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What is the difference between #1 and #2 on my gear shift and when I do use them? I should know this but we don't have mountains in Minnesota.

1 is the lowest gear, then 2,3,4 but you might not have all those. If its automatic,
just use drive and the transmission will pick its own gear. It will start out in 1st
but you won't be aware of it really.

With an automatic, you can also shift down gradually to the lower gears (starting with the higher number and working your way down) if you're going down a steep grade and you don't want to wear/burn out your brakes. This lets the engine do some of the braking.
Sandi

Gong down, don't ride your brakes, apply them and get below the speed you want to be your highest then let it roll until it gets up again then apply again to reduce speed. It's riding brakes that will get them hot and increase chance of failure. In addition you can downshift but don't let your speed gain enough that it's way over that gear. Downshifting can also help pull up a hill where you have lost speed.
Velda

If you downshift correctly, before the downhill, your engine will slow the car down and, save overheating brakes. Then, as said above, if you start going faster, you can brake to the speed you should be going and downshift again to the next. Chances are your vehicle has drive, next to that 2, then 1.

I had the brake issue twice thru the mountains coming back from CA four years ago. Brakes started failing both times. Thanks for explaining that to me. Now it makes more sense for going downhill.

Do I need to use either 1 or 2 for going uphill for more power?

If you are going downhill, you want to downshift only ONE GEAR AT A TIME!!! IN other words, if you are in 4th gear, downshift to 3rd, as you slow down. It will rev up the engine too much if you downshift too much as once. Once you are in 3rd and not exceeding 2500 RPM, roughly, but still going faster down hill than you want, you can shift to 2nd. You should almost never, ever shift down to first.

Check your owners manual. I am assuming you have a standard transmission or an automatic with 3rd and maybe 2nd on the shifter.

IN fact, when you get home, ask one of your brothers or someone else to demonstrate as you are driving. You can really mess up a transmission doing this wrong.

You are normally better off just to leave an automatic transmission in Drive. Some vans or cars if in cruise while going down hill will downshift to control speed. We had a Chrysler minivan that would do this. Honda has something called "Grade Logic" which will do this also. I suggest you check your owners manual. Shifting out of drive while going down a hill at 60 mph (other than braking, then going down 1 gear) can have catastrophic effects on the engine or transmission if you make the wrong selection. Problem is when you start "down shifting" like this you force up engine rpms and you have to be careful you don't over speed the engine. If you vehicle does not display engine rpms (ie no tachometer) I'd leave it in drive. If in doubt, brakes are cheaper than engines or transmissions.

You would also be better using "stab braking" than gently riding the brakes all the way down the hill.

https://www.quora.com/Is-engine-braking-when-going-downhill-bad-for-automatic-transmissions

I agree with Melissa. I have to go over mountains no matter which direction I go. Going over Siskiyou pass to CA is the biggest one. In my car I just put it in Drive and go, will automatically downshift if I need more power. Coming down I just keep my speed down by braking intermittently.

In the Motorhome I put it in tow haul mode and it will automatically downshift when I apply the brakes for a few seconds...keeps my speed down with only some occasional braking. I just did this yesterday LOL

Have a safe trip Barbie

karen

My guess is that you're pulling your U-Haul without any kind of brake controller. Depending on how long that trailer is, you'd be smart to avoid as many grades as possible. That trailer will be pushing you all the way down any hill you find, and your brakes will pay for it without a controller.

Additionally, because the trailer is probably as tall as your Jeep, any wind you encounter will definitely give you some "tail wag" because you don't have stabilizer bars.

You're going to have to be very, very careful.

Thank you all for the advice! I learned quite a bit here!

I will have the smallest U-Haul which is probably 5' high and not fully loaded. I am also trying to avoid the highest mountains on the way back. I will take it very slow on those. I am prepared to stop and hold up when needed along the way.

Depending on the weight of the trailer it will have hydraulic brakes built into the tongue of the trailer so no brake controller is needed.

Personally I would avoid mountain passes if possible.
Not exactly sure of your start and end points but in general thoughts. Others can probably help you fine tune this.

I-10 to Las Cruces then US-70 to Clovis NM (Cannon AFB is there) , US-60 to Amarillo TX, Then I-40 to I-35 which I expect is your basic plan back to Minnesota. Roswell NM is off of US-70 if that appeals to you.

Safe journey

Unlike Melissa, I would never drive in the mountains without changing gears. It's why cars have them. Mine does not automatically gear down. My mh, if in tow mode, does. My last mh did not have that mode.

Bethers wrote:Unlike Melissa, I would never drive in the mountains without changing gears. It's why cars have them. Mine does not automatically gear down. My mh, if in tow mode, does. My last mh did not have that mode.

I agree with you Beth. When I first got my MH, which doesn't shift down automatically, I didn't know I could do it manually. I was coming down an extremely steep grade somewhere in southeastern Utah (I think) and I was applying the brakes off and on so as not to just hold my foot on them. I was worried but didn't know what else to do. I pulled out at an overlook and as I got out I could smell the hot brakes. I just thought there was nothing else. What a dummy!! It took several more months for me to realize I could shift down. Now I make sure to do it the right way - gradually starting with the higher number and working down if needed.
Sandi

There's a difference between driven driving your motor home and a jeep down a hill. The weights vs braking systems involved are different. If Barb was more comfortable or should I say familiar with shifting her Jeep it would a tool she could use but since she is not familiar with it, stab braking and avoiding the major grades is her best bet.

While I would be comfortable driving my pickup or a car down a steep grade without downshifting, I would not dream of doing it in my semi.

That's my opinion or 2 cents.