brakes questions
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Harker Heights, TX
brakes questions
I have a F250 PSD 6.0L V8 (automatic). I only tow once in awhile but it is usually about 6000 lbs in the trailer and 2500 in the bed. Usually cross country stuff so lots of hills in some areas. Trailer does not have breaks on it.
Would exhaust brakes be recommended? How do they damage the engine and what is the chance this will happen?
Since my truck is automatic should I auto disengage the OD when I hit hills or only if it starts going in and out of gears?
Are there any other types of brakes to use with a diesel?
Would exhaust brakes be recommended? How do they damage the engine and what is the chance this will happen?
Since my truck is automatic should I auto disengage the OD when I hit hills or only if it starts going in and out of gears?
Are there any other types of brakes to use with a diesel?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: NE Texas
Originally Posted by Tadashi
Are there any other types of brakes to use with a diesel?
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Florida Parishes, LA
After marker Exhaust brakes are a waste of money. We tried it on one of our trucks and the only good thing about it is that you can turn it off and leave it off. Put trailer brakes on and be done.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Elverson, PA
Yea - ditto on the trailer brakes, and if you're going slow enough lock out the OD on the down hills to help hold ya back some too. That's a lot of weight to be holding back just with the truck brakes and in the event of an emergency stop needed, it would probably push your truck around a LOT!
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Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Chicago
Trailer Brakes are required by many states, based on weight. Some states required them for trailers as low as 1500lbs. Some states say they are also required if the trailer weight exceeds 50% of the tow vehicle's weight.
After doing a panic stop this morning and feeling how weak my brakes are on my 2004 F-250 with the truck empty, I would say trailer brakes are a very good idea!
After doing a panic stop this morning and feeling how weak my brakes are on my 2004 F-250 with the truck empty, I would say trailer brakes are a very good idea!
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: NJ ... the garbage state
while on the brake issue (i second getting trailer brakes by the way) anyone used any better replacement brakes? ceramic? just questioning .. causei while they are strong, it feels like the pads arnt the greatest.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Harker Heights, TX
Originally Posted by Oldchap
Trailer Brakes are required by many states, based on weight. Some states required them for trailers as low as 1500lbs. Some states say they are also required if the trailer weight exceeds 50% of the tow vehicle's weight.
After doing a panic stop this morning and feeling how weak my brakes are on my 2004 F-250 with the truck empty, I would say trailer brakes are a very good idea!
After doing a panic stop this morning and feeling how weak my brakes are on my 2004 F-250 with the truck empty, I would say trailer brakes are a very good idea!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 196
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From: Chicago
Kind of surprised a legitimate dealer would sell you a trailer without brakes that weighs that much! You might go back and see if you can get a reasonable swap for one that has brakes.
Or if you're the do-it-yourselfer type, you might get parts from someone like www.northerntools.com or elsewhere, although it might be tricky to match parts that all work together.
More info on State laws about brakes at:
http://www.rvsafety.com/new_page_1.htm
and about trailer laws in general:
http://www.rvsafety.com/state.htm
Interesting - Kansas is one of the few states that doesn't require trailer brakes. I wonder how a trooper in another state would feel about that when you are passing through his state....
Or if you're the do-it-yourselfer type, you might get parts from someone like www.northerntools.com or elsewhere, although it might be tricky to match parts that all work together.
More info on State laws about brakes at:
http://www.rvsafety.com/new_page_1.htm
and about trailer laws in general:
http://www.rvsafety.com/state.htm
Interesting - Kansas is one of the few states that doesn't require trailer brakes. I wonder how a trooper in another state would feel about that when you are passing through his state....
Elder User
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From: NJ ... the garbage state
yea, i would go to the vender, and see what they have to say. even in your manual, it states, brakes not intended to stop a trailers weight, only the gvw, or truck and payload. around here we have a few local places where you can just pickup brake assemblies, or complete axles with brakes on em. you also have a choice of electric or surge to contemplate. northern is a pretty inexpensive place to aquire stuff like that.
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Elder User
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From: Harker Heights, TX
It is not an RV trailer it is a cargo trailer. Got it at Home Depot a couple years ago. It is a 6x8' single axle with a side door and double rear door. Mostly I load up the pick up bed and then the trailer with what is left so come to think of it the trailer probably only have about 4000 lbs at the most in it and the back bed about 2500 lbs. I think the trailer is max rated for 5500 lbs.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
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From: NE Texas
Here I was thinking that you were hauling 6K in the trailer, plus the trailer weight, then 2500 in the truck, plus the truck weight...?
The little 6x8 don't need no stinking brakes!
Are you sure it's rated for 5500? Most are only rated for 1500.
The little 6x8 don't need no stinking brakes!
Are you sure it's rated for 5500? Most are only rated for 1500.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Harker Heights, TX
Good question I only use it every couple years. I will have to look in my manual. I just remember getting weighed and my F150 loaded with trailer was 9000 lbs. I forgot how much the truck empty weighed. I probably overloaded it just a little bitbut not as bad as I think in retrospect. 
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