1996 F53 460 thor residency... Which gear on steep hills

Great advice! Thanks

Good advice! Thanks

I can't comment on your question but I will say I love the floorplan on that model. A manufacturer needs to bring that design back to life.

Had the same year/chassis as you. What I learnt is the 460 likes 2,400 RPM's cruising and 3,000 - 3,500 climbing. I would tow in overdrive and would never have an issue on the flats with normal wind.

As someone else said the only real time you need to downshift is either to control your descent (poor man's engine brake) or to stop the transmission from "hunting" for the right gear (climbing.)When the transmission jumps in and out of gear the fluid heats up and this is what causes failure.

I found that the rig does a very good job of shifting when it need too and staying in that gear for the right amount of time. I did find that it helps greatly to charge down hills and use the momentum to climb the next one (i.e. 70 down, 50 up.) Of course cruise control needs to be turned off.

I75 is fairly tame and you should be OK with just dropping out of OD and allowing the transmission to pick a gear for the climbs. Watch the engine water temp and if it starts to climb down shift to get the RPM up and improve the water flow for cooling the engine and oil moving thru the transmission. Stay to the right and use your four way flashers if necessary. Even consider hanging in behind the trucks making the climbs.

Going up isn't the worry it's coming down on the other side. Down shift and use the power train to hold your speed down rather than light braking. If you do have to use the brakes its better to brake hard and down shift rather than continuous moderate or light use of the brakes. Stay to the right and turn on you four way flashes. As with going up, consider getting in with the truckers. Take your time and arrive at your destination safe and sound.

hanko wrote:

hanko wrote:

Kenmartin1 wrote:
Hello, getting ready to head south in 1996 F53 460 thor residency... Which gear should i use on steep hills on i75. Should I turn overdrive off? I'm also towing a car. Thanks

what steep hills on I-75?
if your talking Jelico, thats a bump

there all bumps unless your from here Colorado and try I70 through the tunnel or Vail pass

If the transmission starts searching in and out of overdrive you should probably turn it off. If you have a chassis manual read about towing and climbing grades.

Ken.....a couple of things. Depending on your weight, while towing, you should probably stay out of overdrive, unless it's a nice level area. Here is a good test to use to decide if you should be in overdrive. If you're on a slight grade, press the throttle lightly, if the coach accelerates, you're okay to stay in overdrive. If it downshifts, you should not be in overdrive on this portion of the highway. This is an easy practice once you get use to doing it.

On any grade, in a gasser like yours, you should initially shift out of overdrive at the base of the grade. Shifting after that is something you'll learn after driving your coach for awhile. Typically, you drive the same grades many times when leaving on trips and you get to know them. I know that in my coach, there are certain grades I drop one gear immediately at the base to maintain my speed. I never wait for the trans to downshift automatically as I typically lose to much speed/power by then.

Your gasser is pretty powerful and will climb any grade, just some a little slower. I had your engine in a Class C for 14 years. On the large grades I turned the overdrive off at the bottom and as I started to slow, I would downshift into second and then stay at whatever speed the coach would hold without overworking the engine. In my younger days, I would ring it's neck to be the first to the top in our group of other Class C's. As I got older and wised up, I just maintained a good speed that wasn't taxing my engine.

It's all about getting used to watch your coach will do in various situations such as grades and while towing.

Kenmartin1 wrote:
Hello, getting ready to head south in 1996 F53 460 thor residency... Which gear should i use on steep hills on i75. Should I turn overdrive off? I'm also towing a car. Thanks

what steep hills? if your talking Jelico, thats a bump