Who pulls 5ver in mountains w/auto, w/o e-brake

[Hale on wheels]

I would like to know if any of you guys tow a 5ver (or any trailer for that matter) around 9-10k lbs in the mountains without an e-brake, and if so any problems or no?

Thanks


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Cody Hale
01. 5 2500, QC, 4x4,Auto
Gig'em Aggies!

 

[Okie-Go]

I did last June with auto. Trailer 9400 empty. Not too bad a feeling,worse that I remember was Phoenix to Flagstaff and wolf creek pass in Colorado. Secret I think is go slow and pump the brakes,don't ride them. I now have a 6spd and will get e-brake before I go back to the mountains.

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red, trailer tow package,camper special, anti spin 3. 54 axle, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[Bob Wagner]

Ditto w/Okie <font color=red>go slow and tap the brakes on the decline</font>

 

[Guest00]

It can get real hairy real fast, Just don't get in a hurry going down hill. You might have to use 2nd ( 40 or so ) or low (15 or so ) and hold speed slower than you would like to so as not to end up where you don't want to be at the bottom of a 14 or 18 mi 5 - 7% grade
What they ^ said about the brakes.

 

[Mapker]

Having lived in Ariz. and made the trip to Flagstaff with my 30 ft. fifth wheel alot of times, I can say that I never needed an e-brake. Maybe I am used to pulling a horse trailer with electric brakes, but I don't feel there is any need for an exhaust brake on my trailer which weighs about 12,000 lb if fully loaded. My truck is a 95, 2500, auto. and I do gear down going into Camp Verde. Watching your speed is the best advice. Max. downhill is 55.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Never needed one on my setup - trailer weighs about 8,000 lbs fully loaded - I have the US Gear OD unit and the plain 3-speed 727 AT, so have use of 2nd OD if needed...

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http://community. webshots.com/user/davison71 Early '91 250, 727 AT, 307 rear... Banks Stinger exhaust, intercooler... US Gear OD... MORE than a match for every new PS Ford encountered so far...

 

[B.G. Smith]

All good advice above, also make sure your trailer brakes are in good condition and adjust them about every 6,000 miles. My trailer weighs 12,400 and I wore out the shoes on the trailer in about 20,000 miles. Also lock out the OD going downhill. bg

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White 99 3500, QC, 3:55, auto. most options except leather, Line-X bed liner, fiberglass running boards Rancho 9000s, bug shield and window vents, black vented 5th wheel tailgate, 110 gal. aux. fuel tank.

 

[Banshe]

Mine weighs about 13. 5K and I run up and down the mountains from here (Colorado) through Az and to CA. Don't have an e-brake but sure wish I did. I've never had a "close" call, but it'd just give that added assurance. Two practices I've always used are slow down early and keep the brake controller adjusted to share the braking load. Had a guy with his slightly out of adjusment, truck brakes were doing more than trailer. That is until they faded away! He was behind me commin' down the mountain and it looked like I was gonna have to try to slow down both rigs. Yep, an e-brake would've been nice for one of us! #ad


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'95, 2500, 4X4, ext cab, white, 3. 54 rear end, auto transmission
Griffin Radiator, Banks Power Pak, DTT TC, DTT VB, 16cm Turbo, 4" exhaust, Horton Fan, Bosch 215, BD Governor Springs, Brite Box, Mag Hytec transmission Pan, aux transmission Cooler, Bully Dog Propane, Gutless Kitty, Wiley Coyote strapped to my grill ... Oh Yeh, installing water injection and ram air

 

[Hale on wheels]

OK, thanks for the responses guys. That is kind of what I figured... it is possible but not recommended. Keeping a slow speed is a given. I just didn't want my brakes to get too hot coming down some of those Colorado passes. I have a while (about a year) before we are going with the trailer, so that should give me plenty of time to decide what I am going to do.

Once again, thanks.

 

[Roger Ledbetter]

Read my post "Scarry Braking experience" https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum17/HTML/001165.html
I drove the same hwy 3 times before I had problems. Keep Your rear brakes adjusted and make sure your trailer brakes are up also.
If You travel alot in the mountains an exhaust brake will give you a safety margin that you do not have without.
It would not hurt to pull over and let your brakes cool off after a few good slow downs.


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'98 12V 3500 Dually Std Cab, Auto, 3. 54, Banks Stinger Plus, Sun Coast TC. BD valve body, BD Pressureloc

 

[Scott Lowe]

I pulled my 00 Wilderness 28-5S fifth wheel, pretty much fully loaded (moving my family across the country from Washington State to New Jersey). Climbed the mountains of Washington, no sweat. Even the steeper mountains of Montana with no problem... followed I90 straight across the country. My truck is a 00 2500 Quad cab with auto transmission.

Originally posted by Hale on wheels:
I would like to know if any of you guys tow a 5ver (or any trailer for that matter) around 9-10k lbs in the mountains without an e-brake, and if so any problems or no?

Thanks

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