Using The Engine To Slow The Motor Home; Maneuvering In Traffic - Fleetwood 2012 Discovery Owner's Manual

Using the Engine to Slow
the Motor Home
To use the engine as a braking force, select the
next lower gear. Engine braking provides good
speed control for going down grades. When the
motor home is heavily loaded, towing, 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 increases engine braking. The selection of
a lower gear often prevents cycling between a
gear and the next higher gear on a series of
short up-and-down hills.

MANEUVERING IN TRAFFIC

Be cautious when maneuvering to allow for the
length and width of the vehicle. Always allow
room to corner and to change lanes. Your vehicle's
side view mirrors and rear view camera monitor (if
equipped) will help you keep aware of your vehi-
cle's position and the position of other vehicles
and/or obstructions near your motor home. You
must monitor them constantly while you are driv-
ing. Become familiar with the operation of the side
mirrors and learn to use them to view objects and
the road beside and behind the motor home.
The rear view mirrors are controlled from a
panel located on the driver's left side instrument
panel. Mirrors should be adjusted prior to opera-
tion of your vehicle in traffic. To adjust the mir-
rors, select either LEFT or RIGHT mirror and
press the appropriate arrow. Activate the mirror
heaters (if equipped) by pressing the HEATER
position.
Remember that your motor home is heavier than
a car, making 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.
NOTE

Although your motor home is equipped with power
steering, the front wheels may be difficult to turn when
at a dead stop. When maneuvering in some close sit-
uations, give yourself some room to move either for-
ward or backward. The vehicle has to be in motion for
the front wheels to be turned with ease.
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 overheating or undue engine loads.
Downshift when descending grades.
Engine compression and friction will help con-
trol vehicle speed, and relieve some of the strain
on the brakes. Shift the transmission to a lower
gear before starting down the grade.
Mountain driving or desert temperatures can put
extreme demands on drive train components.
Under extreme heat conditions you may need to
turn off the vehicle air conditioner to improve
engine and transmission cooling.
Be aware of the extra height of your motor
home. Check for low hanging tree branches or
other obstructions whenever you drive or park.
Avoid low overhangs when pulling in for serv-
ice. Always check overhead clearances of over-
passes and bridges. This may be particularly
important if you drive with the overhead vents
open or if the motor home is equipped with a
roof air conditioner, roof rack, CB or TV/
radio/satellite antenna.
Before leaving on a trip, check your route.
Some tunnels prohibit motor homes with Propane
systems.
When parking parallel to a curb, be sure to
allow for poles or obstructions as the front and
rear portions of the motor home swing wider
than an automobile. When parking on an
incline, turn the front wheels into the curb in the
direction of the roll to aid the parking brake.
When parking, always shift the transmission to
P and set the parking brake.
On The Road
05-15