Exhaust Brake

[smitty29832]

Towing newb here! We are taking our Reflection 303RLS up north tomorrow morning for a long weekend. It'll be the first time I've towed our new 5th wheel through mountains. I'm not sure what the downhill grade is but I'll be using my diesel exhaust brake for the first time. The truck manual says the exhaust brake has two settings. One of them is a smart mode.

In order to ease my anxiety, I'd appreciate any information or tips on using an exhaust brake. I'm still trying to figure out the correct setting for the electric brakes.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Racerx]

Not familiar with the 2 types. Might help others if you post truck year and model. That said, love my exhaust brake on my Ford f350. When in tow haul mode just tap on brakes and the engine holds back in many cases not even needing additional braking.

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[White Beard]

High Smitty,

I have a 2014 3500 ram. pulling a 2014 solitude 320x. Exhaust brake is the best thing since sliced bread. I set mine on the first setting. Use the tow setting and shift gears(auto trans) up and down when entering and leaving highway. New brakes on 5vr. Set at 4.5 Usually don't have to step on brake peddle until around 45 to 35 mph. It's great!! experiment you'll find what you like. good luck.





t

 

[smitty29832]

Not familiar with the 2 types. Might help others if you post truck year and model. That said, love my exhaust brake on my Ford f350. When in tow haul mode just tap on brakes and the engine holds back in many cases not even needing additional braking.

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My truck is a 2014 Ram 2500 Crew Cab 4x4 w/6.7 Cummins

 

[Hootie]

My 2015 Ram has two setting for EB (exhaust brake), Auto, and when you let off on gas it comes on basically. One thing to remember, when EB is activated, the trailer electric brakes is not activated, the trailer brake is activated by using the actual truck brakes when hitting the brake pedal or using the trailer brake controller manually. So actually setting your trailers brake controller setting in regards to trailer brakes needs to be set without regard to theEB. EB is just extra braking, also remember using just EB and no actual brake pedal your brake lights will not come on.

 

[steve gravelle]

Hello White Beard!
Wondering what was the resolution of your fifth wheel brake issues back in April? I believe they were basically destroyed after 8000 total miles including delivery. I hope it was satisfactory in your mind. Please let us know!

 

[IDwanderers]

The second setting of the exhaust brake ultimately has the same braking capability. However, braking is phased in and not applied all at once. It is good for hauling horses in a trailer and hopefully not causing the horses to stumble. I use the first setting when pulling my fifth wheel.

The exhaust brake is awesome. You definately should use it while towing.

 

[J&G garage]

NEVER use your exhaust brake on a slippery surface (ie. snow, ice, oily wet roads)!

 

[C&H Conner]

Don't know if I would say "never" use the EB on a slick road as often it is all you need to bleed off a bit of speed.

Just make damn sure you don't use the EB and manual brakes at the same time or your rear end may lock up. Not too much fun steering that one.

The EB in pickups is tied in with the traction system and will cut out if the rear end loses traction but by then you may have a wee crisis on yer hands.

As for mountain driving - drop a gear and just use the EB to hold you back on a downhill run. Apply brakes only when needed to keep you at your target speed. The EB system works best at moderate to high RPM's so run it around 1800-2000 (or slightly higher) for max braking. On most hills the EB is all that is needed.

 

[KeithS]

We have a 2010 Ram 3500 (less than 10,000 miles) and have pulled an 8,000 lb. TT from Phoenix to Flagstaff and up on the rim east of Payson and back many times. I run with the exhaust brake on all of the time. Usually shifting down to 4th at the top of the hills will maintain a safe speed with very few brake taps. I found that the tow-haul mode is too aggressive and slows down too much. I have been told (but never tried) that by using the cruise control with tow-haul and the brake together will cause the truck to do whatever is necessary to maintain the set speed.

I think those hills are 6 %. The Mountain Directory West will give you details of the majority of the hills.

 

[scott42blue]

I don't have a Ram. But have run exhaust brakes for years. I installed a Pacbrake (after market ) on 2001 3500 GM after first trip to the mountains. My 2013 GM 3500 factory exhaust brake is a dream come true. With it whatever speed you start down long grade it will hold without doing anything. First time I used it was bringing 355 home. I am sure Ram and Ford work just as well. A exhaust brake will remove any fears about mountain towing. I doubt you will ever touch the brakes. i never needed to.
I would read owners manual and test before you get in the steep grades. Mine only works in drive with Tow/Haul on.
Scott

 

[wrp75_CO]

We drive Colorado mountains all the time, exhaust brake in the second (auto) setting. So far, I'll echo what everyone else has said. Also, pay attention to road signs if you're off the interstate: when exhaust brakes are prohibited, do the right thing and go with lower gears to do the slowing. But yes, we love our EB. Tap/slowly depress the brake to get to the right speed, and then it's just like cruise control (only it keeps the speed down, not up!)

 

[Gdon320]

Hi Smitty.

I have a Ram 2015 2500 with exhaust brake as well. As everyone has explained the first setting is "full exhaust brake" in other words, when you let off the pedal the EB kicks in to slow down the truck ( if the RPM's are high enough), the second setting "Auto" means when you let off the pedal it will maintain the last speed you were driving at and use the EB to keep you from going above that speed (again only if your RPM's are high enough). The manual recommends in order to gain the full effects of the "full EB" to also use the "tow haul mode". When in tow haul mode with the EB set to "on" the computer maximizes the gear selection with the EB. Having said all that, I have found that using the tow haul mode with EB is very very effective however, the shifting that the tranny does can be very abrupt and unannounced and some times difficult to deal with. So experiment with what works for you. It is a great system and works amazing.

Gordon

 

[RamGunner]

Make sure that you keep up on any firmware updates from your RAM dealer. They have ironed out a lot of the harsher shifting they had initially in our 3500 with Aisin transmission. They do the same for the RFE from time to time.

 

[J&G garage]

Don't know if I would say "never" use the EB on a slick road as often it is all you need to bleed off a bit of speed.

Just make damn sure you don't use the EB and manual brakes at the same time or your rear end may lock up. Not too much fun steering that one.

The EB in pickups is tied in with the traction system and will cut out if the rear end loses traction but by then you may have a wee crisis on yer hands.

As for mountain driving - drop a gear and just use the EB to hold you back on a downhill run. Apply brakes only when needed to keep you at your target speed. The EB system works best at moderate to high RPM's so run it around 1800-2000 (or slightly higher) for max braking. On most hills the EB is all that is needed.

If you loose traction on your drive axle you are going to have your hands full. Keep in mind not all pickups have anti lock brakes and traction control.

 

[smitty29832]

I'm a believer! Coming down the mountain was a breeze. I set the exhaust brake to "Auto" and let it do its thing. Never touched the manual brake. Sounded like an 18 wheeler every time it kicked in. I was giddy and saying, "How cool is this?" Wife couldn't understand my enthusiasm. Ha.

Thanks for all your replies. No more anxiety for me when driving through mountain areas.


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[C&H Conner]

Glad to hear that it went well Smitty! Keep the rubber side down and you will be just fine.....

 

[scottcoffinconst]

Not familiar with the 2 types. Might help others if you post truck year and model. That said, love my exhaust brake on my Ford f350. When in tow haul mode just tap on brakes and the engine holds back in many cases not even needing additional braking.

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I have a f 250. Does that exhaust break really work that well in the mountains? Most all my towing has been done on flat ground and I didn't know if it would hold back out camper in the mountains. I sure welcome your input
Scott


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[Racerx]

Works great if you are in tow haul mode. In route to our local campgrounds is a steep grade and sharp turn. I tap the brakes at the top of hill and engine holds it back without applying brakes. If you pick up too much speed just tap brakes again. I also tow a boat with trailer surge brakes. Traveling through Arkansas hills, just tap brakes and eine retards without having the surge brakes on trailer kick in, preventing them from overheating. My engine is diesiel.

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[scottcoffinconst]

Mine is to I love the new 6.7 power stroke. Ford finally got it all right. I thank you for the info. I live in Iowa and we don't have many steep grades. We are headed out to Nevada then to Yellowstone in 12 days and I have been real nerves about the tow mode having enough brake capacity


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