Steep Grade for Gasser

[LockChuck92]

Just need some advice from you seasoned MH’ers out there. In a few days I will be going over Monteagle in southeastern Tennessee, which has roughly six miles of 6 degree grade on either side. Been over it many times in a car, but never in my 30.2 towing a four door Jeep Wrangler. Ain’t too concerned about going up - it’s the coming down the other side that’s got my attention. I know the RPM’s can get crazy high in tow/haul mode as the transmission tries to slow down the rig. Is this a bad thing (other than for gas mileage of course)? What suggestions can you guys give me to keep the rpms down and to keep from roasting the brakes? Thanks!
P.S. I do have a Stay-N-Play braking system on the Jeep

[Bob Denman]

The Ford's computer will protect that V-10: you can descend without worries!

[jpmihalk]

The V-10 is built to handle the high RPMs. Use Tow/Haul mode and don't worry!

[Dvan]

I do it all of the time here in Colorado. Look at it this way, you should roughly be in the same gear/same RPM’s coming down as you were going up 4000-4500 rpms is nothing to the V10.

[SuperD]

Same advice I gave in another post: NEVER down faster than you went up!!!

[DenverTransplant]

We do the I-70 tunnels all the time. Screaming going up and screaming going down. Tow/haul is great for the steeps. If you need to slow down some more, do it a little at a time. Use the brakes to get you 5-10 mph below what is comfortable - don't worry about doing 30-40 (or even less if you have to), and then let the coach speed up if it wants to. Then slow down again. Don't ride the brakes trying to hold a constant speed.

West side of the tunnels and Vail Pass are a lot steeper than the east sides, so we take them at 40-45 and slower for some turns. Going up we are usually 40-45 all the way.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by DenverTransplant

Don't ride the brakes trying to hold a constant speed.

Amen...

[Mitch S]

Many years ago when I was studying for CDL's, our book recommended descending a grade one gear lower than was used to climb the grade.

[gmc]

Tow/Haul and high RPM's are your friends when descending steep grades...
Lowering the RPMs will likely mean toasting the brakes - in the RV and/or the Jeep.


The MH drive train is designed to handle it. Let it rev.

[LockChuck92]

Thanks everyone! You all are great!

[99dart]

Originally Posted by Mitch S

Many years ago when I was studying for CDL's, our book recommended descending a grade one gear lower than was used to climb the grade.

Yup, what I learned as well.