be sitting in a Colorado canyon.

 

[JBiltz]

mountains

I see that alot of the guys that have posted here are out west. Here in the midwest where i'm at, we don't have the mountains and i don't think that rolling hills are quite as bad..... I'm still debating. . I was told today though by a dodge dealer that they don't make the exhaust brake for the 2500 that is a 4x4..... I don't know why that would be any different than any other ram... . who knows.....

 

[Mad Bomber]

Ex brake

The Ex brake works great I have the B-D. Saves the brakes and I even have to turn it off when going down hills because it works too good and slows me down to much

 

[Mad Bomber]

Re: mountains

Originally posted by JBiltz

I see that alot of the guys that have posted here are out west. Here in the midwest where i'm at, we don't have the mountains and i don't think that rolling hills are quite as bad..... I'm still debating. . I was told today though by a dodge dealer that they don't make the exhaust brake for the 2500 that is a 4x4..... I don't know why that would be any different than any other ram... . who knows.....

Sounds like the dealer does not want to sell you one. Go www.piersdiesel.com he'll get you one.



BTW you DO HAVE A STICK NOT A AUTO RIGHT. If you have a auto you need to have the transmission built to work with a EX-Brake.

 

[JBiltz]

truck

I have a reg cab. 2500 4x4 ho cummins with 6speed and 3. 73 gears... .

 

[Mad Bomber]

Re: truck

Originally posted by JBiltz

I have a reg cab. 2500 4x4 ho cummins with 6speed and 3. 73 gears... .

That's a great combo I wish I had the 3. 73 gears. I have the 3. 53.

 

[Dean Upson]

Re: mountains

Originally posted by JBiltz

I was told today though by a dodge dealer that they don't make the exhaust brake for the 2500 that is a 4x4..... I don't know why that would be any different than any other ram... . who knows.....

I think that is nonsense. I would definetely go to another dealer.



Dean

 

[amsoilman]

I have had E-Brakes on my last two CTD trucks. The first one was a 94" model with the BD E-brake. Front brakes didn't need replacing until 70,000, rear were replaced at 125,000. My newest CTD is a 2003 with the "Jacobs" E-Brake, and I do love the way it works,... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Just remember to keep the RPM's up at least 2000 R's to get good results.



As merryman said, the E-Brake will keep the service brakes cool so when you do need them, they will work!



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[ralbert]

e-brake

I just returned from 13,000 mile trip to Alaska and I am very pleased that I had inatalled my old 3 1/2 " US GEAR brake that I had in my old 92 Ford. I read alot about high transmission temps but I never saw the temp get above 170 using the brake and sometimes in 2nd do to the severity of the decent. Truck worked great at 12,500 lbs. The brakes on our Dodges are good but I think the addition of a e-brake is a smart investment.

 

[Turbo Horseman]

The exhaust brake will save your trailer and truck brakes. Having both the exhaust and the trailer brakes is the only way to go imo.

 

[RHamner]

We had a 94CTD 5 speed and towed a 7000# fifth. The first front pad change was on metal at 25000. Later we had a pac brake . On the 01 we had a Jacobs installed at purchase. We now tow a 10000# fifth and I just changed pads without turning the rotors a little earlier than I needed to at 70000 mi. That E brake may have already paid for itself. I use it every time I'm slowing, towing or not, and when I go for the service brake it's cool.



I also feel that the stabilty of the rig going downhill with the exhaust B. on is much better. Like many I would not have a Diesel, and tow, without one.

 

[RMcCulloch]

Just another happy Jacobs owner chiming in to say that, if you're planning to tow, get the exhaust brake.



You won't regret it, especially the first time that you have to shut your rig down in a hurry.



I don't pull "heavy" (about 22,500 gross combined) but, even in the rolling hills [roller coaster] of Kansas' and Nebraska's backroads, I'm glad I've got mine!