Driving On Downgrades; Using The Engine To Slow The Motor Home; Gear Preselection - Fleetwood American Dream WIDE BODY 1998 Owner's Manual

9
DRIVING & VEHICLE CONTROL
Page 3 of 5
DRIVING ON DOWNGRADES
I
Driving on winding or mountain roads is not difficult if done with reason-_·
able care. Controlling vehicle speed is vital to safe maneuvering in hilly or
mountainous areas. Driving slowly will help you keep yourniotor home under
control.
Always operate in the proper transmission range. Downshift on .hills to
avoid engine and brake overheating 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 compo-
nent damage could occur. Shift the transmission to a lower gem' before starting
down the grade. Match speed and gear using the tachometer. Refer to the
Chassis Owner's Manual for downhill driving technique.
USING THE ENGINE TO SLOW THE MOTOR HOME
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 he desirable. .
GEAR PRESELECTION
Gear preselection means .selection of a lower gear to mateh the driving
conditions you encounter or expect to encounter. Preselection will give you
better control on slick or icy roads and on downgrades. Downshifting tolower
gears increases engine bmking. 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 turn off the
vehicle air conditioner to improve engine and transmission cooling.
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American Dream
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© 1997 Fleetwood Enterprises Inc.
Wide Body
ISSUE DATE: 6/97
All rights reserved