Ram 3500 max tow vs F450

45Ricochet wrote:
Maybe the Ford is still climbing the hill :B

ROTFLO!

Aridon wrote:
Looking forward to the results

Hopefully by Christmas :E Don't know why they are so slow in reporting the results. Maybe the Ford is still climbing the hill :B

Looking forward to the results

BigToe wrote:
The following quote caught my eye:

The Mad Norsky wrote:
"One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes."

I don't think the Ford is unique from any of the competition on this count. All vehicles work best when starting down hill in a lower speed. Physics dictates that the Ford is no different than a Volkswagon in that regard.

Starting down a hill slow and in low gear helps save the brakes regardless of vehicle brand or transmission type... whether with stick shift or with fancy electronic shift strategies.

I think the point of his comment was that the ford exhaust brake is not as effective as the others and works best within certain speed ranges

The following quote caught my eye:

The Mad Norsky wrote:
"One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes."

I don't think the Ford is unique from any of the competition on this count. All vehicles work best when starting down hill in a lower speed. Physics dictates that the Ford is no different than a Volkswagon in that regard.

Starting down a hill slow and in low gear helps save the brakes regardless of vehicle brand or transmission type... whether with stick shift or with fancy electronic shift strategies.

The Mad Norsky wrote:

buc1980 wrote:
I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

Not sure either, RE serious or trolling????


I've also got the 2011 F350 and it certainly works fine controlling loads going downhill.

One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes.

I've gone down Lookout Pass in Idaho/Montana border and Homestake Pass at Butte Mt without touching the brakes, just started down at slower speed and stayed that way.

Mine does a great job in the mountains too. Put in 3rd and it holds below 55 MPH with no problem. Came through Sams Gap last week with 14.5K fiver, had to give a little throttle coming down into Tenn. as it slowed to much for me. Most don't realize that you have to get the RPM's over 3000 for the turbo brake to kick in. Next time towing watch you boost gage, and you can see the boost go up once it hits 3000.

Alright Larry........:B

NC Hauler wrote:

The Mad Norsky wrote:

buc1980 wrote:
I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

Not sure either, RE serious or trolling????


I've also got the 2011 F350 and it certainly works fine controlling loads going downhill.

One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes.

I've gone down Lookout Pass in Idaho/Montana border and Homestake Pass at Butte Mt without touching the brakes, just started down at slower speed and stayed that way.

I've done the same thing that you have for years when traveling roads that I'm familiar with. I top the mountain at a slower speed when heading down.

Something else I've done since I've owned the Ram trucks, and it does work VERY well, is when I get to the top of a mountain and head down, I'm in cruise control, in T/H of course, with the EB on...the Ram trucks really hold back my 16,000# 5er, it's RARE I have to touch the brake....if not in cruise, I actually have to give throttle to speed up...Now with the 2013, you have 2 Settings with the EB and I have noticed that "Setting 1" where icon is "orange" in color seems to me to be more aggressive than was on my 10' or 12' Ram( they only had one setting)...second Setting, icon turns a green color and underneath say's "auto"...less aggressive and used more when one is in cruise control, haven't tried this new truck towing, but with the Aisin tranny and what seems to me to be an even better EB than was in the 10 and 12', the 10 was great to tow with, the 12 was a little better, I can only imagine the 13' will be even better ..

Plus NC knows the exact day the 2014 model will be on the market.

chevman;)

The Mad Norsky wrote:

buc1980 wrote:
I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

Not sure either, RE serious or trolling????


I've also got the 2011 F350 and it certainly works fine controlling loads going downhill.

One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes.

I've gone down Lookout Pass in Idaho/Montana border and Homestake Pass at Butte Mt without touching the brakes, just started down at slower speed and stayed that way.

I've done the same thing that you have for years when traveling roads that I'm familiar with. I top the mountain at a slower speed when heading down.

Something else I've done since I've owned the Ram trucks, and it does work VERY well, is when I get to the top of a mountain and head down, I'm in cruise control, in T/H of course, with the EB on...the Ram trucks really hold back my 16,000# 5er, it's RARE I have to touch the brake....if not in cruise, I actually have to give throttle to speed up...Now with the 2013, you have 2 Settings with the EB and I have noticed that "Setting 1" where icon is "orange" in color seems to me to be more aggressive than was on my 10' or 12' Ram( they only had one setting)...second Setting, icon turns a green color and underneath say's "auto"...less aggressive and used more when one is in cruise control, haven't tried this new truck towing, but with the Aisin tranny and what seems to me to be an even better EB than was in the 10 and 12', the 10 was great to tow with, the 12 was a little better, I can only imagine the 13' will be even better ..

buc1980 wrote:
I wish that Ford have a better transmision to keep the load under control going downhill.My 2011 F350 need brake to slow it down and keep the RPM under control.The Ford engeniring supose to do a better job in that matter.

Not sure either, RE serious or trolling????


I've also got the 2011 F350 and it certainly works fine controlling loads going downhill.

One thing you must realize is that the Ford works best when starting down at a speed in the 50 to 55 MPH range max. Starting downhill at speeds greater than that just means you will need to use your brakes.

I've gone down Lookout Pass in Idaho/Montana border and Homestake Pass at Butte Mt without touching the brakes, just started down at slower speed and stayed that way.