Newbie here - Have a 35 foot MH. Towing a small car. Searching various posts but unable to find any advice about when and how to shift to lower or higher gears. Recengly went for small weekend jaunt. Towed the car. used the "tow haul" button. Noticed when going down some small hills when I pressed the brake it felt like the engine would go to a lower gear all on its own. Didn't know how to get out of it. Also watched rpms climb...so again how do I get out of it when rpms get to high. Tried to downshift to 3rd but that seemed to push the rpms higher. Anyways...any info greatly appreciated...thanks..

This is normal when going down a hill and when you are using tow haul. Just apply the brakes as needed to slow your speed and this will reduce the rpm's. When you are ready to speed-up apply gas and your transmission will shift into a higher gear again.

You probably have "Grade braking" in your transmission, touch the brakes and the transmission downshifts to use the engine compression to assist in braking. To stop the grade braking you have to press the throttle just a little and it should come out of grade braking. But then you need to use the brake pedal again because you are definetly going to fast down the mountain. You can also manually downshift the transmission to find the right gear to slow you down without letting the RPM's get to high. It would help if you posted what engine and transmission you have, and you will get more detailed instructions on how to operate that transmission. Always slow down before you start going down a mountain and then engage your grade braking.

Let us know what chassis you have. Also the year.

Interesting post, I want to see the responses. I too have a 35' gasser on Ford Chassis, 2012. I have the same experience the OP said, and worry about how high the rpm's go. I will touch the gas and then lightly tap the brake to 'bring it down'. Does it do damage for the rpm's to get up to say, 4500-5000?

From what everyone says on here the Ford V10 is a higher revving engine than the Chevrolet 8.1L. 4-5000 is OK on the Ford. When I hit 4000 on my 8.1L i am at about the peak of where I want to be. The have to make up for the lower displacement somehow and RPMs do the trick.

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mrcchiefe7
Explorer
May 05, 2013
This is normal when going down a hill and when you are using tow haul. Just apply the brakes as needed to slow your speed and this will reduce the rpm's. When you are ready to speed-up apply gas and your transmission will shift into a higher gear again.
othertonka
Explorer
May 05, 2013
You probably have "Grade braking" in your transmission, touch the brakes and the transmission downshifts to use the engine compression to assist in braking. To stop the grade braking you have to press the throttle just a little and it should come out of grade braking. But then you need to use the brake pedal again because you are definetly going to fast down the mountain. You can also manually downshift the transmission to find the right gear to slow you down without letting the RPM's get to high. It would help if you posted what engine and transmission you have, and you will get more detailed instructions on how to operate that transmission. Always slow down before you start going down a mountain and then engage your grade braking.
rvten
Explorer
May 06, 2013
Let us know what chassis you have. Also the year.
Goatee
Explorer
May 06, 2013
Interesting post, I want to see the responses. I too have a 35' gasser on Ford Chassis, 2012. I have the same experience the OP said, and worry about how high the rpm's go. I will touch the gas and then lightly tap the brake to 'bring it down'. Does it do damage for the rpm's to get up to say, 4500-5000?
bsinmich
Explorer
May 06, 2013
From what everyone says on here the Ford V10 is a higher revving engine than the Chevrolet 8.1L. 4-5000 is OK on the Ford. When I hit 4000 on my 8.1L i am at about the peak of where I want to be. The have to make up for the lower displacement somehow and RPMs do the trick.
Dick_B
Explorer
May 06, 2013
A newbie with a 35 foot MH? Nothing like jumping into the fire...
Maladjusted
Explorer
May 06, 2013
I am a newbie with a 40' DP!

nevermind Fire... I jumped right into the blast furnace!!

Mal
Lobstah
Explorer
May 06, 2013
If you have an Allison transmission, which it sounds like you do, this is completely normal and will not over rev your engine.
Read the Allison manual and it will tell you what it's doing and why.

I don't think I'd own a gas MH without a "Grade Brake". Just leave it alone and let it do it's thing.

Jim
live4thedash
Explorer
May 07, 2013
Someone asked for engine specifics. I have a Ford Triton V10. thank you for the advice so far!
cgmartine
Explorer
Jan 31, 2014
It has been a few months since this thread started, but I would like to join in and ask a question. I also have a Ford V-10 Triton, Class C. Going up any slight grade, the motorhome slows down considerably. If I drop it into 3rd gear, the engine revs too high. Can I use the tow/haul button to help it go up those hills, or is it mainly used for going down hills? Thanks.