Exhaust brakes for GQ caravan towing.
Submitted: Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 10:42
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Michael ( Moss Vale NSW)
A friend of my family asked about fitting Exhaust Brakes to his GQ 4.2td. He tows a full size caravan, about 2.5 tonne loaded. I did a search here (EO) but couldn't find anything although i seem to remember it mentioned some time ago. Can anyone help, where to buy and how effective they are.. Price etc...
Many thanks, Michael
Reply By: _gmd_pps - Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 11:02
Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 11:02
I have an exhaust brake on my truck. Unless you have a tow mode in your tranny it will not work, and with a manual transmission it is possible but not really convenient. Of couyrse you can shift the auto tranny manually but thats not really advisable unless you have an electronic one which allows every gear. The exhaust brake relies on downshifts with revs increasing otherwise it does not have any effect.
Mine is from BD in Canada and I purchased it from Kennedy Diesel in the US. Price was arouns 11ooUS$ which is now almost 2000A$, even worse in the near future when the $ goes to 50c
have fun
gmd
AnswerID:
332091
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 11:16
Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 11:16
Wouldnt the electric brakes on the van be better and safer.
Use an exhaust brake and you will get a pushing effect from the unbraked van which in certain condtions could be disasterous.
I always have my van brakes set a little bit "on" so as to get a straightening effect from it pulling it and me up a bit
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Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 11:30
Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 11:30
I would have thought that at that weight he'd already have brakes on the van. Isn't there now a legal requirement to have brakes on any trailer with a load over 750kg (national allignment of road rules or something)?
As to having your van brakes set a little bit on, would you drive around with the handbrake on the Landcruiser set a little bit "on"? If the answer to that is no, and it should be, why would you do it on the van?
I hope what you meant is that they are adjusted correctly to achieve good braking when needed so that they keep things in line when you put the brakes on. It's hard to tell what people mean when it's typed on here sometimes so I hope I've misunderstood what you really meant.
Dave
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 13:19
Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 13:19
The last paragraph is what I meant.
By "on" I mean that they bite just a little bit before the car so as it keps it in line.
That way if it developes a wobble a light touch on the pedal will stop it ( hopefully)
Yes you do need brakes and at that weight on ALL
wheels and a breakaway as
well over 2 tonnes. Anything that slows the car up and not the van at the same time I would consider dangerous.
Had an experience once in my mad youth in a Landrover with a trailer load of landscaping rock with no trailer brakes and it pushed me right across the road on one corner.
An experience I never want to repeat.
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599954
Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 14:02
Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 14:02
I had hoped that was what you meant.
Thanks for clarifying it so someone else doesn't go adjusting theirs to do what you didn't mean thinking that it was a wonderful idea.
Oh the joy of internet
forum interpretation...
Dave
FollowupID:
599966
Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 22:13
Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 22:13
Hi guys, Thanks for the replies, i kinda thought the same thing, its an older van with Hydraulic override brakes, i said the same about changing to electric so he can have more control by braking harder on the van to keep straighter. Someone probably in his ear and probably thinking easier to change Patrol than Van brakes.. Thanks all, i will let him know!! regards Michael
AnswerID:
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