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Never a downhill problem on the Interstates or higher speed roads.
But when going down a windy 35mph mountain trail, I'm either in first gear screaming at 4-5K rpm, or smelling the stink of my truck and trailer brakes.
Luckily it doesn't happen that often, but still it's something I'll bear in mind when choosing the next truck.
When the truck was in 2nd gear it couldn't keep the rig below 35 mph (the speed limit), and I had to brake for numerous 20 mph hair-pin turns as well.
This was coming down the west slope from gap at Smoky Mountains N.P.
At the bottom both the truck and trailer brakes were very hot and smelly.
Since then I've started downhill in first gear and let the RPMs get up to 5000 rpm instead. That's not so hard on the brakes but probably rather hard on the tranny.
Sounds fun! I wonder how much better a bigger engine would be. Obviously it will be better but is the payoff worth it. I have been surprised how well my 2.7 does with engine braking at 12k GVW.
Originally Posted by brulaz
Oh yes. They were freshly adjusted too.
When the truck was in 2nd gear it couldn't keep the rig below 35 mph (the speed limit), and I had to brake for numerous 20 mph hair-pin turns as well.
This was coming down the west slope from gap at Smoky Mountains N.P.
At the bottom both the truck and trailer brakes were very hot and smelly.
Since then I've started downhill in first gear and let the RPMs get up to 5000 rpm instead. That's not so hard on the brakes but probably rather hard on the tranny.
Sounds fun! I wonder how much better a bigger engine would be. Obviously it will be better but is the payoff worth it. I have been surprised how well my 2.7 does with engine braking at 12k GVW.
Well, it is fun to haul our trailer all over the Appalachian trails.
The Ecoboosts do great going uphill, but going down ... meh.
As I've always been partial to diesels, the next truck will probably be a diesel with a good exhaust brake.
Ford doesn't provide one in the F150, and the RAM Ecodiesel and Nissan Titan XD don't have an exhaust brake, and both have ****-poor payloads, so I'll probably end up with a 3/4 ton diesel of some sort.
The XD sounded like it was going to be a winner..... Payload ratings are awful. There are spy shots of a f150 with a tail pipe defuser. Time will tell.
Originally Posted by brulaz
Well, it is fun to haul our trailer all over the Appalachian trails.
The Ecoboosts do great going uphill, but going down ... meh.
As I've always been partial to diesels, the next truck will probably be a diesel with a good exhaust brake.
Ford doesn't provide one in the F150, and the RAM Ecodiesel and Nissan Titan XD don't have an exhaust brake, and both have ****-poor payloads, so I'll probably end up with a 3/4 ton diesel of some sort.
The XD sounded like it was going to be a winner..... Payload ratings are awful. There are spy shots of a f150 with a tail pipe defuser. Time will tell.
Yes, the XD was a major disappointment. As was the Ecodiesel before it.
A diesel in the F150 with exhaust brake and the HD Payload option would be just the ticket. (Although the HP of the Ecoboost has got me spoiled. )
But we're not going to wait. I want a 4x4 soon after getting this FX2 stuck too many times. This spring/summer we're going to upgrade to 3/4 ton.
Trying to talk myself into a 3.5l Ecoboost to replace my Ram. My current trailer is a 24' V-nose enclosed trailer. The Ram obviously can pull it easily. Nothing to it. But I really would like to go back to a gasser. This is the rig.
Trying to talk myself into a 3.5l Ecoboost to replace my Ram. My current trailer is a 24' V-nose enclosed trailer. The Ram obviously can pull it easily. Nothing to it. But I really would like to go back to a gasser.
...
In terms of routine maintenance, the Ecoboost is a lot cheaper than any of the diesels. Up here in Ontario, it's about $100/year for synthetic oil and filter at the dealer.
Just checked out the costs for a RAM Cummins I6: $450/year for fuel filter change, and ~$175 for oil+filter every 6 months. That's $800/year on routine maintenance if you don't do it yourself.
When the truck was in 2nd gear it couldn't keep the rig below 35 mph (the speed limit), and I had to brake for numerous 20 mph hair-pin turns as well.
This was coming down the west slope from gap at Smoky Mountains N.P.
At the bottom both the truck and trailer brakes were very hot and smelly.
Since then I've started downhill in first gear and let the RPMs get up to 5000 rpm instead. That's not so hard on the brakes but probably rather hard on the tranny.
That's interesting. I know you post a lot in the forum and I respect your knowledge and contributions. I towed my 5,500 pound RV trailer over that exact same route last year with my F150 Ecoboost and I had no trouble whatsoever. I'm trying to remember whether I had to resort to first gear. But, you are very correct in that compression braking is a weakness of the Ecoboost engine.
In terms of routine maintenance, the Ecoboost is a lot cheaper than any of the diesels. Up here in Ontario, it's about $100/year for synthetic oil and filter at the dealer.
Just checked out the costs for a RAM Cummins I6: $450/year for fuel filter change, and ~$175 for oil+filter every 6 months. That's $800/year on routine maintenance if you don't do it yourself.
Actually the fuel filters (2) cost about $150 plus 2 hours labor every 15,000 miles. The oil changes I haven't had to pay for yet. Dodge paid for the first 4. It'll be 3 gallons of oil plus the filter and probably about 0.75 hour. Not cheap for sure. I tow from Florida to Michigan and back at least once a year. Plus across the state occasionally. So I do put some miles on when I hook up. It'll be the F150 or the 2017 F250 this time, I think.
01-17-2016, 03:55 PM
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