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Spyone's avatar
Spyone
Explorer
May 16, 2017

Going down steep grades with a Class C

Newbie with question about driving a 27' Motor home down steep roads. Do you use your brakes a lot or do you shift your automatic transmission to a low gear to save the brakes. I think I know the answer but would appreciate any input from those who have a lot of experience going down steep grades.

Thanks

36 Replies

  • As said before, use your brakes as a secondary means of keeping your speed down. Let your engine/tranny be the primary means to slow. One trick the truckers use is to set your "safe speed" going down hill, say, at 40 mph. Brake hard until your speed drops 5 mph then stop braking and let your speed build back up to 40 and repeat.
  • Thanks to all the replies. Pretty much the answers I was expecting
  • kerrlakeroo wrote:
    Just take your time, downshift and let the engine handle most of the braking. Your on vacation, no rush.


    X2
  • Just take your time, downshift and let the engine handle most of the braking. Your on vacation, no rush.
  • "use your brakes a lot..." Then you won't have any brakes.