Planning ahead for a trip to Yellowstone next June. I have an '04 2500 48RE and no exhaust brake. My truck is 2wd and all stock. I pull a 12,000 lb 5er and have had no problems thus far. Texas Hill country and the Ozarks are the hilliest regions I've been in and I am wondering if anyone has experienced the Yellowstone area without an exhaust brake. Any problems or not (with a light foot)? Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

Yellowstone park is about an hour and a half from me. The park is extremely flat but getting to it is a different story. You shouldn't have any problems though. Just remember that whatever speed you crest a grade at is what you'll have to hold back going down. Much nicer to crest at a low speed to start the downhill then already doing the speed limit.

You will enjoy the vacation for sure.

 

I haven't been out there for several years, but if your just going from TX to Yellowstone I don't think you'll have much of a problem. Now if you plan to leave Yellowstone and go thru Idaho to Oregon you might want to plan ahead some about being sure you have really good brakes.

 

Been there a couple times and all thru the Rockies without an exhaust brake. I've never had a problem and I agrree you need to keep speed at your climb rate as you crest the Mt.
I'm sure it's easier with the brake , but I've been OK using just some caution.

 

What he said. The only hill your going to have to worry about, if you go that way is out 22/33. That's a pretty good climb out there.

 

Which way are you going from Texas?

 

Thanks for the info. We are planning to use the east entrance out of Cody. Planning on a week in Yellowstone and 4 or 5 days in the Tetons. You've put my mind at ease considerably. Thanks again.

 

You'll hit some pretty long grades that you won't notice until the go-pedal starts asking for more.

 

I think if you stick with the interstate and use some caution, you will be fine.

also, pull over and cool your brakes occationally.

 

No interstate within about 100 miles of yellowstone (I think Idaho falls is the closest). Many go though Yellowstone without exhaust brakes. Not an issue.

 

Inside the park won't be too much of a problem because the speed limit is so low. Can't speak the the new road over Dunraven Pass, but the old one wasn't bad.

Now if you're going up over the Bear Tooth "top of the world" highway, or the Chief Joseph highway, out the north east entrance from Cook City, an exhaust brake would help. Speeds on the Bear Tooth aren't high, but it is a long slow pull up the steep switch backs which go right up over the top of a mountain. The Chief Joseph highway has a much higher speed limit and long steep grades. Both these drives give very spectacular views and have become instant highlights with tour groups we've guided to the Yellowstone area, and are well worth doing, even without a exhaust brake.

 

No question there. The Beartooth beats the Going to the Sun highway in Glacier to heck as far as I'm concerned. Everyone should do the Beartooth in their lifetime. Right now it is littered with Harleys making their way to and from Sturgis.

 

When the wife and I went to Rocky Mountain National Park I asked the ranger what the park was famous for. His reply was the drive, and the road which goes up over the mountain. It turned out to be a spectacular drive. But if the drive of Rocky Mountain qualifies for national park status, heaven only knows what the Bear Tooth qualifies for.

 

Yep, beautiful country for sure although I haven't done much in Colorado or Utah except pass through. I would like to see a lot of the US I haven't got to spend any time at. Everyone always wants to go to Europe. They can have it. Why do they always want to come here? There's so much of the US I haven't been to that I don't have any need to go anywhere else.

Right now out of my office windows I can see the Spanish Peaks (where Lone Mountain at Big Sky is and only about 45 minutes from the West entrance to Yellowstone) to the South, the Tobacco Roots to the West, the Bridgers due East and the Absarokee Mountains (where the Beartooth Highway is) to the Southeast through Bozeman Pass. Life is good.

 

If you can aford it just get the Exhaust Brake. I had to send the control box for mine back in to Banks to be flashed and I thought I was going to die before it got back to me. I'll never own a diesel w/out one again.