Posted 2006-08-18 1:50 PM (#46914 - in reply to #46898) Subject: RE: dodge 3500 HD? Coming Soon?
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by threeman on 2006-08-18 6:38 AM
I had heard that Dodge is coming out with a 3500 Heavy Duty truck that is supposed to be rated higher than the standard 3500? Is that true?
Does anyone know how big the brakes are on a 3500 GM and a Ford 450/550?
On my 3500 the brakes have proven themselves adequate when the trailer brakes have failed - the trailer brakes that absented themselves are 12 1/4 x 3 1/2 on Dexter 8K axles.
What matter the physical dimension of the truck's brakes, given that they have enough binding power to kick in the ABS logic ?
Could you NEED more ?
Posted 2006-08-18 3:20 PM (#46919 - in reply to #46898) Subject: RE: dodge 3500 HD? Coming Soon?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
Reg I have an Elite with a 11' LQ 4 horse 8 wide and I dont want to have to rely on the truck brakes to stop it. My trailer weighs approx. 12500 by the CAT scales. I have been told by a friend that his dodge stopped better than his ford from a previous year. I am interested in a 450/4500 series truck. That is the reason I was asking. I have had my trailer plug loose contact before and lost my brakes until I stopped to get out and fix it. Man I can stop but you had better not tail gate anyone. I have jammed my trailer brakes to 10 while driving in town with moron city drivers that swerve in front of you and stop.
Posted 2006-08-18 4:46 PM (#46922 - in reply to #46919) Subject: RE: dodge 3500 HD? Coming Soon?
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by threeman on 2006-08-18 3:20 PM
Reg I have an Elite with a 11' LQ 4 horse 8 wide and I dont want to have to rely on the truck brakes to stop it. My trailer weighs approx. 12500 by the CAT scales. I have been told by a friend that his dodge stopped better than his ford from a previous year. I am interested in a 450/4500 series truck. That is the reason I was asking. I have had my trailer plug loose contact before and lost my brakes until I stopped to get out and fix it. Man I can stop but you had better not tail gate anyone. I have jammed my trailer brakes to 10 while driving in town with moron city drivers that swerve in front of you and stop.
Right, agreed, not a lot of fun when the trailer brakes go out on you (-:
I was just saying that when mine DID go out I had enough stopping power for the truck's brakes to approach lock-up and trigger the ABS. Bigger plates, or larger pucks, would not have improved on that. Hence my comment that the specs on brake dimensions are not interesting (from a vehicle selection pov) they can ALL get to lock-up with the truck fully loaded.
Yes, I don't tailgate anyway.
I know what you mean about the swoop and squat city drivers )-:
Posted 2006-08-18 5:05 PM (#46923 - in reply to #46919) Subject: RE: dodge 3500 HD? Coming Soon?
Location: Texas
Threeman- I can't find the size of the brakes on my 4500, but I have looked at the rotors when I have tires changed and they have got to be 15" or more, big anyway, and a 4 piston setup on the front. I am dragging an Elite w/ 20' shortwall and one heavy sucker and the truck handles it very well. I do have elec./hyd. disk brakes on the trailer, but the truck does a good job with the exhaust brake also. I've been told that the GCWR on the Dodge is going to be 23,000, but don't know that for a fact, just barn talk.
Posted 2006-08-19 6:27 PM (#46953 - in reply to #46898) Subject: RE: dodge 3500 HD? Coming Soon?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 544 Location: Claxton, Ga.
If you have a 6 speed manual on any of the Dogdes with the Cummins why don't you just get the Jacobs exhaust brake. It will pay for itself in break jobs. If you have an 06' automatic you can also get the Jacobs exhaust brake. You can buy one at any Dodge Dealership. For the exhaust brake it is around $900 dollars if you look around real hard. If you just pay for it and installation it will cost around $1500 dollars. This brake will not impact your warranty. It will pay for itself by extending your service brakes life. Never seen a Ford or Chevy with an exhaust brake either.
Posted 2006-08-19 9:13 PM (#46956 - in reply to #46953) Subject: RE: dodge 3500 HD? Coming Soon?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 309 Location: MO
Spooler - I have an 03 Dodge 2500 Cummins w/ auto trans. Would love to know if I could retrofit a Jacobs exhaust brake. For $1500 it'd be a bargain. I burned out my front brakes in the rocky mountains.
Thanks for bringing this up.
Posted 2006-08-19 11:26 PM (#46958 - in reply to #46898) Subject: RE: dodge 3500 HD? Coming Soon?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 544 Location: Claxton, Ga.
If you are still under warranty I would say don't do it. Banks offers a exhaust brake for your year model with auto tranny. Expensive though. If you add the exhaust brake you will have to upgrade your transmission period. I would only think about this if it is a 48re transmission. If you have the SO motor you will have the 47re which is not as good. The transmission upgrade will be expensive ($4000-$5000 dollars) plus a controller. Pacbrake also offers an exhaust brake. If I were you, I would consider an 06' if you have to have the exhaust brake. I have a auto(48re) and have thought seriously about the exhaust brake. If I pulled in the mountains often I would no doubt either upgrade my current truck or get a new 06' with the E- Brake installed when I picked it up.
Posted 2006-08-21 10:37 PM (#47105 - in reply to #46898) Subject: RE: dodge 3500 HD? Coming Soon?
Veteran
Posts: 254 Location: Dickinson, TX
I have an '06 Dodge Ram 3500 with Cummins and can spin the rear wheels when accelerating my 30' gooseneck horse trailer from a slow roll in second gear. Serious torque. Got a 5700 pound trailer from 5-60mph in about 10 seconds.
I wouldn't run around without trailer brakes on a trailer of more than 4000 pounds. I still need to hook up my Brakesmart controller. Stopping down my 5700 pound (empty) trailer in a panic situation would be difficult without trailer brakes. The truck's brakes are more than adequate in any situation other than that, but with all the fools on the road now days you really need trailer brakes.
I've found the stock 3500 to be more than adequate, specification-wise. Payload and towing are more than I'll ever need. Full throttle acceleration with horses on the trailer would be too fast for the horses to stand up--you have to be careful when pulling animals. More power than most fellows would ever need.
Six speed manual transmission and jake brake on my truck. Jake brake is not adequate for supplemental braking of a trailer in a panic situation...
dodge 3500 HD? Coming Soon?
