Proper gear

It's not as much about which gear, but engine rpm. Most newer trucks have a tachometer from the factory. If you look up the specifics of you engine, it will show peak torque rpm. That is the rpm you want to use if possible climbing hills, whatever gear that takes. Also, if you do not have a tach., temperature gauge will show an increase in temperature if you are lugging (too low of rpm) the motor on a long incline.
Transmissions only heat up for a couple of reasons, if you really want to protect it, have a shop install a separate transmission cooler and a temperature gauge. Heat is a transmission killer..

Good advice, Oldme!
In reading most of the posts, I'll bet that many of the folks have never driven a manual transmission. All of the gear selecting information should be second nature for anyone who has ever driven "stick shift". After driving cars and trucks since 1954, we bought our first automatic transmission car in 1998, and then only because the DW's bursitis kept her from stirring the gears.

Gears are your friend.

Flat highway driving use "D" with the "OD".

Lots of hills, then "D" or "3" - without the "OD".

Going up hills that causes a lot of automatic downshifting?
Downshift manually to "3" or even "2 " on very steep hills
if you need to do so.
Follow what your drive train is asking for.

Going down hills?
Use "D" or "3" without "OD".

Using the brakes a lot going down hill?
Down shift to "2".

DO NOT RIDE THE BREAKS.
Use the breaks as need to control the vehicle.
Pull off and allow the breaks to cool if needed.

Keep your speed controlled where YOU feel comfortable
even if BELOW the speed limit. Remember you also have a
higher center of gravity that a small carm so watch the
curves and your speed.

Rain, snow or wet?
Slow down and all that apply above.

This is what I have found that works over the years.

I recently had a conversation on this topic with a transmission mechanic who was rebuilding my friend's van transmission. His unequivocal advice was to get the transmission out of overdrive and into a lower gear whenever there is any significant load. He advised not using overdrive when towing anything and to drop down a gear when going up even moderate hills, particularly when pushing a headwind. This advice was premised on the vehicles in question being class B RVs which are heavy to begin with and also have significant frontal area air resistance. Slowing down is also probably in order.

mkguitar has it right. On the upgrade downshift if the tranny can't seem to settle in a gear. On a downgrade, downshift so the engine provides significant braking. You don't want the brakes to overheat and fade to nothing when you need them most.

The other problem you may experience with brake heating on a downgrade is brake judder where the front end vibrates when the brakes are applied. You can still slow down but it feels like the front end is coming apart and you're losing control.

I do mtn driving...plenty of 6% grades.

leave it in overdrive and use the brakes...well the brakes will burn up and fail when you need them.

Overdrive is fine for going uphill, going downhill ( like when you see the sign which advises trucks to use lower gear...shift into 3 or even 2...think about controlling your downhill speed before your nose is pointed down the hill...what is safe.


I have a 2006 PW Lexor on a Chev Chassis. 6.0 liter ( 305hp) and 4 speed ( often referred to as a 3 speed with Overdrive)- this IS a well matched drivetrain/gearing to the weight and size of the van...other vans may not have as good mechanical advantage

Generally 3rd will hold the van to about 55 on a 6% grade. 2nd will hold to about 45 mph.

using this approach if you come around a curve and there is a school bus laying across the road...your brakes will be cool and fresh giving optimal braking power.

And the pads will last longer

and the disks won't be warped

if you find the tranny is "hunting" going up hill- changing up a gear, then downshifting for a minute, then upshifting- downshift manually and just leave it there until the grade isn;t as steep


you can alter the transmission shift points with a "tuner" and to an extent using the tow/haul mode button- which will generally allow the motor to rev higher before changing up into the next gear (this will vary greatly by model motor/ tranny...the tow/haul on my gmc truck does nothing...)
On GM's the tow/haul button is sometimes on the dash with a pic of a trailer...sometimes a buttom on the end of the gear selector

many of these vans do not have a tachometer- if you are concerned about revs, you can get a unit which plugs into the OBD data port and will display rpms and other data..


mike

Put it in D and go have fun. If you find the transmission hunting up and down for the right gear pull the lever to hold the lower choice. OK to reduce speed a bit too.

Based on another post of hers, it looks like she has a 2010 Pleasureway on a Chevy chassis.

bobsrv wrote:
I have a Pleasureway, my first rv. Have been doing some traveling and kinda need some advice about what gear I need to be in. The vehicle is automatic but has a manual 1,2,&3 override. When going through West Virginia (everyone know that entire state is a slow incline almost the entire way ;)) and other mountainous roads I am never sure if I should just stay in automatic or shift to manual. If I shift to manual which gear should I use? I know when I changed to manual a couple times the engine really revved. Is that what it is supposed to do? Don't want to leave my transmission on the side of the road so would appreciate any suggestions.

What year and what chassis does it have? Chevy, Ford, Dodge? Generally, if your engine isn't lugging, leave it in overdrive. If it's having a lot of shifting, kick over drive out. Depending on year and transmission, you may need to move the shift lever or newer ones often have an on/off button or switch for overdrive. My '89 Class B based on a GMC van you need to move the sifter. On my '01 dodge Ram pickup, you engage or disengage a button on the end of the shifter.

Let us know what your chassis is and the folks here can probably give you more precise tips. Do you have an owners manual with it?