2005 1 ton Ram diesel

rhagfo wrote:

2freelife wrote:
In 2005 my husband & I went fulltime with a large 5th wheel & our new from the factory Ram. We fulltimed for almost 8 years. The truck now has 160,000 miles on it. It seems to run great. Have had very little trouble with it. Now I'm on my own, & would like to go back out on the road using this truck. A new one would be out of my price range. This truck did not have the pac brake installed. It does have tow mode. It always did great, but I would feel more secure with the pac brake. That's the one the truck dealer recommended. I would love advise from any of you with experience with these trucks if it would be a good idea for me to add the extra accessory brake? It will cost $2500. Do you believe my Ram will last? I could afford a used 1/2 ton if it failed, but nothing new. I will be pulling a 24ft camper. I don't want to go with a large one at this point

wilber1 wrote:

My wife won't tow anything but yes if I had shown her how to do it. I would gear down, pick a target speed (say 50 mph), let the speed build up to 55 then get on the brakes firmly and bring it down to 45, get off the brakes to give them a little cooling time and repeat. Worked fine for me. You just can't set the cruise control and let the truck do its thing like if you have an EB. Where I live hills on main highways aren't limited to 6% like in the US. The Coquihalla which is a 4 lane 75 mph highway has grades up to 8.5%. Anarchist Mountain, HWY 22 from Trail to Rossland all have grades at least as steep and I did them them all with that set-up. Seem to recall 16 from Buffalo to Worland in Wyoming was pretty steep as well.

If there was any snow on the road in the Siskyous you would be foolish to use an exhaust brake anyway. Same goes if there is any standing water on a road.

Tom/Barb wrote:

Me Again wrote:
Having driven a 8500 gal tanker truck back in the late 70's for 3 years, towed travel trailers, boats to 11K on trailer(that push a 3/4 4x4 into and intersection when the trailer brakes failed on and brand new EZ Load trailer), and 5th wheels most of my adult life, I do think I would brag about what you did.

I've driven fuel tanker too, but no matter, it is still how you manage the assets at hand, there is no substitution for knowing your equipment and how to use it.

It seems the OP stated she like the idea of the PacBrake, and she would feel more secure with the addition of the PacBrake.
Wilber1's description of "Brake Management" is certainly NOT what she is looking for. The What If to that system, right at the end of the hard braking to slow from 55 down to 45, you need to stop suddenly, now you have your service brakes HOT, and far less effective. That whole operation doesn't sound relaxing at all!
What about those following you speeding up slowing down, speeding up slowing down, sounds like a recipe for Road Rage!

To me there is nothing more relaxing than lifting ones foot off the throttle and hearing the sweet rumble of an Exhaust Brake, and the slowing effect of the same.

I believe that this is what the OP is looking for, NOT stabbing the brakes to slow 10 mph, then let it build back up then stab again.

I was towing within the GCWR of my truck, I guess the manufacturer doesn't know what they are talking about. You can fade the brakes out on just about anything if you abuse them. As I said, the EB only works on the truck's rear wheels and that can also get you into trouble.

I really don't care about the people behind me, I'm not going to do 70 down a 7% grade just because it is the speed limit and I have an EB.