sabconsulting wrote:
Tiger4x4RV : Going up hills is not a problem - I found that high ratio 2nd gear called for easy acceleration up the 24% inclines. However, going down the same hill was a completely different experience. Low ratio 1st gear and the truck was still running away and had to be checked using the brakes. OK, the engine braking on my diesel truck is fairly poor, but it would be worse on a gasoline engine unless you had an electro-magnetic retarder or exhaust brake. That is why I wondered how you find your gasoline engine'd truck on such descents. ...
Steve.
I've used low-range 4WD to descend steep gravel, not to mention the Salty Petersen switchbacks on the XTC trip last fall with Jefe4X4 and bro. On pavement, I normally use 2WD, but can use the Allison's tap-shift function to gear down with little braking involved unless the road is very twisty. I'm not a truck techie, don't recall hearing about any special braking on the Tiger.
We've all gotten up and down all of our hills so far, and that's what matters!
BTW, my prior 4X4 RV was built on a 1983 Toyota 4WD truck chassis, 4 cylinder engine. It was way overloaded. In the 15 years and 60K I drove it, the U joints had to be replaced twice and the brakes once. The U joints are definitely a weak point when you overload a truck. Change them out when you hear the characteristic noise; do not wait until they fail.
