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03-24-2016, 01:09 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Houston
Posts: 102
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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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2016 Jay Flight 287 BHSW
2011 Toyota Tundra 5.7 crewmax TRD
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03-24-2016, 01:25 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sparwood, BC
Posts: 2,800
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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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03-24-2016, 01:33 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Waconia, MN
Posts: 447
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALJO
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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X2
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2015 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CC Duramax
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03-24-2016, 01:39 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Blaine
Posts: 152
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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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03-24-2016, 03:59 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Houston
Posts: 102
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Thanks guys, didnt think there was too much else but wanted to make sure
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2016 Jay Flight 287 BHSW
2011 Toyota Tundra 5.7 crewmax TRD
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03-24-2016, 04:06 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,626
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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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03-24-2016, 05:15 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Elephant Butte, NM
Posts: 1,219
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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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2015 F350 SRW 6.7 LB 4X4 Crew
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03-24-2016, 05:24 PM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,859
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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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Moderator
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03-24-2016, 05:28 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: PNW
Posts: 5,195
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norty1
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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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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Bill
2011 Dodge Ram 1500 HEMI Quad Cab
2011 Jay Flight 26BH
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03-24-2016, 05:35 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,859
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SmokerBill
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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Perhaps you missed my sig line. I'm driving a Ford Diesel which passes those blinking lights going uphill.
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Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
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Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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03-24-2016, 05:40 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Elephant Butte, NM
Posts: 1,219
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Quote:
Originally Posted by norty1
Perhaps you missed my sig line. I'm driving a Ford Diesel which passes those blinking lights going uphill.
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It's a blue oval oil burner thing
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2015 F350 SRW 6.7 LB 4X4 Crew
2017 Durango G353KRT
2006 F350SD 6.0 LB Crew
2000 F250SD SRW 7.3 LB Extended Cab Air Bags
2002 Western Star 4900EX 500 Detroit 13sp.
2014 Eagle 30.5BHLT (sold)
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03-25-2016, 06:06 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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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...
Don
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03-25-2016, 06:43 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 221
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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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2012 Eagle Super Lite 266 RKS, 2017 F150 Lariat SuperCrew 3.5L EB
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03-25-2016, 07:50 AM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ShawnR
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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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.
Don
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03-25-2016, 08:41 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: TX
Posts: 279
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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.
Tuckerdog1
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2016 RAM 2500 Cummins SLT Lone Star LB SRW
Do not handicap your children by making their lives easy.
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03-25-2016, 08:43 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Orange County
Posts: 644
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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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03-25-2016, 09:58 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Helena
Posts: 102
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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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03-25-2016, 10:09 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: winnipeg
Posts: 257
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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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2015 29QBS
2015 Sierra 2500 6.0l
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03-25-2016, 11:17 AM
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#19
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 67
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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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2016 Eagle 324BHTS
2017 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax
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03-25-2016, 12:15 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: FL
Posts: 11,281
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MzLiz
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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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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