Well, I can say one thing..............

I will never get rid of "Big Bertha!" She's a "97 3/4ton, 4x4, xtra cab, diesel with the 7.3l. manual tranny. They never give up and the gearing is so low, I can take off in 2nd in her, 1st is like way slow granny gear. The exahust brake was already in this model and I belive up until 2002. You just needed the swith to operate it, something Ford never told anyone until people started poking around in them. My husband had installed several in trucks around here for locals hauling rigs, and they were in every Ford. I don't know about Dodge, or Chevy but yes they were in Fords.

Now it is an option when ordering them, I would hit the exhaust brake opiton if I were to order a new Ford, but nah............I'm still trying to find another 7.3l, and it's out there somewhere...........

LOL!!   Yes, that is one of the tougher ones!  At one point, I was running the western states highways w/a trailer fairly often.....so I found a book at Camping World I believe - that became my "mountain pass bible!!"  Not sure if they still print it - it's almost 10 yrs old, but well worth the $$.  It's called "Mountain Directory West, for truckers, RV & Motorhome Drivers."  States, " Locations and descriptions of over 400 mountain passes and steep grades."   It helped me plan my routes ALOT!   That '97 F350 PS w/auto I had then was just down right scary - the Pac Brake helped on the descents, but I kept loosing trannies right & left - even BEFORE I started hauling w/it (& I'd bought it new, took great care of it, excellent servicing, etc - it was just one of those bad ones that came off the line), so this book was worth it's weight in gold to me.  I may have had to travel a few more miles, but it was worth the peace of mind not to have to worry what this truck would do to me on the next bad pass. 

Teri,

See hauling into the mountains by myself is no biggie for me. I do it all the time, as it is a straight haul up to the pass and a long steep descent down. The first few times was scary but it's all second nature now. Just gotta give yourself some more experience and you'll be a  pro at it too. Key pharase, "make your truck work for you...."

I don't drive in the mountians.  I sit in the passenger seat and hyperventalate.  I guess maybe if I did it more, but I grew up in S. Texas where it is fairly flat.  I love the mountians but they scared the crud out of me!

Even when we lived near El Paso instead of going over Transmountian I would take the long way around on the Hwy or go through Anthony Gap where there are guardrails and a hill, not just a sudden drop. 

Has your mare been modeling?  The horse on the cover of one of my Country supply catalogs looks like her.

Alright, a few more miles under my belt with the Exhaust brake.  Again mine is on a 2006 Ford Powerstroke. A whole different story from your Dodge Cummins.

I came down Daniels Canyon on US 40 and Parleys Canyon on I-80 last night. Both some some extended 7% grades. Before the exhuast brake both of these grades would have my trailer pushing me to the speed limit and beyond. The engine/Tranny would not hold the load.  The engine would speed up to the 4200rpm and then up shift to the next gear. If I applied brakes as the engine neared 4000rpm and slowed it back to 3000rpm I could control the speed with my brakes. But it reguired 3-4 good application of the brakes.

With the new exhaust brake, I turned it on just before I crested the summit. On both roads the Exhaust brake held me within the speed limit all the way down the grade without having to apply any brakes.

It has a couple of things I don't like.

I can't just turn it on and forget it. It cancels out my cruise control. So I flip the toggle switch before the steep grades and turn it off as the grades ease and I want my cruise control turned back on. My stock engine/tranny will hold the weight on a 3-4% grade - just not the 7%.

It's not real smooth as it engages. As the Torque Convertor locks up, you fell a jolt or shudders in the truck. This is not noticable if you engage while you are still under throttle, but is very noticable if you release the throttle and flip the toggle switch while coasting.

Terri,

 Not for Country Supply, but she has for Tucker Saddles. They did an article in their Trail Rider email newsletter on us and the durability of Tucker Saddles, let's see if I can get the link to work here......................Click below........

My Tucker Trail saddle debut article

I didn't write it but they do a human interest story once a month and went into my site, and enjoyed it!

I didn't write it but they do a human interest story once a month and went into my site, and enjoyed it!

How could they look at it and NOT love it.  I love looking at your pictures.  Some day my gelding WILL be ready for that type of riding!!

But what you are describing & what Terri is talking about - as in Teton Pass - are 2 different descents.  Teton is STEEP and VERY winding.  It is not for faint of heart!  LOL 

Terri - if you come up to Glacier, you'll not be far from us!  Yes, lotsa mountains, but depending on your route, shouldn't be running in to anything like Teton.  It can be a thrill coming over the Continental Divide the first time if you're not expecting it - my friends from MI came out 2 yrs ago & she about crapped coming down it!  LOL  Just don't let hubby talk you into coming north thru UT & into WY via Flaming Gorge - you WILL have the big one! 

What's so terrible about anything around Flaming Gorge?

That's not a scary road.

Teton pass is a 10% grade with no shoulders and no guardrails.

I think for future trips I'm just gonna ahve to beg the Dr for some valume. 

We may be in different states, but yes, I know the grade, and we do have that type of grade on 2 passes over here our way. So yes, I tow on the roads for the "faint at heart". I am in the sierra nevada mountains of California, not all roads are flat in Cali. like alot of people think..............There is grade, that I tow alot that is only 1 lane, and straight on one side, no rails, and solid volcanic and granite rock on the other, that could rip your rig apart if you hit it.(not meant to sound rude or harsh sorry, just explaining that, Yes, I do tow "steep" grades, 1st or 2nd gear and exhaust all the way down and trailer brake box if I have to on the very hard tight turns down.)

Terri,

U and your riding hoss are more than welcome to come out here and ride the trails with me, I'll even tow for ya!

Hey if you guys ever make it out this way.................

Look Josie and I up, we'll take you to the top of the peaks and then back to camp for some dutch oven cooking!

I didn't take my fully loaded rig thru it - I read the description in the before mentioned book & that was enough to convince me I didn't want that much weight pushing me down it - even w/the Pac Brake.  The first part says 5 miles of 8% grade w/30 mph curves "use caution on this hill" (quote from the book), then it goes to a lighter 6% w20 mph curves for 3 miles - I believe that is in one direction, & the other is 9% grade w/curves & then 5-8% grades w/10 switchbacks for 9 miles, most of it being 8% w/20 mph grades.  Like I said, w/all the problems I had w/that Ford & it's transmissions, EVEN w/the Pac Brake, I did not get that heavy rig in to anything bad that I could by-pass. I have heard FG is beautiful - but just didn't like the description of it under my circumstances.    On your exhaust brake - besides the inconvenience of the no cruise when it's on, be careful if you end up having to shift/slow down alot on the descents - at least on that Pac Brake, it would kill the engine!  THAT is what happened to me on Teton Pass - thank God I was only in the truck, no trailer & was able to get it started again quickly - since I had NO steering or anything during that time! 

Cowpony, sorry, did not mean to sound like I thought you had no challenging roads/climbs/descents down there - yes, I know you do.  Just meant that what you were describing in an above post to Terri, you said long steep desecent down....whereas the one Terri was specifically talking about has the hairpins with the steep (as she said, 10%) grades.  Didn't mean to sound like I was offending you! 

The drive from Flaming Gorge down to Vernal is not as bad as the book makes it sound. Yes there are a lot of switchbacks. And I knew it was a 5-6% grade, Maybe there are some 8% portions. Yes it has 30 mph corners, but the whole road is 35-40mph road. You just leave it in a lower gear and stay 30mph all the way down.  It's not like youa re doing 70 and have to slow to 30.

There are Semi's, Big boats and 5 wheel travel trailers going over it every day. There are Ranches all along the area, so they haul livestock traielrs frequently up the road and there is a Big phosphate mine with heavy trucks coming and going. I think it's a MUCH gentler drive than going over Teton Pass.

at least on that Pac Brake, it would kill the engine!  THAT is what happened to me on Teton Pass.

I'd have lost my mind or had a heartattack!!

LOL, I had a moment of panic, then threw the truck in to neutral & hit the starter - & it fired!  Yes, I about had the big one or

Painted Horse - good to know about Flaming Gorge if I ever head that way again!  I'll know it's a pretty good route to go!  Thanks!