Towing with steep grades

mikemc53 wrote:
OK, basically looking for opinions here.

I have a Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab with the 5.9L Cummins - 2004.5. I pull a 2016 Rockwood 8329SS, which is a 35 foot, 8900 lb TT. I have no real concerns with the truck's ability to handle the TT - it does that quite well. My question involves traveling where there are fairly steep grades. The uphills don't cause me much pause but the downhills, I have heard, can be a bit tricky. My truck does not have an exhaust brake and the expense of one, at this time, is the main reason that I still don't have one.

So, leaving the exhaust brake out of it, what are some of the more accepted methods for handling the downhill grades?

Thanks gang.

Go down SLOW. When I drove OTR, I was taught to go down really slow and hold the brakes to around 30 MPH. It worked for us. The "new" way is to let it run a little over 35, and brake down to around 25, and let it run back up. Which it will do in about 5 seconds, and then you have to do it again. Not going to cool a lot in 5 seconds. A diesel has no natural braking. So dropping down thru the gear box is not much help. You will just red line the engine. Diesels need some sort of braking help. Be it a trany brake, a engine brake, or exhaust brake. Otherwise. they just freewheel down the mountain