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1st Gen. Ram - All TopicsDiscussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.
Mr. Martin...I've been driving commercial trucks for almost 20 years in the mountains of BC....I know what you are saying about engine brake causing the tires to lock up...been there more then a few times.
Your axle chain up and braking is spot on. The few times I had sliding I was still able to slow it down and get things under control. I went down more then a few hills in 1st gear, but 2nd seemed to hold back well too....better safe then sorry.
I have a 5th wheels with about 2000 pounds pin weight, manual trans and exhaust brake.
What about chaining up the rear wheels on the truck and carefully using the exhaust brake while towing downhill on slippery roads?
I chain the duals with 3 rail chains, the back axle of the fiver with diamond chains, and the boat axle (2nd trailer) with diamond chains. If it's really dicey, I'll throw a diamond chain on one steer tire.
The thing about an exhaust or Jake brake is that it runs at a set drag for any particular speed. Service brakes can be set to any pressure at any time. It's a control issue. In other words, you can't lightly apply an exhaust brake, it's either on or off.
I chain the duals with 3 rail chains, the back axle of the fiver with diamond chains, and the boat axle (2nd trailer) with diamond chains. If it's really dicey, I'll throw a diamond chain on one steer tire.
The thing about an exhaust or Jake brake is that it runs at a set drag for any particular speed. Service brakes can be set to any pressure at any time. It's a control issue. In other words, you can't lightly apply an exhaust brake, it's either on or off.
Unless you had a way to adjust the air pressure being sent to the actuator on the fly - maybe even tie it in with the trailer brakes somehow.
It's still sitting in the barn where we dropped it. He's done a bit of work to it, believe he got it running at least....driving not so sure? He's been working on that 52 for at least 15 years....little bits here and there. But the fact he's not very good with his money probably has more to do with the lack of progress on it.
12-03-2014, 08:41 PM
