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Old 03-24-2016, 01:09 PM   #1
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mountain driving

So im headed up to Colorado here in a couple of months, was trying to get some advice on driving that terrain with the travel trailer. Im from south Texas where its flat, last month drove up to the hill country with the trailer but still just big hills. So i did slow my speed down and also used the truck to shift manually to let the motor help slow down, any other advice or caution?
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Old 03-24-2016, 01:25 PM   #2
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Seems you know the drill. Just use the brake sparingly to slow down when Engine RPM's getting to high or go down to lower gear.
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Old 03-24-2016, 01:33 PM   #3
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Seems you know the drill. Just use the brake sparingly to slow down when Engine RPM's getting to high or go down to lower gear.
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Old 03-24-2016, 01:39 PM   #4
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Just don't let your speed ever get up to a uncomfortable gut feeling. If you can still quickly slow down at 50 mph at any time make that your max, or drive slower. If ya get a line up behind ya pull over let them pass if you can safely pull over. Don't make the mistake of driving "They're " speed and not be comfortable.
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Old 03-24-2016, 03:59 PM   #5
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Thanks guys, didnt think there was too much else but wanted to make sure
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Old 03-24-2016, 04:06 PM   #6
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We have a separate brake controller for our little unit. Even though its little , we cant leave home without climbs or descents of several hundred feet over a mile.

I feel more secure even though now we routinely downshift without a TT or with to second going downhill particularly if it is icy.
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Old 03-24-2016, 05:15 PM   #7
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I live at 5000ft in mountains, on long down hill grades a lower gear is your friend. Down shift and use the brakes to keep RPM down. An old truckers quote: you can go down hill too slow lots of times but too fast only once.
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Old 03-24-2016, 05:24 PM   #8
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When I get to the top of a hil, I let the rig slow down and start the downgrade as slow as legal. Let the engine and transmission do it's job and tap brakes sparingly.

You will start to feel like a big rig trucker.
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Old 03-24-2016, 05:28 PM   #9
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When I get to the top of a hil, I let the rig slow down and start the downgrade as slow as legal. Let the engine and transmission do it's job and tap brakes sparingly.

You will start to feel like a big rig trucker.
And don't be afraid to use your emergency flashers if it's a steep grade and you're going extra slow. I've used them often, both going up and down.
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Old 03-24-2016, 05:35 PM   #10
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And don't be afraid to use your emergency flashers if it's a steep grade and you're going extra slow. I've used them often, both going up and down.
Perhaps you missed my sig line. I'm driving a Ford Diesel which passes those blinking lights going uphill.
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Old 03-24-2016, 05:40 PM   #11
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Perhaps you missed my sig line. I'm driving a Ford Diesel which passes those blinking lights going uphill.
It's a blue oval oil burner thing
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Old 03-25-2016, 06:06 AM   #12
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Ahhhh, but we passed those blinking lights and the diesels... had one of the blinking light guys get a spot next to us at the CG and he was very impressed as we blew his doors off up the 7% grade. Down hill I did miss the extra 2 cylinders for engine braking...

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Old 03-25-2016, 06:43 AM   #13
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Rule of thumb for CDL drivers is descend a hill at the same speed and gear that you would use to climb it.
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Old 03-25-2016, 07:50 AM   #14
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Rule of thumb for CDL drivers is descend a hill at the same speed and gear that you would use to climb it.
Ex-CDL here... yes that is/was the rule of thumb, but with the V6 Twin Turbos the uphill climb is a lot easier (to do the rated limit (55mph) without overheating issues - engine/trans temps stayed normal) than with the normal V8 (last TT), but the down hill side of the equation is where you need to monitor the decent closely. I had no issues in Colorado, but had some of those 6% down grades been longer, I would have had to start using the brakes more often. We took it slow. The 9K lbs TT is about the max for the EcoBoost (w/3:73) in the mountains... up hill would not really be an issue it would be the engine braking. We enjoy the EcoBoost, but don't get me wrong... I STILL MISS MY GOOD OLD BIG BLOCK ENGINES for running local store runs.

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Old 03-25-2016, 08:41 AM   #15
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Haven't had the chance to try mine out yet, but my brother has used his. The newer Ram diesels have two settings on the exhaust brakes. One of those kicks in at whatever speed you were going when you take your foot off the pedal. He used it pulling his 5th wheel through mountains in Oregon. Said he almost never had to touch his brake pedal going downhill, because the exhaust brake kicked in whenever his speed started to climb.

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Old 03-25-2016, 08:43 AM   #16
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When I towed our toy hauler trailer (10k lbs fully loaded), I always drove by the engine and trans temp gauges. At least when climbing. The Duramax is a solid unit, but it does have its limits. Just don't get in a hurry, and don't lug the engine in too low of a rpm range. When descending, also gear down so the slope doesn't over-rev the engine, and so you don't have to constantly ride the brakes. Settle in for the big hills, and keep your eye on those temp gauges.
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Old 03-25-2016, 09:58 AM   #17
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When I mentioned to someone that I was gearing down on long steep downgrades (to avoid using my brakes too much) his comment was "brakes are cheaper than a new transmission". ??? I'm interested in what you guys have to think about that. I guess my main concern is always worrying that suddenly the brakes won't be there! When I gear down I immediately feel a little less stressed. (I drive a 1999 F250 diesel and pull a 26.5 5th - 213K miles and still runs like a champ - hope I didn't just jinx myself!).
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Old 03-25-2016, 10:09 AM   #18
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Down shifting and letting you transmission work actually keeps it cooler then riding the brake and idling down the hill. At least that's what my experience has shown me, watching my temp gauge. And if you are heating your breaks they might not be there by the bottom.
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Old 03-25-2016, 11:17 AM   #19
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We are from North Texas, and have been back and forth to Colorado a few times now, both sides of the state. I will tell you that the Raton pass on I-25 will be the most fun.
Luckily your 45 mph will still be faster that the big rigs!
I just watch my transmission temp and RPM. Let the engine doing the breaking.
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Old 03-25-2016, 12:15 PM   #20
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When I mentioned to someone that I was gearing down on long steep downgrades (to avoid using my brakes too much) his comment was "brakes are cheaper than a new transmission". ??? I'm interested in what you guys have to think about that. I guess my main concern is always worrying that suddenly the brakes won't be there! When I gear down I immediately feel a little less stressed. (I drive a 1999 F250 diesel and pull a 26.5 5th - 213K miles and still runs like a champ - hope I didn't just jinx myself!).
I've never read where downshifting a transmission (either to climb a grade or descend one) causes any damage.

I learned ('old school'?) that, when going down hill, the proper way to brake was to brake moderately so your speed drops and then release the brakes completely, not ride them. This allows the brakes to cool bit. This is especially important with drum brakes. My trailer has drum brakes so I still do it this way. The other benefit of doing it this way is that with each push on the brake pedal, you KNOW the brakes are 'still there'.
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