To Slow Tite Motor Home - Fleetwood 1999 American Tradition Parts And Service Manual

ON ThE
ROAd
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 and friction 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 component 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 Owner'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 pro-
vides good speed control for going down grades. When the
motor home is heavily loaded, or the grade is steep, preselec-
tion 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. Downshiftingto 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.
Mountain driving or desert temperatures can put extreme
demands on drive train components. Under extreme heat
conditions you may need to tum off the vehicle air condi-
tioner to improve engine and transmission cooling.
USING THE ENGINE
TO SLOW THE
MOTOR HOME
~I
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 situations,
give yourself some room
to move either forward or
backward. The vehicle
has to be in motion for
the front wheels to be
turned with ease.
AMERicAN T IlAdirioN