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Showing content with the highest reputation on 11/04/2016 in all areas

  1. It's interesting to note the evolution of the Cummins engines in Ram trucks with respect to mileage. I had a 1993 that would tow until it burned up the transmission. Then I had an early 2004 model (305/555). That model is known as the best for mileage of the newer electronic models. In 2004.5 they dropped about 1-1.5 MPG in all around normal use which seems to be as a result of combustion chamber design that attempted to cause some EGR affect for emissions, as far as I can tell. These engines benefit from advancing the timing through programming. This design carried on until the 2007 model and the 6.7 engine. This generation gets somewhat worse mileage again, I think because of the EGR system and timing for emissions. Many guys report a big increase in mileage by deleting the emissions stuff and tuning them. Then in 2013 Cummins added the diesel exhaust fluid and was able to return to the combustion chamber design from 2004 and got the mileage mostly back, but it seems like (no proof here) that they loose more mileage when towing than the 2004 did. So comparing mileages with a given trailer will never be an exact science with different year trucks and different drivers, but it can get you in the ballpark. Of course also, full tank averages mean a lot more than instantaneous readouts on flat ground. And the beauty of the Cummins is that it never seems to be working hard. Always relaxed as you roll along and pull grades.
    1 point
  2. Another option, if you feel the controller isn't offering enough, Dexter makes a more aggressive lining for their 12" brakes From Dexter's website, if it helps. BRAKES - How can I increase the aggressiveness of the 12"x2" brake? It is not possible to put a larger magnet in the 12"x2" electric brake. However, we do offer a more aggressive lining. The lining kit number is K71-127-00. http://www.dexteraxle.com/inc/sdetail/731
    1 point
  3. Properly adjusted brakes should be able to skid all four tires on dry pavement when the voltage/ gain/ power is cranked all the way up. Something is wrong and you need to fix whatever is amiss. If one brake is faulty, say due to contamination from a leaking grease seal, then the other three should still lock up. You may have a wiring issue like a poor ground. Adding an additional ground wire between the trailer frame and TV can dramatically reduce or prevent brake and lighting problems. The vast majority of trailer brake and light problems are due to poor grounding, and this is the first thing to look for when things are acting strange.... I have not read anything here about the quality of the Oliver chassis wiring, but I expect that it is FAR better than that of the typical Harbor Freight utility trailer or most travel trailers. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a loose or corroded connection somewhere. eTrailer.com has lots of great troubleshooting articles like this one .... https://www.etrailer.com/faq-testing-trailer-brake-magnets-for-proper-function.aspx Unless you have serviced them very recently, it would probably be a good idea to physically inspect and adjust all four brakes, just to establish a baseline for further troubleshooting. A decent digital multimeter with ammeter function and some advice from a knowledgeable neighbor can really help if you have an electrical problem, or just ask here. BTW, the P3 is a great controller. I have one in my Ram and it works very well. It is very popular for many reasons. If you do not already have one, I _strongly_ suggest you buy one of these special Tekonsha testers, ASAP, to use for testing both the tow vehicle lighting circuits and the function of the controller. It serves as a dummy load so you can activate the features of your P3, including the manual over-ride lever. (It eliminates the No Trailer warning when the trailer is disconnected.) It may save you much time and confusion, and your wife will not yell at you for saying bad words. Good luck. John Davies Spokane WA
    1 point
  4. Not an expert, as we have our mechanic family friend check our brakes each year. I think that you should be able to lock them up, or at least be able to feel the drag on the highest setting. So, you may need to have your mechanical adjustment looked at. Sherry
    1 point
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