12 States to ban diesel vehicles

[Dftodd]

In my case the 3500 is a mere 9,500 lbs. or so, but at a minimum there's about 5,000 behind it, and I have been at (possibly a tad over) the 39,000 lb. CGVWR.

Also maybe worth pointing out is that I tend to drive fast, and that there are some decent grades here in the Rockies.

Heck, one time after having picked up a used 40' gooseneck flatbed I drove the quite curvy road 150 some miles home, and fast as usual. Not sure where along the way the trailer brakes quit working, but it wasn't until at the stop sign 10 miles from home that I found out that there were no trailer brakes.

Up until that point I hadn't used anything but the excellent exhaust brake, so there was no reason to find out that they didn't work. I'm just glad it wasn't when having to abort passing a slower vehicle because of approaching traffic. That could've been ugly.

Our F550 diesel flat bed weighed around pretty close to 8,500 lbs. We have to run them through a scale and get a weigh slip when they come in so we have an idea what we can haul with them.

The exhaust brake on our dodge 5500 seems to work as you say on larger roads where I have room. We have some routes though that your passing your load going around the corners on some steep grades. But coupled with the transmission down shifting to hold your speed, i'm not on the brakes very hard.

Our Ford f550 diesel service truck seems to be a little more responsive with down shifting when the exhaust brake is engaged.

But you don't notice any tone difference in the engine really like you do with the dodge.

The Ford performs more like it was placed in tow haul mode when the exhaust brake is engaged.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Hmm, if you're in Tow/Haul and have the exhaust brake on full I don't see why using the brakes would be needed. Maybe your turbo actuator is acting up?

There's a nearby steep descent where one curve is well past 180 degrees and I have always joked about being able to check the trailer's taillights halfway through that one. Yet, no reason to use the brakes, unless I've sped up a bit too much since the prior curve and need to tap the brakes to make the exhaust brake slow me down even more.

And just to be sure, we're talking about '10 and newer Rams right, not earlier Dodges which I don't even know if they had exhaust brakes.

 

[Dftodd]

Hmm, if you're in Tow/Haul and have the exhaust brake on full I don't see why using the brakes would be needed. Maybe your turbo actuator is acting up?

There's a nearby steep descent where one curve is well past 180 degrees and I have always joked about being able to check the trailer's taillights halfway through that one. Yet, no reason to use the brakes, unless I've sped up a bit too much since the prior curve and need to tap the brakes to make the exhaust brake slow me down even more.

And just to be sure, we're talking about '10 and newer Rams right, not earlier Dodges which I don't even know if they had exhaust brakes.

Ram is a 2023 5500.

 

[Hay Dude]

When I have my Ram’s exhaust brake on “full” mode, any backing off on the fuel pedal brings it on and it works extremely well. In “auto” it only really is noticeable when you touch the brakes.
Mine has been on “full” since I drove it off the lot in 3/2020 with few exceptions.

 

[nisaacs]

And just to be sure, we're talking about '10 and newer Rams right, not earlier Dodges which I don't even know if they had exhaust brakes.

A little trivia...The 6.7 has always had them, since '07.5. The first early trucks was an option but quickly became standard.

Pac brake had aftermarket for years before that. When I did my Cummins conversion (1990) on my '74 F-350, that was my first upgrade.

 

[Hay Dude]

Just hauled 2 loads @ 48,000lbs today and the Ram ate it for lunch. Exhaust brake and transmission downshifting combo are amazing when you really need to haul some weight.