Fleetwood 1999 Discovery Parts And Service Manual page 61

Remember that your motor home is heavier than a car, mak-
ing it less maneuverable and harder to stop. Also, because of
its greater side surface area, it is more easily affected by
cross winds. Allow extra distances for passing and stopping,
and drive at a moderate speed, particularly in traffic and in
gusty wind conditions.
Driving on winding or mountain roads is not difficult if done
with reasonable care. Observe proper vehicle speeds when
ascending or descending hills and always operate in the
proper transmission range. Downshift on hills to avoid over-
heating or undue engine loads. Downshift when descending
grades.
Engine compression, friction and the compression brake sys-
tem will help control vehicle speed, and relieve some of the
strain on the brakes. DO NOT EXCEED MAXIMUM
ENGINE RPM for the gear range you are in. Serious com-
ponent damage could occur. Shift the transmission to a lower
gear before starting down the grade. Match speed and gear
using the tachometer. Refer to the Chassis Operator's
Manual for downhill driving technique.
To use the engine as a braking force, select the next lower
gear. If the motor home is exceeding the maximum RPM for
this gear, use the service brakes to slow down. When a lower
speed is reached, the transmission Electronic Control Unit
(ECU) will automatically downshift the transmission. Engine
braking provides good speed control for going down grades.
When the motor home is heavily loaded, or the grade is
steep, preselection of a lower gear prior to the grade may be
desirable.
Gear preselection means the selection of a lower gear to
match the driving conditions you encounter or expect to
encounter. Preselection will give you better control on slick
or icy roads and on downgrades. Downshifting to lower gears
DiSCOVERY
ON ThE
ROAd
USING THE ENGINE
TO SLOW
THE
MOTOR HOME