recurry
Pleasanton, CA
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Joined: 01/21/2008
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v8q wrote:Another option is the US Gear exh brake - it uses a waste gate. The PRXB uses a spring loaded plate.
I hadn't considered the US Gear unit. Would be good to hear from actual users on effectiveness and quality.
Reading from the US Gear site I can see that the principal of operation between the US Gear heavy duty unit and the Pacbrake PRXB are exactly the same. The difference is in the approach to the problem. The US Gear unit uses a bypass port with a small butterfly bypass valve while the PRXB puts the small butterfly pypass valve in the middle of the large butterfly valve. They are spring loaded in both units to open at a predetermined pressure. In fact the US Gear site says:
US Gear wrote:Exhaust flow is now directed through the small by-pass port and released by the small butterfly at a pre-determined pressure
I like the design but my guess is they don't have an "upgrade" price. PACBrake has been in business nearly 50 years and the PRXB has received rave reviews so I'd have to hear from actual users before considering the US Gear unit. Their obviously untrue claim of "#1 requested exhaust brake in the RV market." and their incorrect hijacking of the term "waste gate" (which is normally associated with turbo chargers) has me a bit concerned about dealing with them.
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Ron
N6QL
2002 36' Country Coach Allure 350HP Cummins
2001 Jeep Wrangler Sahara
1978 Cessna T210M
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recurry
Pleasanton, CA
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Joined: 01/21/2008
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After talking with Country Coach guys and Cummins guys who said the PRXB upgrade is worth every penny and then talking to the PACBrake guys who said money back guarantee no questions asked if I'm not 100% satisfied I decided this thing must be pretty good so I ordered one today. $740.
With that kind of backing it has to be good and with money back guarantee the only risk is an hour of my time to install it and take it back out.
If anyone orders one be sure the have the serial number handy from your existing PACBrake so they can be sure to send you exactly the right one.
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ChaosAgent
Fairbanks, AK
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Joined: 08/31/2006
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recurry wrote:After talking with Country Coach guys and Cummins guys who said the PRXB upgrade is worth every penny and then talking to the PACBrake guys who said money back guarantee no questions asked if I'm not 100% satisfied I decided this thing must be pretty good so I ordered one today. $740.
Did you order direct from PacBrake, or someone else?
'99 American Eagle 40NS
'04 Dodge Dakota 4x4 Crew Cab Toad
DH
DW
Mister & Emma - Designated Coach Cats
How did we miss Utah?
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recurry
Pleasanton, CA
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Joined: 01/21/2008
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PACBrake gave me a couple of dealers to contact which I did. One of them was SuperSteer however their prices were the same and none of them really seemed to understand much about it. That plus I didn't want to have to deal with a dealer in case I decided to send it back I ordered direct from PACBrake.
The PACBrake people were really easy to work with. I gave them the serial number off my existing PACBrake, which I got from Country Coach, and they immediately knew which model I needed, took my credit card info and that was it.
BTW, Country Coach impressed the heck out of me on this. They have the exact part numbers, model info, and serial numbers of every item in my coach on file as well as even the smallest build details like whether my coach is pre-wired for a satellite dish or entertainment system and where to find the wires. They even had the serial number of the windshield wash pump installed. Truly amazing.
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Sully2
Cincinnati
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Joined: 01/20/2003
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recurry wrote:
BTW, Country Coach impressed the heck out of me on this. They have the exact part numbers, model info, and serial numbers of every item in my coach on file as well as even the smallest build details like whether my coach is pre-wired for a satellite dish or entertainment system and where to find the wires. They even had the serial number of the windshield wash pump installed. Truly amazing.
You paid good money for that coach and they bend over backwards to support you. I "saw" too many examples thru friends that work in the RV business to know who to stay away from...hence I bought a CC.
2000 Country Coach Allure; Cummins ISC 330 HP; 71/2 - 8 MPG regardless
2002 Jeep Liberty
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WTD44
Ca.
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Joined: 09/01/2003
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Just FYI, Cummins can program the coolong fan (with side mount radiator) to come on 15 seconds after the exhaust brake comes on. This will significantly increase the retardation, however it makes a huge racket to have that fan spinning at 2400 RPM. It increases the braking force by 50 % on my ISL - 400.
'07 H.R. Scepter 40 ' PDQ
Cummins 400 ISL
Alison 6 speed World
'04 Jeep Wrangler X
Wife and,
Sparky the Wonder Dog
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Deen
Vancouver, WA
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Joined: 12/07/2000
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WTD44 wrote:Just FYI, Cummins can program the coolong fan (with side mount radiator) to come on 15 seconds after the exhaust brake comes on. This will significantly increase the retardation, however it makes a huge racket to have that fan spinning at 2400 RPM. It increases the braking force by 50 % on my ISL - 400. Hmm... On on ISL (and our ISC) side mount radiator the fan is operated by a hyd pump and may or may not spin at engine RPM.
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
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Dynasty40
Hangtown, Northern California
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Joined: 02/07/2008
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FYI..I spoke with the tech from PacBrake regarding the PRXB upgrade. He said to be sure to check your valve springs on the C8.3 engine. They came with two different springs, a 35# and a 65#. The 35# springs will NOT handle the PRXB and the valves will float. So, you either have to stay with the original pacbrake or change the valve springs to go with the PXRB...Dennis
Dennis and Debi
Monaco Dynasty Baron 40PFD
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chuck4788
West of the Middle
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Joined: 05/10/2006
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WTD44 wrote:Just FYI, Cummins can program the coolong fan (with side mount radiator) to come on 15 seconds after the exhaust brake comes on. This will significantly increase the retardation, however it makes a huge racket to have that fan spinning at 2400 RPM. It increases the braking force by 50 % on my ISL - 400.
Is that an air brake? LOL
Chuck
02 Beaver
505hp C12 Cat
Trailblazer toad
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v8q
Oviedo, FL
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Joined: 04/11/2005
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You can call Cummins with your engine number and they can look it up. 93 was the crossover year. 94 up should all have HD springs. BTDT...
Dave Head
Oviedo FL
95 Foretravel U320C SE
M11, HD4060
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