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mikemc53's avatar
mikemc53
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2015

Towing with steep grades

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.

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  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Aug 27, 2015
    Terryallan wrote:
    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


    If you are talking about brakes being pushed to thier limits, 5 seconds (more likely 10-15sec) off will drop the temps a suprising amount.

    Otherwise, I agree with you.
  • PRodacy's avatar
    PRodacy
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2015
    donn0128 wrote:
    How steap? How long of a grade?
    Basic rules, go down in the same gear you went up. When speed increases more than your comfortable with, brake hard enough to slow quickly to 5MPH below desired speed. DO NOT ride the brakes.


    Going down in the same gear you went up in assumes that the grade is the same on both sides. Not usually true. As others have recommended, drop into a lower gear and brake intermittently; don't ride the brakes.
  • Terryallan's avatar
    Terryallan
    Explorer II
    Aug 27, 2015
    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
  • korbe's avatar
    korbe
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2015
    I have figured that my truck & 5er will speed up going down the hills and the transmission will not hold the RPM's when the grade is over about -7%. I will brake and get the speed way down and repeat as often as need be. Only once did I heat the brakes up too much (could smell them), and I figured that if I would have just slowed my overall speed down more, I would have been okay.
  • Chuck_thehammer's avatar
    Chuck_thehammer
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2015
    firm braking for 10 to 15 miles per hour of wanted speed...

    and use the trailer brakes more than the truck brakes...

    BUT never Ride the brakes down.... off and on... off and on... allowing them to cool... then again.

    and use lower gears..
  • coolbreeze01's avatar
    coolbreeze01
    Explorer
    Aug 27, 2015
    Gear down far enough that you don't need to use your brakes but very briefly.

    An EB is a worthwhile investment.
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Aug 27, 2015
    How steap? How long of a grade?
    Basic rules, go down in the same gear you went up. When speed increases more than your comfortable with, brake hard enough to slow quickly to 5MPH below desired speed. DO NOT ride the brakes.

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