F-450 & Exhaust brake - RV-Dreams Community Forum

mesa48 · RV-Dreams Community Member

F-450 & Exhaust brake

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Had a 2008 F-450 with the tow/haul for 5 years (100000 miles towing 36 states and 5 provinces). Not an Exhaust brake but it worked great. Traded it in on a 2012 with the same trans tow/haul feature. Seems to work great also....quieter than exhaust brake if that matters. Had tow/haul turned on 90% of the time.

-- Edited by igotjam on Friday 23rd of November 2012 09:09:50 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Mike,

When we were researching for our RV, I agonized over the issue of additional braking of a tow vehicle. Since I've been an 18-wheeler operator in the past, I'm well aware of the value of an engine or exhaust brake in addition to the regular brakes.

In my research, I found that one could not put an aftermarket exhaust or engine brake on the F450's. (At least the ones I was considering at that time.) I even looked an MDT's and HDT's as an option. However, a friend asked me about the F450 truck's transmission. He stated that he had a relative with a different brand that had a transmission that had the feature to use the transmission as an additional braking method instead of the engine and exhaust brakes. So, I went to looking, and sure enough, the 2008 F450's had the transmission with the "Tow/Haul" feature built in. (Well, I PRESUME that they all had that "Tow/Haul" feature.)

I then went to asking those on the forums that had the F450's how the transmission worked with regards to braking. I don't recall anyone telling me that the transmission didn't work. All one has to do is still keep an eye on the tachometer when going downgrade so that the engine doesn't over-rev. Most of my hauling so far with our F450 has been in the hills of Oklahoma and its turnpikes, and I've never even engaged the "Tow/Haul" feature. The one time I did was on a small, steep hill near where we lived at the time. On that occasion, when I tapped the brake and let off, the transmission definitely worked to gear down the truck. (That engagement is merely the pressing of a button at the end of the shift lever.)

Terry

jayc · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have the best of both worlds in my Dodge. It comes with an exhaust brake as standard equipment and has a 6 speed tranny with the tow/haul mode. It worked great in Wyoming, Montana and Colorado this summer. Not to mention the tried and true Cummins motor!