Driving from Dallas to Anaheim on I-40
Hi Everybody! I'm excited about my first real RV trip. We're driving from Dallas to Anaheim, CA (Disneyland) and back taking I-40 through NM and AZ. We plan to stop at the Petrified Forest National Pa...
Forum Discussion
Michael we've done that trip several times except leaving from California.
> Most important is to make sure your truck has been serviced properly.
> If you don't have an auxiliary transmission cooler you may want to add one
> Make sure the brakes on the trailer are good and prpoerly adjusted. And Bearing grease is good.
> When climbing a hill don't let the truck engine lug, shift to a lower gear to keep your RPMs at an optimum range.
> If the truck begins to get too hot try slowing down and shifting into a lower gear. Don't push it just take the hill slow and easy.
> If your temp light comes on or the temp guage gets to the red, pull over and let everything cool down (may take up to an hour)
> You want to go downhill in the same or a lower gear than you went up in.
> Make sure you don't over rev the engine.
> Downhill use the extreme braking technique- decide on a downhill speed that is safe for the gear you are in. For example 35 MPH is the speed you choose. If your truck and trailer creeps up to 40 MPH, use your brakes aggressively to slow down to 30 MPH (make sure no one is following too close behind). Let off on the brakes and let the speed creep back up. If it hits 40 MPH again do the aggressive braking to get back down to 30 MPH. Keep this cycle up until you get to the bottom of the hill. This allows your brakes some time to cool before the next application. If you are having to use your brakes too often you may want to slow down and shift down to a lower gear.
> Don't ride the brakes like you'll see some of the Semi Truck & Trailer drivers do
Enjoy your trip... it will be fun and lots to see along the way.
> Most important is to make sure your truck has been serviced properly.
> If you don't have an auxiliary transmission cooler you may want to add one
> Make sure the brakes on the trailer are good and prpoerly adjusted. And Bearing grease is good.
> When climbing a hill don't let the truck engine lug, shift to a lower gear to keep your RPMs at an optimum range.
> If the truck begins to get too hot try slowing down and shifting into a lower gear. Don't push it just take the hill slow and easy.
> If your temp light comes on or the temp guage gets to the red, pull over and let everything cool down (may take up to an hour)
> You want to go downhill in the same or a lower gear than you went up in.
> Make sure you don't over rev the engine.
> Downhill use the extreme braking technique- decide on a downhill speed that is safe for the gear you are in. For example 35 MPH is the speed you choose. If your truck and trailer creeps up to 40 MPH, use your brakes aggressively to slow down to 30 MPH (make sure no one is following too close behind). Let off on the brakes and let the speed creep back up. If it hits 40 MPH again do the aggressive braking to get back down to 30 MPH. Keep this cycle up until you get to the bottom of the hill. This allows your brakes some time to cool before the next application. If you are having to use your brakes too often you may want to slow down and shift down to a lower gear.
> Don't ride the brakes like you'll see some of the Semi Truck & Trailer drivers do
Enjoy your trip... it will be fun and lots to see along the way.
