Newer Trucks = Tow Cheating

[davidaf]

Finally found the time to tow the Montana with the new truck (vs my 05 Ram with ebrake) up to the Eastern Sierras where I was able to ascend and descend some decent grades. It's simply cheating, all the work is gone. Push on the gas she just goes and goes, tap the brake, e-brake and gears do all the work. In fact I had to accelerate on a long 6% descent rather than the standard 10MPH brake routine.

Maybe the topic should be Newer Trucks = Tow Happy! I probably said "Man i love this truck" a dozen times. I imagine the same can be said for any of the big three's newer trucks.

[jlb27537]

Sounds you were driving my '12 Ram. The exhaust brake will cause you to have to "give it some gas" on a down hill.

We just got back from a 250 mile camping trip. You can actually forget you are towing 7 tons.

Welcome to the world of having the correct tow vehicle.

Jim

[mlh]

I don't have the exhaust brake but I do have 600 + HP and 1100 TK. Yes it's cheating. I just last Saturday came up Fancy Gap on I 77. Semis were going maybe 40 other campers 35 to 50. I just eased along EGT at 950 degrees oil coolant and transmission temps went up about 10 degrees. Speed 68 at 2500 RPMs. It's fun.
Lynwood

[DQDick]

Yup, never thought I would like it, but cruise, tow/haul and exhaust brake does it all now for me.

[bigskyjimmy]

yeah yeah yeah you Dirty dogs Rub it inI WISH,that would be SOOOOO Nice not to worry about going down steep grades any more,Now somebody Bum me 50K so I can get one too

[maximo]

I also have a new 2015 Ford F 250 6.7 diesel 440 hp and 860 ft lbs torque with all the bells and whistles along with extras I have added. Steep grades uphill and down hill no longer a problem.

A little story:
Last year going to and from the Montana gathering in Oregon from California up hy 5 all the Montanas were passing me going up the long grades. I got home on a Wednesday and ordered a new truck on Thursday. This year going to the gathering at the Jackson Ranchera I will have to drive 15 miles and up 1 grade.

[Charli]

We lost our trailer brakes coming through the Rockies from Vail to Denver . Spongy brakes and a burning smell resulted in us pulling over to let the truck brakes cool off. At that point I would have given anything to have the engine brake that I had in my '08 Ram 2500, CTD. As others have said, I often had to accelerate when going down a steep grade.
We did manage to limp into Denver driving in 2nd gear at 3000 RPM and 60 kph.

[1retired06]

Love our 6.7!

[Artemus Gordon]

When I tow, I smile all the way!

[sambam]

quote:Originally posted by bigskyjimmy

yeah yeah yeah you Dirty dogs Rub it inI WISH,that would be SOOOOO Nice not to worry about going down steep grades any more,Now somebody Bum me 50K so I can get one too

I'm with you, Jimmy. My '07 is probably a little better at the job than your '03, but a lot has changed since I bought it. I do have the 6-speed tranny, but no exhaust brake and the hp and torque the newer ones have insane! However, the replacement cost is simply not justifiable (to her anyway), so it ain't happenin' soon.

[bigskyjimmy]

Yeah that is my Dilema sambam,I have been trying to buy a 06-07 LBZ like yours but the prices they want are insane so I will upgrade my 5spd Allison and put a EFI Live tune on and a E brake on it for WAY cheaper than buying a newer rig because other than that my 03 LB7 has been a stellar rig

quote:Originally posted by sambam

I'm with you, Jimmy. My '07 is probably a little better at the job than your '03, but a lot has changed since I bought it. I do have the 6-speed tranny, but no exhaust brake and the hp and torque the newer ones have insane! However, the replacement cost is simply not justifiable (to her anyway), so it ain't happenin' soon.

[sambam]

[quote]quote:Originally posted by bigskyjimmy

Yeah that is my Dilema sambam,I have been trying to buy a 06-07 LBZ like yours but the prices they want are insane so I will upgrade my 5spd Allison and put a EFI Live tune on and a E brake on it for WAY cheaper than buying a newer rig because other than that my 03 LB7 has been a stellar rig

quote:Originally posted by sambam

I'm with you, Jimmy. My '07 is probably a little better at the job than your '03, but a lot has changed since I bought it. I do have the 6-speed tranny, but no exhaust brake and the hp and torque the newer ones have insane! However, the replacement cost is simply not justifiable (to her anyway), so it ain't happenin' soon.

[/quote
The EFI Live should help you. My issue isn't so much getting up the mountain, as getting safely down the other side. I've decided to spring for the Banks Speedbrake after doing some research. Like you said, it's cheaper than a new rig. I only have 56k on mine due to a daily driver. I love the truck. No issues, really. But, looking at some of these newer rigs, and reading the testimonies of some of the guys here, certainly gets me to thinking....and that usually gets me in trouble.
To the OP, sorry to pirate your thread.

[davidaf]

NP on the pirating! I added a PacBrake to my 05 Ram about 2 years ago. It did make a difference. The Ram served me well for 10 years and took us on some great adventures. If I had somebody to hand her down to for some lighter duty work I gladly would have (put her out to pasture so to speak, she deserved it). I probably could have spent another couple K to keep her going for a couple more years but it was time.