Will have to agree with Wingit, Just tow/haul will lock the tc and provide some back pressure.

My 06, once i hit the brakes, wait a bit, the tc will stay locked and slow you down some, then it self downshifts and still hold you back a bit. Even in OD works great, slowing enough at time. Nothing like EB though.

I would have a EB at those loads over 8-10k.

 

I think he meant it felt like it was in neutral, not that he really had put it there. I pull 15k enclosed three axle tag all over the pacific northwest. No exhaust brake. Just use common sense and you should be fine.. Better with one, probably. Would I like one? Don't know never driven one(on a little truck). In the 50's-60's there was a Williams exhaust brake for big trucks(o yea big-180/220 cummins) worthless. Would I like a real jake, you bet.
Clark

 

AKA as a "potato stuffer."

 

you got it. Is it time for our nap?
Clark

 

Iavent towed real heavy with this truck threw Colorado. The last 2 years we went to Utah and both times I wasent pulling anything heavy. We left the camper home and just put the ATVs on a car trailer. We dident need a base camp because we lived on the ATVs for a week both years. This year we are headed back to Colorado and want the camper for a base camp. I dont know if there is something wrong with my truck or if none of you have ever driven the same truck with a 6 speed. Yes the tranie does hold back a little but almost none compared to the 6 speed. I had my 04 for 3 years and in that time I pulled my toy hauler to Colorado or western Wyoming 3 times and once a rented camper before I bought my own. The diference between the engine breaking is nite and day. The auto in tow haul mode down shifts speradicaly and never the same way twice in a row. I have to use the breaks hard to slow my camper. 9 times out of 10 the thing dont downshift till I have already dropped down to around 40-45mph then not again till around 25. By time it does downshift the rpms have dropped down to around 1000 or just above and there is no engine breaking left. It upshifts just as retarded but thats anouther thread.

 

[]took my tax rf,got my self a pac-brake and a smarty jr,i love my dw

 

I take the Automatic out of OD manually, and manually go to second,
I would not trust it to downshft where you want to.
Another issue, since the TC lockout works in 4th and 3rd,
I should ask a dealer if that means always, as you have to select Tow Haul or OD off,
Im not sure what that means exactly. Tow Haul increases tranny pressure,
so what happens when you leave that selection and choose OD off?
Is that great idea of increasing tranny pressure reduced ?
happy day
Like the commedian said, WHATS G O I N G ON HERE ?
I would own the 6 spd, but Anita wont drive it, there goes my driver helper.

 

I made a trip to yellowstone pulling a 10k fifthwheel with my 05 3500 auto 4x4. By down shifting as low as 1st on some of the hills got by with my service brakes. But then again they were worn out in front by 30000 miles.

I got the Banks brake with in a month or so of it being on the market after that yellowstone trip. On local trips in AZ over some 6% grades, rarely touch the service brakes. There is on down hill on highway 87 between Phoenix and Payson, where I will use the brakes just a little as there is a pretty tight curve near the foot of that down hill stretch. If I down shifted the exhaust brake would hold, but I would be going much slower.

The 05 was stolen about a week ago.
I will have the banks brake installed on the replacement truck if it does not already have one.

 

[QUOTE=danieldtd;
The 05 was stolen about a week ago.
I will have the banks brake installed on the replacement truck if it does not already have one.[/QUOTE]

whatdaheck ? what a bummer,
Besides old dump trucks,backhoes,tractors,lawn mowers, I never had a traveling diesel, so If we like this 5ver toy hauling idea, maybe I should have an ExhBrake. Isn't there an manual control instead of all this high tech stuf ?
happy day

 

Your '06 already has most of the electronics to make the e-brake work just fine. I had the dealer install my Jacobs before I took delivery. It was a bit pricey that way but I don't regret it at all. I put a BD brake on my '98 after one trip into death Valley where I let my brakes get hot.
Many folks seem to think they're not worth it. I disagree and would'nt spend much time towing without one.
I'd consider the Pac-Brake if starting over with an aftermarket one.

Dan

 

We did the trip to Texas instead of crossing the rockies,
We lost 1/3 of the usable rear tire rubber on new Firestones,
pulling 11500 trailer at 65 / 70 mph.
Just my 2 cents , with an exhaust brake in the mountains,
I would expect to loose allot of rubber on rear tire braking. Is it safer ? sure.
After this trip I sold the Toy Hauler.
We cant get away long enough to make this idea worth while,
Texas OkL roads and traffic was a mess, no thanks.
I hope I never do that again. Utah wx this winter is strangly bad..
That was my dream trip, It may never happen, as travel this way is hard on everything,
including you. For a first time 5ver trip, thats serious crap..

 

Nope but it is a good tool to have there are many time I have dropped off a grade only to have my brakes cookin but with the EB I dont even need to touch them most of the time .great tool to have never will be with out it

 

I had a 2000 with no EB (slushbox 4 speed) and now the 07.5 with the factory EB is an amazing standard option. I've towed heavy with it, (12k dump trailer) and slowing down a long hill is now a effortless, stress free event (and it just plain sounds cool as well.) I will not own another truck without it. Do I NEED it? No. Is it reassuring that while you're slowing down that you have nice, cool service brakes to count on? Yes.

 

I dont have an exhaust brake and I haul a very heavy 5er all over the US and Canada. It isn't necessary, but if you can afford it, buy it.

 

I know what you mean about coming down the hill from Payson... I tow a relatively light 7k 5th wheel and it does get a bit sketchy on some of those grades with the turns..