Was going past the refuse collection station today and decided to put the truck and TC on the scale. Didn't expect it to weigh any less than it did a few years ago but it served as a reminder to myself to drive carefully. 6.5 tons is a lot of mass to stop in a hurry.Add my boat and full fuel and it gets up around eight tons. The best addition to my truck was the exhaust brake. Some of the mountain roads we go up and down are pretty steep and would not want to do them without the ebrake and a six speed manual.

Raften wrote:Was going past the refuse collection station today and decided to put the truck and TC on the scale. Didn't expect it to weigh any less than it did a few years ago but it served as a reminder to myself to drive carefully. 6.5 tons is a lot of mass to stop in a hurry.The newer models stop much better, but I bet your 2001 is a keeper!

I wish I had an exhaust brake. A few years ago I came out of Death Valley down in to Panamint Valley... that's the most gnarly steep road I've ever been on. THe second steepest was coming down in to Death Valley from Beatty, NV.

deltabravo wrote:I wish I had an exhaust brake. A few years ago I came out of Death Valley down in to Panamint Valley... that's the most gnarly steep road I've ever been on. THe second steepest was coming down in to Death Valley from Beatty, NV.Going down from the West side is pretty steep also. I wondered about the road to Beatty. I guess it is all steep when you are at the bottom. weird but I remember enjoying the climb out to the west, diesel torque fetish.

The exhaust brake is the most useful and cost-effective modification I have made to my entire rig. If you have a diesel, and don't have one, do it; you will not regret it. I often go long distances without ever hitting my brakes and I am sure that the entire cost of the addition will be returned in longevity of the service brakes. Throw in the safety factor and its a no-brainer.

I've got one on my Sterling 4500 and have wondered: does leaving it on lower the mileage? I haven't used it enough to know myself. Any experience?anthony

Heavy | Good Sam Community

Raften
Explorer
Dec 18, 2013
deltabravo wrote:
I wish I had an exhaust brake. A few years ago I came out of Death Valley down in to Panamint Valley... that's the most gnarly steep road I've ever been on. THe second steepest was coming down in to Death Valley from Beatty, NV.

Going down from the West side is pretty steep also. I wondered about the road to Beatty. I guess it is all steep when you are at the bottom. weird but I remember enjoying the climb out to the west, diesel torque fetish.
deltabravo
Nomad
Dec 18, 2013
I wish I had an exhaust brake. A few years ago I came out of Death Valley down in to Panamint Valley... that's the most gnarly steep road I've ever been on. THe second steepest was coming down in to Death Valley from Beatty, NV.
JumboJet
Explorer
Dec 18, 2013
Raften wrote:
Was going past the refuse collection station today and decided to put the truck and TC on the scale. Didn't expect it to weigh any less than it did a few years ago but it served as a reminder to myself to drive carefully. 6.5 tons is a lot of mass to stop in a hurry.

The newer models stop much better, but I bet your 2001 is a keeper!

Forum Discussion

Heavy

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Too Heavy?

Heavy Duty Brakes?

Heavy Trailers

TC weight too heavy?

How heavy is TOO heavy? GVWR on a 2500