2016 Silverado 3500 - Ike Gauntlet Pull
Looks like the Chevy still outperforms the Ram on the time up the Gauntlet and more importantly outperforms in exhaust brake performance too. Link
Forum Discussion
ShinerBock wrote:transamz9 wrote:
Sorry bud but you are wrong on this. It will downshift very aggressively In TH mode (RPM limited) with the exhaust brake in full on mode when a couple things are met. One the truck has a predetermined deceleration rate and you can't be slowing down any faster than that rate. The other is you HAVE to put your foot on the brake pedal (don't have to apply brakes just light your brake lights) for the truck to know that you want to slow down. It will then begin to downshift and apply the amount of exhaust brake needed to decelerate at the programmed rate that is in the computer. I have seen my exhaust brake gauge as high as 150 braking hp. When you have it in auto mode it will do what ever it needs to do to hold a curtain speed but once it slows to that speed it will adjust to keep to that speed instead of like the full on mode that will continue to slow the truck until around 20 mph.
What you stated is basically what I stated in saying that in order for Ram's full mode to downshift the truck has to be slowing down either through brake touches or the EB slowing the truck down enough to require the transmission to downshift to keep from stalling. It will not downshift if the truck is gaining speed and you are not touching the brakes so you have to touch the brakes for full mode to become stronger. This mode is not ideal for a test like the Ike that scored depending on brake touches.
Auto mode on the other hand will downshift to gain intensity if you are gaining speed without needing to touch the brakes or any input from the driver. Basically auto mode is the ideal setting to be in for a brake touch tests like the TFL test since it does not require brake touches or slowing down to gain intensity like full mode does.
Essentially, from what I have been reading, Ram's full mode is like Chevy's EB without cruise control set where it just turns on and of gaining intensity with brake touches. Ram's auto mode is like Chevy's EB with the cruise control on where it will vary the shifting and intensity on its own to keep you at speed. The only difference with Ram's auto mode and Chevy's EB set in cruise is that you don't have to have the cruise control set in the Ram in order for it to know what speed you want to stay at. The Ram's auto mode will notice what speed you last let off the accelerator and will try to keep you there without having cruise control set.
Yes it will downshift if you let off the accelerator and not touch the brake. It just does it more aggressively when you touch the brake pedal. It gives you more control that way instead of like on the Chevy where it's just full on or full off. To be honest, I don't run my truck in the Auto brake mode because I like being in control of the truck 100% of the time while towing. If I'm descending a grade I just lift my foot off the accelerator and the exhaust brake comes on. If I want to slow more or faster I just lay my foot on the brake pedal with no brakes applied. If that's not enough then I will apply brakes. The thing about the auto mode is that the brake don't work when you have to stop. It only works to assist in holding speed. The full mode will do the same thing and more like helping you stop there just has to be a little understanding of how it works and a little bit of driver input.;)
