Help me settle an exhaust brake argument.

[azcummins]

Here is the deal:



My buddy is about to buy a 36' 5er RV. It weights in @ 11000#. He claims an exhaust brake is a waste of $$. Says if your trailer brakes are set up right, then you don't need it.



I disagree. I say sure you can set up your brakes right, but you can't ride them for 5,10,20 min like some of the grades here in Colorado require.



BTW... he is pulling with a Ford PS shortbed F250. Don't start on the truck argument... I've already been there...

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Getting the brakes hot is bad, as you noted. Another thing, if the fuse blows, you have no electric trailer brakes. On the Dodge (dunno about Drof), if a trailer light shorts and blows the fuse on the truck, the trailer brakes won't work. They are on the same fuse. Now try going down that mountain without trailer brakes!

 

[Extreme1]

Show this to your buddy.

 

[Deezul1]

I have twice almost rearended some fool who cut in front of me and slammed on the brakes and without the exhaust brake there is no way I would have been able to stop in time. Also I have towed a lot in the mountains and rarely use the foot brake as the exhaust brake does almost all the braking needed. Ask anyone who has one and they will tell you its some of the best money they spent on the truck.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

My thought is this... ... With the prices having become pretty reasonable on an exhaust brake, who would want to be without one. I personally would want to have whatever I could have to make sure my truck and I get home safe and sound and 5 or 6 hundred bucks for an extra way of braking seems like a no brainer for me. Like you said you certainly can get by without it, but why would you want to.





Plus the look on other peoples faces when you let off the go pedal and the brake kicks in is worth it alone :--)

 

[DRR-24V]

Your Friend Needs Help !

Either he has never towed a trailer downhill or thinks that rise in the roadway near Tallahassie, Florida is a hill. The exhaust brake for the P/S is about double the price of ours, but he should not leave home without one. Rest easy, after he goes off a quality hill he will be asking you where to get one.

 

[K_Arts]

AZ - Doesn't your friend realize that the trailer you are mentioning... will put his truck wayyyy over the GVWR???



I hope he understands that here in Colorado, DOT can and will probably pull him over and make like he!! for him.



BTW... if he thinks an E-brake is a waste of money, bring him to my neck of the woods so that he can drive my truck... he'll change his mind. My Pacbrake works wonders when trying to slow down... especially with a load on back.



Kev

 

[dmurdock]

Looking more closely at his truck and the proposed trailer, I have to agree with your friend. The exhaust brake is a waste of money. Tell him to save it for a lawyer.

 

[GLASMITHS]

EXHAUST BRAKE WASTE OF MONEY???

AZ:



Tell your Ferd friend he really needs to contact his physician, he has stuck bowels!!Get what I'm saying.



I had my wheels check (on 5er) by my RV dealer last month before a long trip. I have it done every spring, but this time the boss saw them. He couldn't believe it. I have over 40k on the trailer and the shoes are barely worn!



Most heavy 5er owners I have talked to about it change shoes around 25-30K; at 350. 00 a pop. This does not include the safety factor from all the above posts; plus it saves on brakes for the vehicle pulling.



All this aside, the best part is to roll into a roadside rest area in third with the PAC Brake singing D ) and people looking at that noisy CTD making all that noise; then about 35mph you drop into 2nd (locked) and it really screams

 

[juicedcummins]

If you've got the cash- go out and buy a life insurance policy on this guy. The first time in the real hills , he will be in trouble if he trying to run with somene with a brake. Even if he's got a heavy foot and lots of power to shoot him over the top he will be in touble

I run long haul and see this all the time in my travels.

 

[rubberneck]

moron

It seems everybody has at least one friend who always knows everything about everything. I usually find it is a waste of breath to try and argue with them over issues like this. Just tell him to take good pictures of the wreck and hope he doesn't kill himself so that you can say "I told you so"



He obviously knows nothing about brakes. I dont care how you adjust them, if you ride them coming down a long grade they will get hot. they get hot enough and pretty soon guess what they dont work very well if at all. I find i can come down most grades with the ebrake on and through gear selection will very rarely have to even touch the service brakes. Ebrake is the #1 coolest thing in the world if you tow over anything that isnt flat. period

 

[DRR-24V]

Check Out This Tow Story !

This Is A Scary Story



http://dieselram.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=000034

 

[RCone]

I have owned 2 Dodge Cummins trucks. A 96 auto and now the one in my signature. I had a 12,500lb 5ver with the first one and now a 8500lb (both dry weight) 5ver with this truck. I would not be without an exhaust brake. There are those that would say it is a waste to put them on an automatic, but in the real world, with a 5ver pushing you down a hill (like the pass between Oregon and California) and dropping down into 2nd gear, I mean to tell you that it DOES work.



One note of caution however, DO NOT use in icy conditions when towing.



Roger

 

[Snow man]

I have a pacbrake,and the Smart controller,these 2 itmes toghether with my mods to the Cummins/transmission make towing a pleasure. maintaining speed down grades is easy,and a no brainer,once you have the smart controoler set,and the brake on,it does all the work,just pull the shift lever to 2nd if you want 2nd gr braking. I love it,and would never be without a brake after having one.

 

[GLASMITHS]

rubberneck

I agree with your post. And, I have also found that in many cases where people belittle our enhancements, they do so because they cain't afford to do it right themselves, or they are the kind of people that just try to get by with the cheapest deal, and to heck with all the damage they may cause to themselves or others. Its this way; if you cain't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch; and especially if a non-exhaust braked pherd with a 11k 5er is coming by

 

[Mad Bomber]

must be nuts

The brake is the best $$ spent, saves on brakes even in stop and go traffic you rarely need to touch the the brakes and it's fun to play with

 

[Evan A. Beck]

I can't imagine driving my truck without the exhaust brake. As far as accessories for the truck go, this one is by far one of the best.



I got a BD Brake on my '01, and it is an excellent product. It performs better than any of the other brakes available... I've driven trucks with all different kinds, and the BD is the only one I recommend.



Same goes for the PSD... The BD Brake works great on it.

 

[nickleinonen]

if he is stingy with his pennies, there are instuctions on http://forums.ford-diesel.com to build a $15 exhaust brake. the design of the ford PSD has a exhaust backpressure regulating valve just after the turbo. you can buy the wires, relays and diode's needed for the $15 or so. if you control the vacuum solonoid that regulates the backpressure valve, you can work it like an exhaust brake. it is not as effective as a proper one, but it works pretty good. BD also sells a kit that does the same thing, but at like 10x the price.

 

[Utah Willie]

Help me settle an exhaust brake question

Try this experience for your argument. I tow an Alfa 5er at 13k gross weight (12K usual) with a five speed backed by a 2 speed U. S Gear O/D on 3. 54s. I have a Mopar (Jacobs) E-brake. Going down Cajon Pass into Southern California... . a loooooong 6% grade, I can come over the top at 55 MPH and out the bottom at 65 MPH..... and never touch the service brakes... . neither truck's nor trailer's. That is because I get 180+ HP back as a brake with the E-brake on! A couple of months ago, I went down there with just the 2500 LB camper and the E-brake off... ... about two miles into the decent, I had to brake with the service brakes and kicked on the E-brake..... If your friend insists on no E-brake, I suggest you follow him down the hills, don't let him get behind you

 

[Steve M]

While I agree whole heartedly, and I won't take mine to the mountains other than the Blue Ridge mountains where I know what to expect and where to avoid the steep downhill grades, exhaust brakes are to assist the service brakes. If it assists so well that the service brakes aren't needed, great! But keep in mind that you are holding your total combined weight with only one axle at the leverage point. Like having brakes on the rear axle of the truck only. Add that to some rain and oil slick roads or ice and you've got trouble waiting to happen. Exhaust brakes and Jake brakes shouldn't even be used on wet or icy roads. If the service brakes alone aren't able to hold the vehicle on a downhill, the trailer needs more brakes. If the trailer has sufficient brakes and they're set up right, the truck's brakes shouldn't be helping the trailer's brakes. If anything, the trailer brakes should be helping the truck's brakes alittle to avoid any pushing if the road is slick. If your truck's brakes wear out fast because you tow alot, your trailer brakes aren't doing their job and that's why the truck's brakes will overheat and fade out on the first long downhill grade. I'm sure my trailer's whimpy brakes aren't sufficient enough to do their fair share of braking on a steep down hill grade. So I'll try to avoid that situation if at all possible.

Not trying to preach. Just offer something to think about.