Hemi Towing - Downhill Manageability
#11
05-01-2009, 06:31 PM
My Prodigy warns me about cut wires or the plug not plugged in. Any open wires it will detect and give me a warning screen. i luv it! it's also inertia braking and not one setting all the time.
Proper weight ditribution will stop the "wagging tail" motion or any other problems such as bad mpg's or squishing the suspension.
I have had 7k a few times and the truck pulls no problem. The Tow/haul mode uses a trans kick down for down hill braking. it helps out alot, where most times you barely have to touch the brakes.
The hemi's can pull 10k, but it's the bracketry and frame that restrict it. Th brakes are oversized already so you have a benefit already.
I set my brakes so when I'm moving at 10mph and slam on the brakes with an empty trailer, the tires just start wanting to lock up and slide. When the trailer is loaded, I make sure I can feel the trailer stopping the truck before the truck stops itself. You want to hear the ball hitch draw tight so it will have a clunk or similar sound when you hit your brakes at a slower speed. if you set your controller up to do that, your truck won't need to work any harder than it does empty other than taking off ot going uphill.
Proper weight ditribution will stop the "wagging tail" motion or any other problems such as bad mpg's or squishing the suspension.
I have had 7k a few times and the truck pulls no problem. The Tow/haul mode uses a trans kick down for down hill braking. it helps out alot, where most times you barely have to touch the brakes.
The hemi's can pull 10k, but it's the bracketry and frame that restrict it. Th brakes are oversized already so you have a benefit already.
I set my brakes so when I'm moving at 10mph and slam on the brakes with an empty trailer, the tires just start wanting to lock up and slide. When the trailer is loaded, I make sure I can feel the trailer stopping the truck before the truck stops itself. You want to hear the ball hitch draw tight so it will have a clunk or similar sound when you hit your brakes at a slower speed. if you set your controller up to do that, your truck won't need to work any harder than it does empty other than taking off ot going uphill.
Even with the controller set properly, it's still a smart idea to give a lot of extra room when braking.
#12
05-01-2009, 09:48 PM
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brake fade isn't nearly as big of a problem with disk brakes ( opposed to drums ) but can still be an issue if your trailer isn't set up / loaded properly. as other have pointed out, proper loading techniques and trailer brake setup are far more important than the stock brakes on your ram.
very good advice 
#13
05-01-2009, 11:21 PM
#14
05-01-2009, 11:26 PM
Legend
I have often towed about 7500 lbs with my Hemi QC. I have trailer brakes on all 4 wheels and it stops fine. I too use a weight distribution hitch as well.
Unless you have a Laramie, you probably only have rear ABS on the truck, but with trailer brakes, it doesn't matter too much.
Unless you have a Laramie, you probably only have rear ABS on the truck, but with trailer brakes, it doesn't matter too much.
That said, in my dakota, I got the rear ABS to kick in, and it scared me. I went from Max-G braking, to pulsing between brake and no brake...i just pitched it in the ditch to scrub speed....way too close a call.
#15
05-02-2009, 02:12 AM
My fist tow, some dim witted woman turned left right across in front of me when I had about 8200lbs in tow (firewood). When I slammed on the brakes, it was slowing but the fronts locked due to no abs. The rears held as did the trailer brakes of that Cavalier would have been a spot in the road!!
This was my point on not needing ABS on the front, I think it would have hurt me more than it helped in that situation.
This was my point on not needing ABS on the front, I think it would have hurt me more than it helped in that situation.
#16
05-02-2009, 03:05 AM
Legend
My fist tow, some dim witted woman turned left right across in front of me when I had about 8200lbs in tow (firewood). When I slammed on the brakes, it was slowing but the fronts locked due to no abs. The rears held as did the trailer brakes of that Cavalier would have been a spot in the road!!
This was my point on not needing ABS on the front, I think it would have hurt me more than it helped in that situation.
This was my point on not needing ABS on the front, I think it would have hurt me more than it helped in that situation.
However, I think if a vehicle is going to have ABS, it should keep all 4 from locking. In your case, ABS would have hurt because you needed all the brakes you could get. In my case, I wanted more brakes, and ABS took them away. Basically the same situation, where the front and rear wheels disagreed. Overall, i think ABS sucks and should be disablable on dry pavement, but it's very valuable in slick conditions to prevent hydroplaning (even if you lose braking power).
#17
05-02-2009, 12:53 PM
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#18
05-02-2009, 09:07 PM
Legend
#19
05-03-2009, 09:59 AM
I've only been a Dodge owner for about a month but the Fords and Chevy's I've had in the past were just built beefier. Everything from the sheet metal and interior to frame and suspension.
#20
05-03-2009, 02:05 PM