Trailer questions

Rowski · Sep 16, 2003

I like it a lot. It rides nice, like a truck, but it is a truck. Handles the 8.5' plow well. Interior is very comfortable. I spent a lot of time in it plowing snow 10 to 15 hrs per snow. She lacks a little power pulling around 11K lbs. But I don't want to go to fast pulling something that weighs almost twice what the truck weighs /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. I've had a few minor problems but nothing big. I would buy another one.

Docsknotinn · Sep 16, 2003

This is the first Diesel I have had. I am very pleased with the ride. I have driven it to Texas and Maine with as much comfort as some cars I've had. But then its got a lot more features and creature comforts than were on the cars I used to buy. Dave

hipilot · Sep 17, 2003

Towing capability.

I recently purchased a Super Duty truck capable of safely towing and STOPPING a 10,000 pound trailer. I considered diesel for the torque and economy. But we have lots of steep hills where I tow and the ability to make controlled stops had high importance. Diesels have little capability for decelleration using compression braking.

We have a 450 HP Turbocharged Cummins diesel in our 17 Ton pusher motorhome. The device that makes our motorhome safe to drive is the "Jake" brake.

When I enquired at the Dodge dealer, I was advised that if I installed a Jake Brake on the Cummins diesel that my warrantee would be void. Wow!

I considered the new smaller, nore powerful Ford diesel, but the Ford Service Manager advised that Ford was having big problems with that engine. The big older Ford diesel (Navistar, I think) is so loud that when it is running it is deafening.

So I made the choice of a Ford F250 with the V-10 and overdrive automatic. All the towing power that I need, and by forcing the downshift from O/D to straight drive by tapping the button on the shift lever, I have controlled compression braking while on downgrades.

The trailer also has electric brakes that are automatically controlled from the truck with an lever over-ride switch that has kept me out of a bad potential accident. The trailer brake control lever is also useful on slippery roads. It's easy to straighten up the rig by applying trailer brakes only.

I now have 13000 trouble free miles on the truck, 7000 of which have been towing loads from 5000# to 10500#

Bird · Sep 17, 2003

( Diesels have little capability for decelleration using compression braking. )

I'll agree, BUT . . . they keep coming up with new engines, transmissions, braking systems, etc. faster than I could keep up with them. My brother used to have a GMC Topkick with a CAT diesel (believe it was a 220 hp) and an Allison automatic. Nice truck except for one thing that made me really dislike it and that was the fact that when you let off the accelerator pedal, it was just like being in free wheeling; RPM dropped to idle and the truck rolled on. And the later, I spent a week driving a Freightliner FL60 with a 300hp CAT and an Allison, but a very different transmission. When I let off the accelerator, it slowed just as abruptly as any gasoline engine I ever drove, and even downshifted as it slowed. I've heard that the new GM Duramax has an Allison much like that, but I haven't driven one (of course several of our members have them so they can tell you more about that).

However, I also know of nothing wrong with having that V-10 Ford gasoline engine either.

And as a ship captain, I reckon you've had just a little experience with some BIG diesels, huh? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

DK35vince · Sep 17, 2003

( When I enquired at the Dodge dealer, I was advised that if I installed a Jake Brake on the Cummins diesel that my warrantee would be void. Wow! )

What about an exaust brake.
Not as strong as a Jake brake but they do give diesel motors much better engine decellaration.

Docsknotinn · Sep 17, 2003

Bird, on the new Allison Trans that is the Option ( A 4L80-E ) A high extension Torque converter limits that. It also has grade brakeing so when it is engaged and you brake going downhill it auto downshifts. Dave

bgott · Sep 18, 2003

They don't make a compression ( Jake) brake for the B series Cummins, they use an exhaust brake. The exhaust brake recommended by Cummins is made by Jacobs, the same company that makes the compression brake for big trucks. Dodge wouldn't warranty an automatic equipped truck that had the 47RE transmission with an exhaust brake but will warranty the 48RE that they started equipping the trucks with early in 2003. How long ago did you talk to that dealer? It has been mentioned on the turbodieselregistry.com website that a lot of dealers are behind the curve on this issue.

hipilot · Sep 18, 2003

In January of this year, I visited two Dodge Dealers and they both told me that any exhaust or compression brake installed on a Dodge diesel truck would void the warrantee. I also checked the info on the Yahoo Groups diesel truck web site.

On our motorhome, when the Jake brake switch is engaged, the Allison tranny does downshift from 5th or 6th down to 3rd as soon as the rpm limit would not be exceeded. In the Gaspe Penn. of Quebec we encountered grades of 10 to 12 percent regularly with one at 17 percent. On that grade, I stopped completely at the top of the hill, manually downshifted to 1st, engaged the Jake and used the service brakes to control the rate of descent. This 17 percent grade has a stop sign at the foot. I was sweating the manuever, but had no alternative route. I could smell my brake pads burning. Perhaps that is why I am so concerned about stopping heavy loads.

And yes, I do have experience with bigger diesels to about 40,000 HP. That is not a mis-type. Stopping can take several miles.