Exhaust brake & trailer brake lights

[Jack Horn]

Apparently, some motorhome exhaust brakes also light up the brake lights.  2023 2500 HC pulling a 11,500 lb 5th wheel trailer and wondered if my camper brake lights are on when coming off the mountain using exhaust brake: I70 over the continental divide?

Not a big deal either way, just curious after talking to motorhome guy.

Thanks 

[Atlas]

I'm curious for the 1500 diesels with exhaust brakes too but haven't towed with mine enough to check it out or care too much.

 

Our motorhome illuminates the brake lights on any engine brake setting (turbo or the actual Jake). Makes us look like idiot drivers riding the brakes all the way down a mountain pass when the opposite is true, we try to use lower speeds and gearing to never need the brakes coming down. We've done the Ike/ I70 too. Supposedly it's a setting that can be updated by Freighliner but IMO not worth paying to bring it to a dealer.

 

I see semi's with this "feature" enabled sometimes too.

Edited May 29 by Atlas

[newdude]

99% sure the brake lights do not illuminate with exhaust brake operation.  The rate of deceleration is not high enough to warrant it.  

[Jack Horn]

Atlas, that's exactly what my motorhome buddy said; looks like we're riding the brakes all the way down.  That's why I got curious about truck/trailer with exhaust brake.  Being a Colo native, I drive big mtns quite and a bit and our truck exhaust brake will hold 13K trailer loaded on cruise control at 60 mph all the way.  Topping two southern Colo mtns I had to bump the brakes a couple of times to maintain 60 or less as grade got up 8%.  Typically DOT highway grades are max at 6%.  Love that exhaust brake.   

[StingerZ16]

I think it would be the same answer / question concerning adaptive cruise control when slowing down for traffic in front of you.

 

I would also question the braking controller you have in your TOAD.

When I was towing my jeep behind my MH the brakes would apply based on force and then apply the lights accordingly.