Wanting to know from current or previous Class A gas owners on how their coach did going through the mountains and particularly descending grades. With my current setup, our Dodge pickup has an exhaust brake (I know DPs have them also), but does a gasser have anything similar or do you just downshift and brake?Thanks.John

Gasses don't have anything comparable. Downshift is the best we have. We don't tow and have not had any issues.

Downshift and listen to how loud the engine screams depending on the grade.

I down shift and brake to keep the rpm under 4000 while going slow enough to avoid acceleration. We tow a lite truck and have been through many mountain passes with our gasser. Did run out of horsepower up one hill but it was at 11500 elevation pops

Once you get familiar with the rig, you will find what RPMs it likes. You would then keep an eye on the signs for trucks. Some areas have max speed limit for trucks on the down grades. I slow down at the top and select the best gear to maintain speed on the down grades where I am not using the brakes excessively. You could be down in first gear and still have to use the brakes. Don't let the engine over rev or use the brakes excessively.We are near the max weight for our combination of MH and toad.There is some difference in RPMs between a v-8 and V-10.

Ford f-53 chassis's have a sort of transmission brake,you push the tow-haul button and the tranny drops a gear and will hold it.A lot easier on your brakes.

Class A Gasser and Mountain Travel | Good Sam Community

J-Rooster
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
I just down shift and brake lightly.
Pangaea_Ron
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
I have a grade brake with my Allison 6-speed transmission that shifts down when the brake pedal is tapped. It works great. My wife is tired of hearing me say: "I just love the grade brake!"
JCGibson
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
Thanks everyone for the responses. I was wondering about the tow-haul mode. I am glad that does help some. Really wouldn't want to have to use the Semi-truck runoff area. Thanks again!

John
mena661
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
Heisenberg wrote:
The newer F53s have a very nice brake assist in the tow-haul mode. It even helps at exits and stop signs. It downshifts for you!
This. It works very well even when towing. We do nothing but mountain driving in ours and it does very well (people here had me thinking it would be a total dog...it isn't). The rig has not slowed down lower than 40 mph in our drives and I don't push it either.
Heisenberg
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
The newer F53s have a very nice brake assist in the tow-haul mode. It even helps at exits and stop signs. It downshifts for you!
mike_brez
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
When I had my gasser what ever gear I used to climb was the gear used to come back down.
rhinorider
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
Ford f-53 chassis's have a sort of transmission brake,you push the tow-haul button and the tranny drops a gear and will hold it.
A lot easier on your brakes.
enblethen
Nomad
Jan 06, 2015
Once you get familiar with the rig, you will find what RPMs it likes. You would then keep an eye on the signs for trucks. Some areas have max speed limit for trucks on the down grades. I slow down at the top and select the best gear to maintain speed on the down grades where I am not using the brakes excessively. You could be down in first gear and still have to use the brakes. Don't let the engine over rev or use the brakes excessively.
We are near the max weight for our combination of MH and toad.
There is some difference in RPMs between a v-8 and V-10.
traveylin
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
I down shift and brake to keep the rpm under 4000 while going slow enough to avoid acceleration. We tow a lite truck and have been through many mountain passes with our gasser. Did run out of horsepower up one hill but it was at 11500 elevation

pops
352
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
Downshift and listen to how loud the engine screams depending on the grade.