Towing this with 3/4 ton

Your not going to set your cruise control at 45 coming down from Kennedy Meadows!

BobWanderer wrote:
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Steep road, tight turns, narrow roadway and no guard rails.
I know a few others who have been up there and can back up my statements.

I'm one!

allcool wrote:

Don't get me wrong, not saying some of these downhill grades aren't very challenging or don't take a skilled knowledgeable driver, or don't tax ones nerves. Just that with the new trucks shouldn't have to ride your brakes hard enough to glaze/smoke them.

jmo

9 mile canyon road is 6% on average, though fairly long. I can do a 6% downhill all day long with no sweat.


Not disputing the glaze/smoked brakes. The comment was "never have to touch the brakes". Crawford Notch is 13% and with 17K on the back of my truck, even with Fords breaking system, I can't just let her roll. Try that and the speed WILL eventually get out of the good sense zone. I've been on some secondary roads that were even steeper, though thankfully not as long or twisty, and while the truck handled everything ok just the sight of that downhill can make the ol' cheeks want to pucker a bit. :)

My 2005 uses the variable pitch of the turbo vanes to work like an exhaust brake, but it is not as effective as newer setups. My cruise control can be enabled over 25 mph. The most weight I have hauled without additional brakes has been 15K lbs GCW - The engine controlled my braking and I never felt out of control or taxed. With trailer brakes, I have not hauled more than 20K lbs GCW, but that was easy when you have four additional brakes at your command and can tap the pedal to keep things in check.

Ford also has something called Hill Descent Control, but I do not know if it is a feature that only works in 4x4 application or also in 4x2 since it came out only a few years ago.

With My GMC, I put it in tow mode and 1st gear at the top, leave it there until the trans gets warm, let it go to 2nd for a brief time and cool the trans down, then back to 1st.
Works well for me, I do use the brakes when in 2nd, but never enough to get them hot enough to glaze over. I have an infrared thermometer and have checked the rotor temp after the hill, nothing scary.
I have seen pick ups not towing smoke there brakes on the hill, a little common sense goes a long way. If you go way back to the 70's, the road was not even paved all the way.

BobWanderer wrote:

tgreening wrote:

allcool wrote:


If used right, on the new Fords, don't even have to touch the brakes.
Put the cruise control on and set it for say 45mph(or whatever is appropriate), and in combination with the exh brake, no need to ever glaze the brake pads.

jmo

With 17K on the back, coming down out of Crawford Notch might have something to say about that. :)

Or coming down 9 mile canyon from Kennedy Meadows where speeds are usually less than 20 MPH. Your gonna burn up the brakes or tranny with much more than that.
Steep road, tight turns, narrow roadway and no guard rails.
I know a few others who have been up there and can back up my statements.

I know Crawford notch well. Piece of cake for a new 2013 Ford,,,lol.

Not familiar with Kennedy Meadows,sounds like a challenging grade...
But, but did say...
"Put the cruise control on and set it for say 45mph or whatever is appropriate" Might add, make sure its in tow haul mode also, so exh brake is working.
20mph is to slow to use cruise control, don't think it will activate at that slow speed. To bad because it does away with all the guessing. Not that its hard to be a knowledgeable truck driver and be able to choose the correct gear for the appropriate situation. Along with the exh brake, should be fine and not have to glaze your brakes to safely negotiate any road, if you know how to drive/tow with 'NEW' breed of trucks. These new exh brakes work awesome imo. Not sure if your 2008 trucks have them...?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlfz8LAM1xs

Don't get me wrong, not saying some of these downhill grades aren't very challenging or don't take a skilled knowledgeable driver, or don't tax ones nerves. Just that with the new trucks shouldn't have to ride your brakes hard enough to glaze/smoke them.

I am a Chevy guy, but lately been towing with the new (2012>) Fords. Sorry to say, they do this downhill thing much better than the new Chevys. On any given trip, I have my choice of any of the big 3 to tow with. And have towed with them all. All brand new trucks. I choose Ford ps to tow with, and a Chevy LTZ gas for my personal every day driver. I do like how the Chevy drives/rides better than the solid axle Fords, but...
Try a new Ford next time you tow a big heavy load, I'm betting you'll agree...

jmo

tgreening wrote:

allcool wrote:


If used right, on the new Fords, don't even have to touch the brakes.
Put the cruise control on and set it for say 45mph(or whatever is appropriate), and in combination with the exh brake, no need to ever glaze the brake pads.

jmo

With 17K on the back, coming down out of Crawford Notch might have something to say about that. :)

Or coming down 9 mile canyon from Kennedy Meadows where speeds are usually less than 20 MPH. Your gonna burn up the brakes or tranny with much more than that.
Steep road, tight turns, narrow roadway and no guard rails.
I know a few others who have been up there and can back up my statements.

allcool wrote:


If used right, on the new Fords, don't even have to touch the brakes.
Put the cruise control on and set it for say 45mph(or whatever is appropriate), and in combination with the exh brake, no need to ever glaze the brake pads.

jmo

With 17K on the back, coming down out of Crawford Notch might have something to say about that. :)

Steve O Reno wrote:
I was out in Silverton CO on vacation with my truck which most on the thread would likely say my truck is overkill. Anyway while coming down one of the long 6-7% grade hills off on the side of a run off was a 5er with a 3/4 ton truck. We stopped to be sure he was ok. The brakes on his truck were smoking and I could smell the trailer brakes when I walked past. What made the impression on me was his wife cumpled up on the curb crying and shaking holding a crying kid. The guy was pretty shaken and at least they did not crash. He said that 1/2 way down the brakes were getting weak (glazing) and the truck started gaining speed and he could not get it slowed down and opted to go into the sand trap. We stayed for a while until he had confirmation of a wrecker coming. He said he had that set up for a few years and all service was up to date.
The set up was just fine until it wasnt.....

My 2cents...

Most of the time I tow a 13,000+gvwr and 2000+hitch weight TH, with a 3/4t new 2013 Ford ps. I know its close to max tow capacity, but still under the max. I have towed it with a drw new Ford also.
While it tows ok, the stability is no where near that of a drw when encountering side winds, or semi trucks passing, etc... It just isn't close.
Towing with a drw is a lot less tiring imo. The same level of concentration and driving corrections for ambient conditions is not needed.

But,,, in the op's case, coming down steep grades in control, is more about the driver knowing how to use his truck and all its features correctly, than truck load tow capacity, imo.

If used right, on the new Fords, don't even have to touch the brakes.
Put the cruise control on and set it for say 45mph(or whatever is appropriate), and in combination with the exh brake, no need to ever glaze the brake pads.
I've come down long long steep grades fully loaded like this with out ever having to touch the brakes. The ecu continually downshifts automatically to the exactly right gear, and uses exh brake to keep speeds exactly where you set them.It works great.
In fact, its really impressive how well the new fords do this imo.

For those that know how to use their equipment and drive/load it correctly, the days of glazed brakes from going down steep grades is a thing of the past with these new trucks.

jmo

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