Is exhaust brake really needed?

Me Again wrote:

MrVan wrote:
We don't have exhaust brakes on our truck but would have it on any truck we purchased in the future. However, one can adjust your driving habits to fit the equipment you do have. On 6% down grades on the Interstates I just slip the truck into 2nd gear at the top of the grade and let the engine compression hold the load at 45 MPH. A form of a compression brake. On a long downhill grade of 6% I may have to hit the brakes two or three times for short periods to hold the 45 MPH maximum. I think it is safer than going down hill at a faster speed with compression brakes since the margin of error is less. YMMV.

I do not know what you drive, but stock my 2001.5 Dodge/Cummins/Auto would not lock the TC going down hill. Even with a manual, the Cummins engine just free wheels going down grades. For some unknown reason the Ford and GM V8's seem to hold back better with grade braking. I could fool the 47RE to lock the TC at the top of the hill with the cruise control, but it just was not effective.

I would not tow a mid to larger 5th wheel without an exhaust brake.

Chris

Ford F250 with 7.3L Diesel. 145,000 miles and still going strong.

If your transmission in your Ford is OK with an EB, go for it..;)
(Pre-2006 Ram stock *auto* transmissions are not).

Will it save "overall' brake wear = sure.

Is it *necessary* for mountain driving = No.

Use Common Sense = Yes.

Ex: 34' Fifth - about 12K weight loaded.
Eisenhower Tunnel (Loveland Pass, CO.) was having road work done, with height restrictions.
Detoured to "old" US 6. Descended westbound from 11,990 ft.

Geared down (in advance) when necessary - with very little braking needed.
Yeah - faster traffic passing, but no big deal.

~

Veebyes wrote:
Done my share of mountain driving with a heavy trailer. No exhaust brake but I do slip into the 'manual' mode for long grades up or down. I don't like to hear the engine screaming at high RPM for any period so the method is to get into whichever gear is suitable for the grade then let it build up speed, brake down to a low speed, let it build again & so on.

Can't say that the smell of heated pads has never been experienced, but not very often.

Similar to what I do ,but I don't mind 3000 RPM with my old 7.3, so I usually stay in a lower gear, and that usually keeps me off the brake pedal for any length of time.

Did come off the hill going out of Ennis ,Montana into Virginia Ciy, Montana, going faster then I should of. Not a very long hill ,but pretty steep, got on the brakes more then I should of, and got the brakes pretty hot .

Done my share of mountain driving with a heavy trailer. No exhaust brake but I do slip into the 'manual' mode for long grades up or down. I don't like to hear the engine screaming at high RPM for any period so the method is to get into whichever gear is suitable for the grade then let it build up speed, brake down to a low speed, let it build again & so on.

Can't say that the smell of heated pads has never been experienced, but not very often.

Atom Ant wrote:
Don't want to get in a brand slam, because each use their own technology, but I've always understood that Dodge benefits the most from a brake.

This is our 2001 7.3 Ford on its way over Wolf Creek as it did 3 times a year. Before I ever tried I figured I should get a brake, but it did much better than I originally expected so I never did install a brake and never missed it.

Same truck as mine, one of the big reasons I hang on to the old relic. Do have to say my sons 2008 dodge cummins with EB is sure nice, but not enough to get another truck with EB or add to mine.

Don't want to get in a brand slam, because each use their own technology, but I've always understood that Dodge benefits the most from a brake.

This is our 2001 7.3 Ford on its way over Wolf Creek as it did 3 times a year. Before I ever tried I figured I should get a brake, but it did much better than I originally expected so I never did install a brake and never missed it.

Me Again wrote:

MrVan wrote:
We don't have exhaust brakes on our truck but would have it on any truck we purchased in the future. However, one can adjust your driving habits to fit the equipment you do have. On 6% down grades on the Interstates I just slip the truck into 2nd gear at the top of the grade and let the engine compression hold the load at 45 MPH. A form of a compression brake. On a long downhill grade of 6% I may have to hit the brakes two or three times for short periods to hold the 45 MPH maximum. I think it is safer than going down hill at a faster speed with compression brakes since the margin of error is less. YMMV.

I do not know what you drive, but stock my 2001.5 Dodge/Cummins/Auto would not lock the TC going down hill. Even with a manual, the Cummins engine just free wheels going down grades. For some unknown reason the Ford and GM V8's seem to hold back better with grade braking. I could fool the 47RE to lock the TC at the top of the hill with the cruise control, but it just was not effective.

I would not tow a mid to larger 5th wheel without an exhaust brake.

Chris

One of the rare times I can agree with MrVan, having the same truck , I come off steep hills in exactly the same way with no problems.

MrVan wrote:
We don't have exhaust brakes on our truck but would have it on any truck we purchased in the future. However, one can adjust your driving habits to fit the equipment you do have. On 6% down grades on the Interstates I just slip the truck into 2nd gear at the top of the grade and let the engine compression hold the load at 45 MPH. A form of a compression brake. On a long downhill grade of 6% I may have to hit the brakes two or three times for short periods to hold the 45 MPH maximum. I think it is safer than going down hill at a faster speed with compression brakes since the margin of error is less. YMMV.

I do not know what you drive, but stock my 2001.5 Dodge/Cummins/Auto would not lock the TC going down hill. Even with a manual, the Cummins engine just free wheels going down grades. For some unknown reason the Ford and GM V8's seem to hold back better with grade braking. I could fool the 47RE to lock the TC at the top of the hill with the cruise control, but it just was not effective.

I would not tow a mid to larger 5th wheel without an exhaust brake.

Chris

We don't have exhaust brakes on our truck but would have it on any truck we purchased in the future. However, one can adjust your driving habits to fit the equipment you do have. On 6% down grades on the Interstates I just slip the truck into 2nd gear at the top of the grade and let the engine compression hold the load at 45 MPH. A form of a compression brake. On a long downhill grade of 6% I may have to hit the brakes two or three times for short periods to hold the 45 MPH maximum. I think it is safer than going down hill at a faster speed with compression brakes since the margin of error is less. YMMV.

For many years we drove our light truck without exhaust brakes (I don't think they were invented yet). When Banks offered to sell Exhaust brakes I started installing Exhaust Brakes on our Ranch Trucks since we have always had Jacobs Engine Brakes on our Semis.

We live and drive in the Montains of Colorado so we have Exhaust brakes on all of our light tucks, Dodge 250's and 350'. All of our trucks have Cummins Engines and our Dodges pull ranch trailers loaded sometimes to 20,000 pounds. So, yes you can drive and pull an RV without Exhaust Brakes in the mountains but you will be happy if you have Exhaust Brakes for safety, less wear on wheel brakes and comfort going down long mountain grades.