2012 Ram Exhaust/Engine brake question!

[sjturbo]

I am getting a "new to me" 2012 Ram 3500 to tow our 5er and I can't find any information about how the exhaust/engine brake works or is engaged or anything. I know in the older Dodge Rams there is a switch on the dash that engages it. I have done internet search's and have not found information about the 2012. Please help!

[Cummins12V98]

Grit dog wrote:
Fwiw, exhaust brakes whether turbo actuated or add on downstream aren't engine brakes.
BUT the new Pacbrake Load Leash is!!!!
Double up on your exh brake power with a real big rig engine re tarder!
If I was running around grossing 30k on my new Ram Dooley I would install one yesterday!

This product has been out for years. I have NEVER heard of one person claiming they have one.

I towed 33K from WA to SoCal to Indiana back thru the Rockies. My factory system with 4.10's and Aisin handled the load very well. I would think the LoadLeash would be a great product since it's made by PacBrake.

[Grit_dog]

Fwiw, exhaust brakes whether turbo actuated or add on downstream aren't engine brakes.
BUT the new Pacbrake Load Leash is!!!!
Double up on your exh brake power with a real big rig engine re tarder!
If I was running around grossing 30k on my new Ram Dooley I would install one yesterday!

[Grit_dog]

JIMNLIN wrote:
This is a area where my NV5600 6 speed tranny/Jacobs exhaust brake shines. I get full exhaust brake performance in all 6 forward gears at any speed/rpm....including reverse. :B

It's also where my left leg pump and extra wear n tear on my new 3500# clutch and throw out bearing shine on the I405 parking lot at 6am and 4-7 pm!

[Bedlam]

brulaz wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
That is where my 4.44 axle gears shine - I have exhaust braking at lower speeds. My Ford had manual locking hubs allowing me to use 4-low unlocked on tight switch backs which I miss at times.

Good point. Too bad RAM doesn't offer other gear ratios in the 2500 CTD.

They just need to unlock the front hubs so the transfer case can be used in both ratios while only driving the rear wheels. There are aftermarket kits available, but I'm trying to fill my penny jar for my camper upgrade purchase this Spring and these kits take too many pennies out of my jar.

[Cummins12V98]

No problem controlling 33K locked in 2nd.

[JIMNLIN]

This is a area where my NV5600 6 speed tranny/Jacobs exhaust brake shines. I get full exhaust brake performance in all 6 forward gears at any speed/rpm....including reverse. :B

[brulaz]

Bedlam wrote:

brulaz wrote:
With normal descents, our 2016 RAM's EB with the 68RFE tranny has worked very well.

But on very steep and slow descents with the tranny locked in 2nd gear the EB cuts out when the rpms drop below 1000-1200 rpm. And the EB doesn't work in 1st gear.

The problem then is to get the EB to reactivate. Generally I need to accelerate up to 1500-2000rpm, up to 40-50 mph in 2nd with my 3.42 rear end, or perhaps upshift to 3rd, speed up to 40-50 mph, then down shift to 2nd.

This can be a problem when the you don't really want to exceed 30 mph and the next 20 mph hairpin turn is right in front of you.

I'm told that RAM's manual tranny doesn't have this issue. EB works in first gear and right down to 0 mph.

That is where my 4.44 axle gears shine - I have exhaust braking at lower speeds. My Ford had manual locking hubs allowing me to use 4-low unlocked on tight switch backs which I miss at times.

Good point. Too bad RAM doesn't offer other gear ratios in the 2500 CTD.

[larry_barnhart]

just because I read all posts for our 05 duramax I hit the brake pedal to shift down when descending a mountain. tow mode every time we tow. works great for our load. Our load if you missed the point. Be safe no matter what you tow with.

chevman

[wilber1]

Grit dog wrote:

wilber1 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
I am not saying that the 68RFE shifts poorly. What I am saying is that these trucks (as well as those from the competitors) could improve by allowing a paddle shifter that would allow the driver to more easily and quickly choose their own gear.

If you haven't driven a vehicle with paddle shifters you really don't know what you are missing. They perform much better than a column shift with a button on the end that only limits the top gear the truck can use.

Have you ever sat in a Ram/Dodge pickup with a 6speed auto trans, either one?
Every one I've been in has a +/- button on the shifter that allows manual up and down gear changes when you put the shifter in manual mode.
Like a paddle shifter but not on the steering wheel.
Or are you just speculating for the sake of discussion?

The Ram ERS doesn't allow manual up changes, it restricts the gear that the transmission can shift up to. You can force the transmission to downshift but it upshifts in its own good time. It is a good feature but not a real manual mode. If you select 5 or 4 etc, it just turns the transmission into a 5 or 4 speed automatic.

Not the same at all and Bionic Man does know what he is talking about.

Well then I stand corrected. My apologies.
I know on the 2014 68rfe I had most recently, you could drop gears one at a time and limit the top gear before going into manual mode. Appeared to hold whatever gear you put it in, in manual mode without up shifting, but I do know that if you left "locked" in a higher gear in M mode and then slowed to a stop, it would downshift enough gears to not kill the engine and to get you going again albeit in 2nd or 3rd gear.

Is it possible that in M mode that it only holds the selected gear until getting into over rev territory and then forces an up shift if the driver doesn't recognize he needs to up shift or start wrecking stuff if the rpms keep going up?
Kind of like want it does on the low end of the rpm range.

Been years since I've been in the early 68re trucks so my memory could be slipping.

ERS doesn't lock the transmission in any gear, the transmission works normally but ERS won't let it shift into a higher gear than the one selected. I don't know of any vehicles that don't have rev limiters any more so with a low gear selected, the transmission won't shift up but the engine won't over rev either. You will just wonder why things are so noisy.

[Bedlam]

brulaz wrote:
With normal descents, our 2016 RAM's EB with the 68RFE tranny has worked very well.

But on very steep and slow descents with the tranny locked in 2nd gear the EB cuts out when the rpms drop below 1000-1200 rpm. And the EB doesn't work in 1st gear.

The problem then is to get the EB to reactivate. Generally I need to accelerate up to 1500-2000rpm, up to 40-50 mph in 2nd with my 3.42 rear end, or perhaps upshift to 3rd, speed up to 40-50 mph, then down shift to 2nd.

This can be a problem when the you don't really want to exceed 30 mph and the next 20 mph hairpin turn is right in front of you.

I'm told that RAM's manual tranny doesn't have this issue. EB works in first gear and right down to 0 mph.

That is where my 4.44 axle gears shine - I have exhaust braking at lower speeds. My Ford had manual locking hubs allowing me to use 4-low unlocked on tight switch backs which I miss at times.

[Bionic_Man]

Grit dog wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
I am not saying that the 68RFE shifts poorly. What I am saying is that these trucks (as well as those from the competitors) could improve by allowing a paddle shifter that would allow the driver to more easily and quickly choose their own gear.

If you haven't driven a vehicle with paddle shifters you really don't know what you are missing. They perform much better than a column shift with a button on the end that only limits the top gear the truck can use.

Have you ever sat in a Ram/Dodge pickup with a 6speed auto trans, either one?
Every one I've been in has a +/- button on the shifter that allows manual up and down gear changes when you put the shifter in manual mode.
Like a paddle shifter but not on the steering wheel.
Or are you just speculating for the sake of discussion?

I bought my 2012 new in September of 2011, and have driven it ever since. While there is a +/- button on the gear shift, there is no manual mode. All that the +/- button will do is limit the top gear available to the transmission. It will not allow you to manually shift. It is nothing like a car with paddle shifts.

No speculation here.

[brulaz]

With normal descents, our 2016 RAM's EB with the 68RFE tranny has worked very well.

But on very steep and slow descents with the tranny locked in 2nd gear the EB cuts out when the rpms drop below 1000-1200 rpm. And the EB doesn't work in 1st gear.

The problem then is to get the EB to reactivate. Generally I need to accelerate up to 1500-2000rpm, up to 40-50 mph in 2nd with my 3.42 rear end, or perhaps upshift to 3rd, speed up to 40-50 mph, then down shift to 2nd.

This can be a problem when the you don't really want to exceed 30 mph and the next 20 mph hairpin turn is right in front of you.

I'm told that RAM's manual tranny doesn't have this issue. EB works in first gear and right down to 0 mph.

[Cummins12V98]

wilber1 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
My 11 with 68RFE and 15 with Aisin both have the up/down rocker with on the shifter. Work great!

You people really need to try selecting a gear when descending a grade that puts the rpm's in the high 2K range then hit cruise for the speed that you feel comfortable with. WITH EB and TH FULL on.

Tried it and didn't really like it. For one thing, I don't always want full EB when descending a hill and T/H tends to have the EB cycling in order to try and maintain a target speed. For another, having cruise control commanding the throttle when I am going downhill with a big load behind makes me feel uncomfortable.


Each to their own.

I agree to each his own. But remember the first time you used cruise control and came into a corner? It made you feel like you were speeding up.

Experiment is all I can suggest and have a open mind.

My combined is only 33k.

[Grit_dog]

wilber1 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
I am not saying that the 68RFE shifts poorly. What I am saying is that these trucks (as well as those from the competitors) could improve by allowing a paddle shifter that would allow the driver to more easily and quickly choose their own gear.

If you haven't driven a vehicle with paddle shifters you really don't know what you are missing. They perform much better than a column shift with a button on the end that only limits the top gear the truck can use.

Have you ever sat in a Ram/Dodge pickup with a 6speed auto trans, either one?
Every one I've been in has a +/- button on the shifter that allows manual up and down gear changes when you put the shifter in manual mode.
Like a paddle shifter but not on the steering wheel.
Or are you just speculating for the sake of discussion?

The Ram ERS doesn't allow manual up changes, it restricts the gear that the transmission can shift up to. You can force the transmission to downshift but it upshifts in its own good time. It is a good feature but not a real manual mode. If you select 5 or 4 etc, it just turns the transmission into a 5 or 4 speed automatic.

Not the same at all and Bionic Man does know what he is talking about.

Well then I stand corrected. My apologies.
I know on the 2014 68rfe I had most recently, you could drop gears one at a time and limit the top gear before going into manual mode. Appeared to hold whatever gear you put it in, in manual mode without up shifting, but I do know that if you left "locked" in a higher gear in M mode and then slowed to a stop, it would downshift enough gears to not kill the engine and to get you going again albeit in 2nd or 3rd gear.

Is it possible that in M mode that it only holds the selected gear until getting into over rev territory and then forces an up shift if the driver doesn't recognize he needs to up shift or start wrecking stuff if the rpms keep going up?
Kind of like want it does on the low end of the rpm range.

Been years since I've been in the early 68re trucks so my memory could be slipping.