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I know the Ford Exhaust Brake will never be as strong as what is on the Cummins. But Yesterday I came down a steep grade with my 4H GN horse trailer ( probably around 11,000 lbs trailer yesterday with only 2 horses in it). I pushed the exhaust brake button and forced it into 2nd gear and let the engine do all the braking. Never touched the brake pedal. Engine was spinning 3,000 rpm and held 30 mph. (8° slope = a 14% grade). On major higways, I usually just leave it in 10th gear and press the Exhaust Brake Auto and let the truck hold me down 7% grade at 60 mph with no brakes. On this 8° slope in a 25 mph speed zone, I didn't want to wait for the Auto exhaust brake to go to work. Forcing the downshift make sure I stay close to the speed limit
The exhaust brake on the Super Duties really sold me when coming down the 10% grade from Mt Rushmore with the camper hooked up. Granted, it is only 6k lb and we were somewhere around 14.5 - 15k lbs total, but the EB held us and the only time I found myself hitting the brakes was because the folks in front of us were constantly hitting their brakes then letting off and speeding back up... then hitting their brakes again, and so on. I didn't get to push the EB on the Ram that we rented a few months later since we pulled the camper to Florida with it, so not really any big hills, but everything else about the Ram seemed inferior to the Super Duty.
My 2018 f250 6.7 did excellent going down Summit Mt on Rt 40 in PA (10 mph truck limit, 25 for cars up and down a super steep grade!) Exhaust brake on auto and tow haul on, pulling a 13,500 fifth wheel. I didn't touch the brakes at all, and it kept me in a perfectly controlled descent down the mountain.
I actually prefer the exhaust brake on vs the auto setting.
The one in the Cummins is insane, but the Ford's ain't no slouch.
when I’m towing I prefer auto, just because it will keep the speed I want and not slow down more - whereas the “on” setting will continue to slow me down.
agree about the Cummins brake. I’ve also noticed that my exhaust brake on my 18 ford 6 speed is better than my 22 ford 10 speed.
I've towed our 9000lb 33ft travel trailer now about 2000 miles on our 3 month old truck usually to remote areas containing mountains. I really love the engine brake! I usually set it to auto, and on a few occasions had it shift to 2nd gear. Never 1st gear so far. First time I've ever felt safe towing through mountains. Many times I engage the engine brake and never touch the truck brake. What I also notice while the engine brake is engaged, your fuel economy will rise. I believe how it seems to work is to nearly turn the fuel off to the engine, use the compression of the diesel to create resistance, and then use the transmission to adjust speed by changing gears up/down.
The only issue i have and it's a nit, is disengaging by brake by accelerating. It' not a smooth transition, more abrupt.
Ok, this may be apples n oranges, but I preferred the ex-brake on my goat ('15 Ram 3500/cummins) over my '22 F550 hands down when empty and towing.. and the power, although I have been told they de-tune the 550's
During the winter I tow a Tucker Sno-cat 24/7, appx 11,500-12k# and I live/work in the Sierra Nevada Mtns, so I'm either going up, or going down and usually cornering L or R! lol no straight roads.
My personal feeling is that my goat did a better job, or at least a more confidence inspiring job towing, if I let off the throttle, the e-brake was predictable slowing me down, and very noticeable, only issue, was when it was crap snow/ice slick roads, it would break the tires loose slowing it down so I would turn it off. My new F550, I have to check to see if the e-brake is on, even though I know I turn it on when I start it, it is that bad, now granted, the 550 weighs 13,000#, and my goat was about 9,500# but still, I am not super impressed with Ford's e-brake, and then add in the uphills, only able to make 50mph when I used to do 60 in the goat towing.
And pics, cause we all like truck ****
Old work truck, the goat (play on Ram) The new beast
I think the engine brake works well on my 2017 F350. I pull though the Appalachians regularly, and have taken 2 long trips out west to the Rockies with my 12,000+ lb 5th wheel camper. I do not expect the engine brake to completely slow my combo. Usually 3rd works (depending on speed limit and slow curves) or even 4th with higher speed limits. Occasionally touching the brakes to assist the engine brake is my preference without having the engine scream. I don’t think I have ever seen over 3000 RPMs either up or down a mountain.
Sometimes I think, this brake is awesome. Other times I think it's junk, especially if I'm not paying attention cresting the hill. Although, the exhaust brake sure worked better in the 6 spd trucks. I wish Ford would address it in the newer ones. But I agree with the OP, it does pretty well on Auto at higher speeds.
2020 model year and newer EB is more aggressive getting to 18 psi of retarding power as compared to a 2017 6sp from my experiences.
I run with EB ON never Auto....cant speak of Auto performance.
I have pulled the same 14K load up and down the same MTs in WY since the late 1990s several times each year.
If you want aggressive EB in these Fords, manually downshift trying to keep the RPMs over 3K. It will NOT allow you to downshift to early....but if it downshifts the engine and trans are ready for it not matter the RPM.
If you live in the MTs and spend most of your time up and down, the Raptor Steering Wheel swap greatly improves the shifting (paddle shifters) which with the 10 speed is supper handy. Yes the +- on the gear works but for agressive fast multiple shifts it does not compare to paddle shifting. Trust me.
The few Dodges I have driven do have much better EB performance. But the poor ride and always behind the power output as compared to the same year Ford is worth compromising for a Ford... Great work truck!
