Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-10-2019, 11:09 PM   #1
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 157
Exhaust Brake

Hi,

First off, I hope this is in the appropriate category.

We are getting ready to start traveling from the west coast to the east coast. This will be our first real road experience with a diesel. My question is when to use the exhaust brake; 1. all the time, 2. only on steep downgrades 3. do I need to also downshift on long downgrades or will the exhaust brake take care of that?

We have a big test leaving San Diego heading east on the 8 down to the the desert floor and I want to be prepared. Any suggestions will be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Fred
14 Itasca Meridian 34B
R2D2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-10-2019, 11:44 PM   #2
Winnebago Master
 
Oldchinahand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 531
Altho we escaped from California quite some time ago, we make the Tucson to San Diego run every year for family reunion. That exhaust brake is invaluable between SD and Ocotillo.

We run ours "on" all the time. Carefully through municipalities that restrict it. Believe it saves brake pads.

Between SD and Ocotillo, I am often up and down shifting, driving on the temp gauge and tach.

East out of Jacumba, going down the rumarosa, you've got to downshift and let the exhaust brake take the load. Still, a tap on the brake now and then are needed to keep you in the 35mph truck speed limit.

West out of Ocotillo to Jacumba, everyone I know downshifts to maintain RPM and keeps a close eye on the temp for that steep climb. Normally, downshifting will lower engine temps on those steep runs, From Jacumba to SD, you're back to letting the exhaust brake take the load.

It is white knuckle the first time. After that, just another walk in the park.

Fair Winds and Following Seas
__________________
Terry & Rosalina
2007 Winnebago Journey 34SE
Retired Navy Mustang & Navy Wife
Oldchinahand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2019, 08:32 AM   #3
2014 Journey 36M
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 33
Mine stays on on all the time - saves on service brake wear in town and is effective on my coach down to 15mph before it kicks off. It does have a slight delay before it kicks in when letting off the throttle... 1-2 seconds? Don't worry about municipal restrictions - those are for the loud "Jake" (engine compression) brakes we hear on trucks - yours is an exhaust brake like mine - not as effective as the Jake but quieter.

Ours definitely helps on downgrades but on the longer/steeper ones you will still need to apply service brakes intermittently to keep speed from getting too fast, which can cause the transmission to automatically upshift to prevent overspeeding the engine, and then you'll really start to roll!. Best to not ride service brakes but apply them hard enough at intervals to bring speed and RPMs down and then slowly let it build again while brakes cool. Mine is a Cummins engine and Allison trans so acceptable engine rpms differ from your CAT engine but i think our transmissions and exhaust brake funtions similar.

Been back and forth across the Rockies and other steep grades in CO, MT, ID, WY, WA, OR, and CA on 2 lane and interstate roads, coach at 30,000lb pulling 4300lb Edge (w aux braking system) without any issues...well except one. I did foolishly let my speed build too high coming down Teton Pass (10%) and nearly rearended a line of cars that suddenly appeared around the corner stopped at a construction zone! Only time I ever smelled hot brakes in the coach in 60k miles. Should not have taken that road to begin with but that's another story.

Enjoy your trip!
__________________
2017 Journey 40J
2014 Ford Edge; Demco baseplate
Blue Ox BX4325 tow bar; SMI AF1 toad brake
Rmedad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2019, 10:06 AM   #4
2014 Journey 36M
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 33
Correction: Missed that your coach a 2014 so you also have Cummins engine - disregard my comment about Cat engine! (Had Cat engine in my 2001 Journey..)
__________________
2017 Journey 40J
2014 Ford Edge; Demco baseplate
Blue Ox BX4325 tow bar; SMI AF1 toad brake
Rmedad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-11-2019, 11:37 AM   #5
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 32
Exhaust brakes

I run with mine on all the time. The restrictions in the towns are for the trucks that run jake brake exhaust brakes and no mufflers that makes them loud. Just apply the service brakes to slow down below speed and then off and let the brakes cool. Do not ride the brakes as that will heat them up and can catch fire. Take it easy the first time and you will get better with time.
Matterbery is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2019, 11:03 AM   #6
Winnebago Owner
 
Meridian42e's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Colorado
Posts: 214
I leave mine on "most" of the time.

Every once in a while on low rise rolling hills the cruise control, Allison transmission, and exhaust brake don't get along and I get some gear slams when they all try doing their thing at the crest of a hill. Usually I turn one of them off and it cures it, and that is usually the exhaust brake.
__________________
2013 Itasca Meridian 42E
2013 Jeep Wrangler JKU Saraha
Meridian42e is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2019, 12:51 PM   #7
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 157
Guys, I appreciate your advice!

Oldchinahand, we too are escaping; and thanks for the rundown on our route. I was hoping someone with that experience would respond.

Rmedad and Meridian42e, You guys have given me invaluable advice since I joined this site and always look forward to your advice.

Matterbery, thanks for the tip on brake fires...excellent advice.

Thanks again...really very much appreciated!
R2D2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 04:58 PM   #8
Winnebago Master
 
bobmac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 562
I have a Winnebago and the choice is on or off. I did not like being unable to coast as the brake was always activated. It did also not make sense to me to be turning the switch on and off - in an emergency, you don't need that distraction.
I had the settings reprogrammed by Cummins so that the brake is activated when the brake pedal is touched and deactivated when the throttle is pressed. When programmed that way, you can release the throttle and coast or coast going down small grades - all with the ability to engage the exhaust brake with a light tap on the brake pedal. I highly recommend this configuration over the "always on" default. Cummins charged one hour labor to make the change and test drive it.
__________________
Bob
09 Journey 39Z
Southern Ontario
bobmac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 06:17 PM   #9
2014 Journey 36M
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 33
Mine works same way - switch always on but just a tiny bit of pressure on the throttle pedal keeps exhaust brake from activating and let's me coast when desired. Came that way as built.
__________________
2017 Journey 40J
2014 Ford Edge; Demco baseplate
Blue Ox BX4325 tow bar; SMI AF1 toad brake
Rmedad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 06:49 PM   #10
Winnebago Master
 
bobmac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 562
Rmedad
You have the default Winnebago configuration. With the reprogramming, you can take your foot completely off the throttle and the exhaust brake will not activate until you tap the brake pedal. The reprogrammed configuration is dramatically simpler.
__________________
Bob
09 Journey 39Z
Southern Ontario
bobmac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-17-2019, 09:14 PM   #11
Winnebago Master
 
Oldchinahand's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 531
Thanks Bob! You just don't know what you don't know. I drive as Rmedad describes. Just thought that's life as we know it.

Fair Winds and Following Seas
__________________
Terry & Rosalina
2007 Winnebago Journey 34SE
Retired Navy Mustang & Navy Wife
Oldchinahand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-22-2019, 12:02 AM   #12
Winnebago Master
 
SCVJeff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Santa Clarita, CA.
Posts: 1,222
Last i checked, the going rate at the CAT dealer to change the braking mode was about $200. Has that changed?

We bought the coach in Seattle and drove it back to So. Cal, and the first trip was into Death Valley- the steep road from Ridgecrest.. Downshifting will seriously save your brakes, and you'll know when that is when you smell them, and it doesn't take much. When I let go of the throttle the trans wants to downshift to second along with the EB. You may need to help slow the coach to let the transmission make that shift, but you’ll know when that shift happens..

Never ran without EB, and see no reason why I ever would, although I do downshift the trans on occasion when I need more engine brake power sooner.
__________________
_______________________________

Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
SCVJeff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-23-2019, 09:10 AM   #13
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 157
Well I was spared the white knuckle ride down Devil's Canyon. We ended up going to Newport Beach for a few days and left for FL on the 10. But along the way I got a good feel for the exhaust brake. Wow, what a difference. And I can see what you guys were describing regarding reprogramming.

Thanks again for all the great advice!

Fred
__________________
2014 Itasca Meridian 34B
Cummins 340HP
2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
R2D2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
brake


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Exhaust brake? Fastcar Running Gear, Axles, Brakes, Wheels and Tires 12 11-16-2011 12:49 PM
How much exhaust brake should I feel? SCVJeff Running Gear, Axles, Brakes, Wheels and Tires 32 12-11-2008 05:06 AM
Exhaust brake operation Arv Running Gear, Axles, Brakes, Wheels and Tires 10 12-14-2005 06:12 PM
Exhaust Brake on Meridan 36G 2004 Jean & Leroy Running Gear, Axles, Brakes, Wheels and Tires 9 12-14-2005 02:44 PM
Exhaust brake activation Running Gear, Axles, Brakes, Wheels and Tires 18 12-31-1969 07:00 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.