To slow down on an incline should I...

x3.5

 

Stoopid is as stoopid does

 

should i just turn off my internet for awhile? take a break from this forum

 

How you ever gonna learn?

 

"Gear down big rig!"

 

Haha, touche!

 

So I did some reading in the manual and some field tests...

Going down a very steep long hill I put it into L and easily coasted down, no need for brake.

Correct me if I am wrong, but a general rule of thumb is...

To engine break a tiny bit: turn off over-drive
To engine break a medium amount (under 40): drop it into 2
To engine break a great amount (under 20): drop it into L

Anyhow, this brings me to my next two question...

1. If I drop it into 2 or L, should I turn off over-drive, or no need?

2. When I DO brake, is it better to pump and release or gradually hold? Thoughts?

 

Overdrive is 4th gear (on a first gen.) and 5th on a second gen. So, anytime you are not in Drive by manually moving the gear selector out of Drive and into 3, 2, or L (1)... you are no longer going to be able to be in Overdrive (D or 4th).

Pumping is old school... ABS has taken over (HAL?)... Just press and the ecu pumps automatically at a rate humans cannot duplicate.

 

If you are trying to have a controlled decent down loose or slippery terrain the last thing you want to happen is an ABS activation .

That's the entire point of using the gears , no ?

 

Yes, that is true...

He asked two questions, so my brake answer was for his brake question... Some ABS brakes just won't work off road... My 2005 was that way... it was pretty scary a few times. But, per the manual and brake data for ABS equipped cars, pumping is old school (please correct me if this isn't the case).

 

BRAKE YOURSELF


i just down shift and use brakes when needed

 

I agree there is no advantage to pumping the brakes

 

when going down a long and/or steep descent (and this is doubly important when pulling a trailer) you push the brakes to slow yourself down below whatever speed you feel comfortable at, let off the brakes until the vehicle speeds back up again to the point where you need to slow down, then apply the breaks again. Never ride the breaks constantly to maintain your speed. Or you can of course use your tranny. I go through the mountains all of the time during the year. And when coming down steep/long hills all i have to do is drop it a gear lower and it maintains a safe speed. Maybe throwing in a few breaks here and there for the turns. This talk of using a lower gear will hurt the transmission is nonsense.