Heavy

[Raften]

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.

[btggraphix]

scolew325 wrote:
I drive a commercial truck for a living and use the jake brake constantly. Saving other components on your rig is more important than fuel mileage, but having the jake on all the time does not reduce your mileage. .

Bingo. After spending close to 3K on an entire brake system (pads, rotors, one caliper....even the brake shoes that are used for the emergency brakes on my truck) I spent the money (maybe $1200?) to buy an exhaust brake. I expect it will double to triple the life of the service brakes. So buying one will save money and increase safety at the same time. A hard to beat combination.

[scolew325]

I drive a commercial truck for a living and use the jake brake constantly. Saving other components on your rig is more important than fuel mileage, but having the jake on all the time does not reduce your mileage. .

[skipbee]

Coming from the East Coast we don't deal with the grades found all over the West. On route to Yellowstone in 2005, from the flat lands we climbed, if I remember properly, the Big Horn Mountain. We were busy negotiating the switchbacks and looking back at the vast plains we had just crossed. When we topped out and I looked at the descent before us, I was scared we would burn out our brakes as we drove down.

When our 2004 F-350 diesel was delivered the East Coast Dealer was very vague about what the Tow Haul system was all about. They said when your towing something it helps with the shifting and like that. I hit the tow haul as we began the go down the mountain and we descended at about 25 mph and barely needed the brakes. There after a Ford Dealer in Cody, WY explained the workings of T/H and our many mountain adventures after, were easy and safe. We now use T/H when ever going down steep grades.

Our rig on that trip, which was to Alaska, weighed in at a little under 7 tons. With out the assistance of downshifting and exhaust gas back pressure we would have been in deep do-do. Diesels do not have the back pressure of gas engines on downshift. T/H directs the exhaust through the turbo to add back pressure to the engine, was how it was explained to me.

[abslayer]

Braking was one of my main concerns on moving to a TC that comes in at 4200 Lbs loaded
However the brake system on my new ford 350 handles this on hills with NO problems.
This really surprised me on how fast I could stop this load.

[Raften]

I have a switch mounted on the gear shift to control the exhaust brake. Control also goes thru the ECM so there is a few seconds lag before the brake kicks in. Since I seem to use it in all driving it is a good idea to tap the brakes to warn vehicles behind.

[Gripnriprod]

gitpicker2009 wrote:
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?

It's a trade-off. You use more fuel but you save your transmission$$$ and brakes$$. It doesn't effect milage when just cruising so I leave it on just in case I forget and get in a spot where I suddenly need it.

[btggraphix]

gitpicker2009 wrote:
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

I don't really know. I can't see how it would make much difference because the amount of fuel going into the engine would be "idle" levels and that would be the same I'd think whether you are using the e-brake or regular brakes.

If you have it on while driving and aren't using the cruise control AND tend to let off on the gas and then come back on the gas the brake would be coming on and off and that might reduce fuel economy. When I am just cruising along at say 60 and have it on I always have just a touch of throttle to maintain speed so the brake doesn't come on. I only let off when I need to slow anyway I guess.

The bottom line is I think that it's more about driving habits than any effect from the brake. I wouldn't think the brake by itself would make any real mileage difference.....

[Gripnriprod]

Exhaust brake and trailer mode! So nice!

[gitpicker2009]

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

[btggraphix]

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.

[Raften]

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]

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]

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!