Arizona Trip - 1200 mile in my 40'MH

[JudyJB]

I didn't know what it was called, but that's exactly what I do going down steep grades, Melissa. I have driven standard shift cars most of my life so I routinely downshift, but on some hills that is not enough. So I brake to slow down enough to get control and then let up to give my brakes a chance to cool down.

I once had a scary situation in my Chrysler minivan going downhill in the Smoky Mountains. I braked going around a corner and the vehicle started hopping. It was literally moving up and down so steering was awkward. I might have been going a tiny bit fast but I was not out of control until the hopping. I slowed down to almost a crawl because brakes started feeling really rough. I had to replace brakes and out-of-round disks when I got home.

That was many years ago. Motorhome brakes have been terrific. Thanks for your expert soap box and giving us the term for that technique.

I learned to drive way back in high school on a standard transmission because that was all our high school had--one old beat-up station wagon with a stick shift and transmission that had suffered through a lot of kids!

[IrishIroamed]

Wow sounds like you have a fun, scary exciting first trip in the MH! Have fun. You'll be a pro at this in no time.

As for me, when I get whatever (C or TT), I'm bringing Melissa with me for lessons.

[BurninDaylight]

Melissa, does your F350 have an engine brake? If not, then how do you handle a steep down grade pulling your rig?

[MelissaD]

Melissa, does your F350 have an engine brake? If not, then how do you handle a steep down grade pulling your rig?

My F350 doesn't have a traditional "engine brake" the tow mode will downshift and the computer changes the pitch of the turbo's vanes to create more of an engine exhaust restrictor. Same effect as an engine retarder using the butterfly valve in the exhaust system to create back pressure. A Jack Brake actually controls the valves in the engine. It pops the exhaust valve open when the piston reaches the top of it compression cycle under a no fuel condition. Why releasing that stored energy you achieve a braking effect. Thus Jake Brakes work best at higher rpms.

Jake Brake explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FSkNSOeTWM

How exhaust brake works – Basics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3r9iKh5NEI

So far like I-80 across PA the truck has done all the work. If I need to I add in some "stab braking" to keep it all under control.

On my big truck the Jake Brake has 3 setting. A low which uses 2 cylinders, Medium which is 4 cylinders and High which is 6 cylinders. A semi engine is an inline 6 cylinder engine.

[dayspring39]

Yea Renee you had a great first trip!!

I do not understand all the technical stuff talked about... I am slow and do only about 200 miles a day gives me time to look things over and also is less stress... I do not drive very fast either maybe 55 to 60 and sometimes if I have to be on an express way will get up to 65...

I believe we all find out what is most comfortable to us! Most of the ladies have way more experience than I do so I usually listen to them... one funny on me I thought I needed to run the generator to have my furnace on... Beth told me no it ran off the house battery... oh me being set in my ways said no mine has to have the generator running... famous last words! what Beth said was correct!! love these lessons...

Hope you have more time on your next trip but kudos to you for the first!

[judi]

My RV is on a 24' Sprinter, and the fastest I drive is 65. I'm amazed at how much longer it takes for it to stop or even slow down, compared to my Volvo car. I don't trust other drivers to not cut in front of me, etc. And I never cut in front of someone else. When I see cars cut in front of a big truck I shudder - I've seen people do that going downhill and I can only imagine what the truck driver is thinking, or shouting! I try to drive between 4 and 5 hours a day, or three is even better. I'm in no rush. My kids think I can be somewhere in one day and when I tell them I'll be there in 3 days they think I'm nuts.

[Oma]

Interesting post. Glad your trip went well! Hopefully the first of many adventures.

Need a like button for all the information shared. Thanks Beth and Melissa.

[Bethers]

Just one more comment on braking - you want to do the least amount of actual braking you can - no matter where you are driving. You have the least amount of control of a vehicle when your foot is on the brake.

Here's a good article for anyone interested which is not covering hills, but braking and turning - something which drives me crazy when I see people braking in a turn instead of before ...
http://www.clubregistration.net/club_ad ... raking.pdf

And here's some info specifically on braking on downhills:
http://travel.thefuntimesguide.com/2005 ... riving.php

And, as Melissa has said - slow down even before you start the downhill. It's not a race to get to the bottom

(Renee - we've kind of gotten off track - but it's always good when we talk safety - so thanks for letting us borrow your thread to do it!)

[SoCalGalcas]

This is a great thread. I once lost my brakes going down hill in a van because of lack of knowledge. Not fun, believe you me! I have also seen trucks on fire at the bottom of the grapevine. Going through Louiville once there was a truck turned on its side because of not following the speed limit around a curve. I find the majority of truck drivers polite, and, they are making their living, and I'm retired, so I get out of there way! I like to set my cruise control at 62, and keep a long distance from the car in front.
When I got my new truck it had an M on the gear shift. Is that a handy thing after I learned how to use it.
Melisa, love yout technical posts...even if I don't understand all of them. Lyn

[OutandAbout]

Sounds like you had a good first trip. A lot of great info on the thread also. I think you last sentence said it all. Congratulations.

[CatLady]

I have a 34' Class A Winnebago Brave gasser and tow a Santa Fe. I have the thingy mounted on the side that also applies the brakes to the Santa Fe when I use the brakes on the motorhome (so articulate, lol). I usually go between 60 and 65. I'm a flat-lander (Louisiana native) but haven't had a lot of problems with braking/brakes while traveling in the mountains. Melissa D, do you have any suggestions for those of us with disc brakes?

Renee, I'm so proud of you...great job. Personally, I can't see well enough at night to attempt this. Those blue lights just about blind me so it's safer for everyone if I just drive during the day. Then, too, I've apparently got flat spots on my hiney and can't sit/drive those 600 mile days. A few years back I drove about 450 miles and thought I was going to have to die to feel better. When I got to the SKP Raccoon Valley Park outside Knoxville, I was too tired to eat so I went to bed. Three days later, I finally felt together enough to venture up to the clubhouse. Never again! Learned my lesson. It was a big blow to my ego but I had to face reality. Now I'll travel up to 350 miles and that's it...no more.

Cat Lady

[Acadianmom]

I will still do about 500 miles in one day when my sister has to get back to go to work. Every time I say never again. If the trip is several days the first day might be 500 miles but every day after that gets shorter and shorter. I try to not drive at night too. I think about how much trouble it is to get help if you break down in the day time. It would take even longer at night.

My first trip to the Rocky Mountains about 25 years ago still scares me. I am also from flat South Louisiana and didn't have a clue about driving in the mountains. We were very lucky we didn't have a wreck. Thank goodness for the information on the forums and internet. When I drove from Louisiana to Seattle I had a better idea of how to come down a mountain. I still don't like it.

Martha

[Getupngo]

Sounds like an adventure in your new rig, but I got exhausted just reading about your 600 miles per day. Even when I am blasting my way to a destination, I try to stay to 300 miles per day. I stay under 65 mph as well ... let them pass me. I white-knuckled the first 500 miles in my rig, then began to relax.

Unlike all of you with your diesel pushers, I observe all of you flying by from the "cheap seats" ... an older gasser with no jake brake. So those downhills can get the ol' sphincter going. On a downhill I will decide on a speed I won't exceed, and when I approach it, I brake down about 20 mph below that. When it creeps up to the max speed, I do the same thing. Keeps the brakes from smoking -- or going out altogether. I've had "jake brake" envy for quite some time.

Enjoy your rig.

Janice

[Birdie]

I use the Tow/Haul to control my speed going down hill and engine work going uphill. I just poke along get part way where ever I am going and the stop, eat, rest, read, sleep and then go again the next day. Depending on where I stop, I go birding, hiking, kayaking and visit, then get up and going again! But, I remember when I used to W O R K and I only had xxx amount of time and it was always hurry up, hurry up! Man, I love this way!!