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What Gear Do I Use Going Downhill Towing a 5th Wheel? UPDATED

What Gear Do I Use Going Downhill Towing a 5th Wheel?

Topic: Towing 5th cycle in mountains
Posted By: gonealot on 09/26/11 08:19am We take a 2007 Chev 2500 diesel fuel coiffure cab tow pkg. 5th is a 32 human foot 2008 Heartland Sundance. The RV has a braking organization. There is no compression restriction on the truck. I am concerned about towing on steep mountain grades. Everyone says information technology will exist fine. Yet, I am allergic to white-knuckle driving. My hubby is an extremely competent driver.
Posted Past: You tin can't have the Fisherman out of this Camper on 09/26/11 08:24am

gonealot wrote:

We have a 2007 Chev 2500 diesel fuel crew cab tow pkg. 5th is a 32 foot 2008 Heartland Sundance. The RV has a braking organisation. There is no compression brake on the truck. I am concerned nigh towing on steep mountain grades. Everyone says it volition exist fine. However, I am allergic to white-knuckle driving. My hubby is an extremely competent commuter.


You can do the uphill office.... [emoticon] ; and allow him practise the downhill! [emoticon] [emoticon]
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Posted By: raygreg on 09/26/11 08:28am Thanks for sharing.
Posted By: garym114 on 09/26/11 08:29am Up is easy, downwards takes more. Use the manual to command speed on descents, not the brakes.
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Posted Past: pulsar on 09/26/11 08:58am Moved from Forum Technical Support.
Posted By: brirene on 09/26/11 09:09am As Garym said, downshift the manual to control the speed going downhill. Use the brakes every bit little as possible to avoid overheating them. I striking the brakes pretty difficult for brusk periods to dump a lot of speed, then let off of them. If your DH is a competent driver, I'thousand sure y'all'll have no problem.
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Posted Past: donn0128 on 09/26/11 09:16am The Allison uses what they call "Grade Braking" To activate this feature when going downward hills, with the transmission in tow/booty mode you lot simply tap the brakes once and the manual volition downwards shift one gear to help hold yous at speed. While it is Non an exhaust brake it does work as advertised. Maybe you need to go back to the owners manual and read upwardly on the transmissions features and functions.

Posted By: Flyin Finn on 09/26/eleven 09:23am Another thing I heard said is that travel downhill at the aforementioned speed you traveled uphill (not any faster). But they must take meant that equally long as the uphill and downhill are the same grade.

Anyhow, I practice a lot of mount travel with my fifth wheel, and I gear downward enough that I rarely use the brakes, If I am on the brakes a lot, I downshift.

97 Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 2WD 7.4L towing a 08 Rockwood 8281SS Fifth wheel
Posted By: Terryallan on 09/26/11 10:50am Lookout the signs. Get down no fater than the speedlimit for trucks. And always boring downwardly, and gear down BEFORE yous outset down.

going up is easy. Coming down is the catchy part.

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Posted By: BarneyS on 09/26/11 11:13am All of you that are telling the OP to utilise the engine/manual to concord back the vehicle are seeming to forget that a diesel does not give much engine braking like a gas engine does. My recommendation is that if you are going to tow in the mountains with a diesel so you lot should take some type of engine brake installed.
Barney
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Posted By: gonealot on 09/26/11 xi:23am Cheers for all the replies. We are up-to-speed on the downward-shifting gizmo. Alibi the tech talk hear but I don't have the bodily name for the gizmo. Most of the responses I become are: go alee, you lot're fine and one person saying, it'due south a diesel fuel.
Posted Past: blt2ski on 09/26/11 11:34am I've personally yet to detect an interstate mtn grade that gave me white duke! past police they are not over vi-8% max. At present driving in downtown seattle where you tin can find 15-20% grades for short stretches, or elsewhere here in the lowlands below 100' peak, I have found some grades that fabricated me wonder if I would get up them, going downwardly is piece of cake, the question is will I stop! I have been literally stalled past not having the right gears to get up! not fun!

Only in the rockies or cascades, nada has given me white knuckles!

marty

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Posted By: jdgreen42 on 09/26/11 eleven:44am Don't understand how it works, simply my Chevy diesel with the Allison transmission when in the tow haul way does an splendid job of belongings my speed down ( braking), however one should besides use circumspection when descending a loma of any kind.
Don
Posted Past: Yellermanx on 09/26/11 12:02pm If your truck does not have an integrated brake controller I would recommend something similar a Max Brake. That manner you don't accept to rely on inertia to get more than than minimal braking going downwardly loma. Much improve control.
Posted By: Tystevens on 09/26/xi 12:04pm Similar others have said, the course braking (engine downshifting) on my Duramax has been more than than enough to command speeds on whatsoever Interstate incline I've found here in Utah -- the OP being in Minnesota, should be a piece of cake! My TT is probably a few 1000 ligher than the OP's 5'er, but I wouldn't be worried nearly information technology.

Fifty-fifty on mount ii-lane highways, I seldom take to use any service brakes or do anything on my own to slow the rig down. Coming from Flaming Gorge/Dutch John to Vernal, which is one of the steeper, twistier highways I've been on, simply a few dabs on the brakes here and there, simply nothing pregnant. Just keep your speed where information technology needs to be heading in to corners (follow those yellow signs!) and don't be agape to let the engine rev if information technology needs to. Many don't know that the redline for the Duramax is really 4800 rpms under braking, so it'll scream if information technology needs to, only it has always done the job for me.

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Posted By: Terryallan on 09/26/xi 01:17pm

BarneyS wrote:

All of you that are telling the OP to use the engine/transmission to concur back the vehicle are seeming to forget that a diesel fuel does not give much engine braking like a gas engine does. My recommendation is that if y'all are going to tow in the mountains with a diesel fuel so you should have some type of engine restriction installed.
Barney

One poster said it has "Course Braking" I'm non up on that. But am assuming it is some sort of trany restriction.

As you say, without some sort of outside add on braking system. a diesel fuel is pretty useless for braking.

Posted By: jmaotto on 09/26/11 01:25pm The Duramax/Allison is crawly for grade braking in TOW Booty mode.
Posted Past: Delaine and Lindy on 09/26/11 01:43pm Kickoff point is you accept a great Truck to tow 5th wheels. The Allison Transmission will handle your down hill runs. But make sure going down loma y'all don't allow the rpms get to high, utilize the OEM brakes to go along the speed down. I take pulled the rockies several times in the concluding 6 years and have never had a effect with the up or downwards hill runs. And the 2007 Chevy 2500HD y'all desire have a upshot towing the Sundance. Nosotros tow a Mobile Suites but we exercise tow with a Chevy 3500HD, DRWs. Take y'all time and proceed the speed downwardly on the down hill runs and use the Tow haul mode. Happy Trails..

P.S. Another point most of my towing in the Rockies has been without any type of engine braking system. I do have a frazzle braking systim on my terminal two Trucks. Simply yous don't have to have a engine braking system with your rig...

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Posted By: Tystevens on 09/26/11 01:43pm

Terryallan wrote:

BarneyS wrote:

All of y'all that are telling the OP to use the engine/transmission to hold back the vehicle are seeming to forget that a diesel does not give much engine braking similar a gas engine does. My recommendation is that if y'all are going to tow in the mountains with a diesel and then you should take some type of engine restriction installed.
Barney

One poster said it has "Grade Braking" I'one thousand not up on that. But am assuming information technology is some sort of trany brake.

As you say, without some sort of outside add together on braking system. a diesel is pretty useless for braking.

[emoticon]

That is good to know, since we came downwardly some xv% grades in the mountains on Saturday towing the TT on narrow, switchbacked mountain roads, and I seldom had to touch the brakes! Well, I guess I did tap the pedal hither and in that location to go the transmission to downshift, and needed brakes going into switchbacks to go downward to 10 mph, but that's nearly information technology.

And nosotros've towed down some of the steepest interstate grades in the country (which are admittedly much less steep than country roads), including Parleys (I80), Cabbage Loma (I84), and Siskyou (I5), plus Donners (I80 -- not as steep, merely very long), and haven't had to worry most braking whatsoever. True, nosotros're 6k under GVWR fully loaded, just I don't have any worry that the Duramax/Allison would exercise only fine under a heavy load.

Posted By: chevor on 09/26/xi 01:45pm A diesel useless for braking? maybe its your ford tranmissions
i nonetheless have the orginal brakes on my duramax truck at 269,000 miles. I always use the transmission to slow down
Posted By: Tystevens on 09/26/11 01:55pm

chevor wrote:

A diesel useless for braking? maybe its your ford tranmissions
i even so have the orginal brakes on my duramax truck at 269,000 miles. I e'er utilise the transmission to slow down

Yep, 109k on my stock brakes. Enough of pad left.

Posted By: Tystevens on 09/26/eleven 01:57pm

Delaine and Lindy wrote:

Just make sure going down hill you lot don't let the rpms go to high, use the OEM brakes to keep the speed down. I take pulled the rockies several times in the terminal 6 years and have never had a issue with the up or downward hill runs.

True, but people need to remember that the Duramax has 2 redlines, so to speak. It will max out at about 3200 rpm under power, ie, w/ the gas pedal existence pushed. But for braking, information technology will safely rev to 4800 rpm. Then don't be afraid to allow information technology wind upwards a flake coming down the hill.

Posted By: dayner on 09/26/11 02:30pm Advice I got a long fourth dimension ago was, until yous know the hill, what ever gear yous pulled up, showtime downwardly in a lower gear. You tin hands shift up to increase speed only downshifting to deadening downwardly sometimes just doesn't work. Going downwardly wearisome is not serenity the sin that going down fast may plow out to be.
Posted Past: Terryallan on 09/26/11 02:35pm

Tystevens wrote:

Terryallan wrote:

BarneyS wrote:

All of you that are telling the OP to use the engine/transmission to hold back the vehicle are seeming to forget that a diesel does not requite much engine braking like a gas engine does. My recommendation is that if you are going to tow in the mountains with a diesel fuel then you should accept some type of engine brake installed.
Barney

One poster said it has "Course Braking" I'g not up on that. But am bold information technology is some sort of trany brake.

As yous say, without some sort of outside add together on braking system. a diesel is pretty useless for braking.

[emoticon]

That is good to know, since we came down some fifteen% grades in the mountains on Saturday towing the TT on narrow, switchbacked mount roads, and I seldom had to touch the brakes! Well, I guess I did tap the pedal here and there to get the transmission to downshift, and needed brakes going into switchbacks to become downward to x mph, merely that'southward near it.

And we've towed downward some of the steepest interstate grades in the state (which are admittedly much less steep than country roads), including Parleys (I80), Cabbage Hill (I84), and Siskyou (I5), plus Donners (I80 -- not as steep, but very long), and oasis't had to worry almost braking whatsoever. True, we're 6k under GVWR fully loaded, but I don't have any worry that the Duramax/Allison would do just fine under a heavy load.

Then it is obvious that the Allison transmission has some sort of transmission braking. A diesel engine, has some serious compression on the front end side while pulling, has NONE while coasting, on the back side. Where y'all would need pinch to wearisome the vehicle. It just freewheels. That is why systems like Jake brakes were invented, to give a diesel some braking assist on the downhill. With many new transmissions, I sympathize the downshift braking is done there, and NOT in the engine as it would be with a Jake or other exhaust brake. I think information technology is a good affair, and would not have a diesel without some sort of trans braking, or frazzle braking. I feel it should exist required on every diesel sold.
Having brought a 400 Cat in a route tractor down the mountains with no Jake, or trans brake. I can promise you. no matter what gear you chose. It freewheels. And the footbrake is all you take to hold it back. Nearly scared me to death the first time, I was expecting it to hold back the truck like a gas engine would. Nope. Saw 45mph in third gear of a 13 speed. Virtually blew it upwardly.

then you see, nosotros don't disagree, I was but pointing out that with out some sort of add on to the diesel. It has no engine braking. It is apparent GM had added some sort of engine, or manual braking to the Duramax Allison combination, and is to be commended for it.

Posted By: Tystevens on 09/26/eleven 03:00pm

Terryallan wrote:

So information technology is obvious that the Allison manual has some sort of manual braking. A diesel engine, has some serious pinch on the front side while pulling, has NONE while benumbed, on the back side. Where yous would need compression to slow the vehicle. It just freewheels. That is why systems like Jake brakes were invented, to requite a diesel some braking help on the downhill. With many new transmissions, I sympathise the downshift braking is washed there, and NOT in the engine as information technology would exist with a Jake or other frazzle restriction. I think it is a good thing, and would non accept a diesel without some sort of trans braking, or exhaust braking. I feel it should exist required on every diesel fuel sold.
Having brought a 400 Cat in a road tractor downward the mountains with no Jake, or trans restriction. I tin can promise y'all. no matter what gear y'all chose. Information technology freewheels. And the footbrake is all y'all have to hold information technology back. Nearly scared me to death the beginning time, I was expecting it to hold back the truck like a gas engine would. Nope. Saw 45mph in 3rd gear of a 13 speed. Well-nigh blew information technology upward.

and then you see, we don't disagree, I was merely pointing out that with out some sort of add together on to the diesel fuel. It has no engine braking. Information technology is credible GM had added some sort of engine, or manual braking to the Duramax Allison combination, and is to be commended for information technology.

Well, I gauge I don't know exactly what is in the Allison. Just in improver to my '06 Duramax, I've towed pretty heavy, in mountains, with my neighbour'southward '02 Ford PSD 7.3 and in my grandad's 2000 Dodge Cummins 6 spd auto. Both trucks slowed downwardly considerably as I downshifted. Not sure what type of transmission braking the manual manual could have had. My grandpa towed all over the West w/ that 2000 Cummins, 15k fiver in tow, and didn't install any aftermarket braking. He did just fine.

Posted By: Terryallan on 09/26/11 03:47pm Yeah many do fine without a jake, or other frazzle restriction. I drove all over the US pulling 80,000lbs with no jake, and did but fine as long as I paid attention going down. But engine braking sure would take made it easier.

The High School Activeness buses I collection as well had no engine braking, and yous really had to careful coming downwards the mountain with a load of somebody else's children on board. The first bus we had with some sort of braking, ( I don't know what it was, only it was automaticly engaged)other than the service brakes, Came in 1999, As manufacturers realized something must be done to make diesels safer. You could allow off, and it would actually slow down. Which kind of made information technology jerky when it striking the Governors.

Posted By: Dave H G on 09/26/eleven 05:14pm If you are traveling the interstate I am not sure where you will encounter a "steep" mountain grade.
Posted By: jjwms on 09/26/11 05:22pm As 2 of the posters have already said, "Read the transmission" since their tow vehicle is a 2007 information technology has a tow/haul type transmission and engaging it should have care of things provided the driver isn't trying to pick upward lost fourth dimension by going downhill too fast.
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Posted Past: hawkeye-08 on 09/26/11 08:18pm

gonealot wrote:

Thank you for all the replies. We are up-to-speed on the down-shifting gizmo. Excuse the tech talk hear but I don't have the actual name for the gizmo. Near of the responses I get are: go alee, you're fine and one person saying, it'due south a diesel fuel.

From a 2006 review,
New Half dozen-Speed Allison: Selecting the "Manual" gear selector position allows the driver to use the +/- buttons on the shift lever to manually control the new (for 2006) vi-speed Allison automated. Combining the best of both the manual and automatic worlds should please a lot of drivers. Class-braking and cruise-controlled grade-braking are only bachelor when Tow/Booty mode is selected and the transmission is not in the manual gear selector position.

Read the owners manual to make sure your gizmo works equally you expect information technology, make certain yous are not going too fast when you commencement down (many check brakes near top to ensure all is ok) and enjoy. If/when you need to use brakes to reduce speed, don't ride the brakes, rather go on them pretty adept to drop speed down to below what you are comfortable with and then let up. Information technology gives the brakes a run a risk to cool some.

You lot exercise take pretty skilful engine braking with the Duramax/Allison philharmonic but with heavier loads, you may feel the need for more, that'due south when you lot add an exhaust brake if you don't already have one...

Posted By: christopherglenn on 09/26/11 ten:30pm put the truck in drive, plow tow/booty on, fix the prowl v-seven mph LESS then your max wanted speed, enjoy the ride. The vvt does quite well holding speed on a downhill.
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Posted By: ausie607 on 09/27/11 06:33am

donn0128 wrote:

The Allison uses what they call "Grade Braking" To actuate this feature when going down hills, with the transmission in tow/haul mode you just tap the brakes once and the manual volition downward shift one gear to assistance hold you lot at speed. While it is NOT an exhaust restriction information technology does piece of work as advertised. Maybe yous need to go dorsum to the owners manual and read upwardly on the transmissions features and functions.

Well put donn0128,

Posted By: JIMNLIN on 09/27/eleven 08:47am

gonealot wrote:

We have a 2007 Chev 2500 diesel crew cab tow pkg. fifth is a 32 foot 2008 Heartland Sundance. The RV has a braking organisation. At that place is no pinch restriction on the truck. I am concerned about towing on steep mount grades. Everyone says it volition be fine. However, I am allergic to white-knuckle driving. My husband is an extremely competent driver.


Your GM form braking feature is a variable vane turbo (VVT) organisation on the Dmax clicky . When descending a grade and the brake pedel is tapped the vanes will close somewhat for a small exhaust restriction. At the same fourth dimension the Allison is programmed to lock the torque converter clutch. Some aftermarket tranny rebuilders web sites claim 115-125 hp for braking vs 180 hp for a conventional exhaust restriction.

I would try the grade braking feature on your trip. If information technology doesn't perform to your satisfaction so is the fourth dimension to go with a conventional exhaust brake.

Or a improve thought could exist the Banks Speed Brake clicky. This systen programs the VVT organization for more braking performance like the new '11 Dmax/A system.
Too one member, killerbee, has a web site that he can reprogram your Dmax/A VVT organization for more braking power.

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Posted By: EPenney on 09/28/11 12:22pm

gonealot wrote:

Nosotros have a 2007 Chev 2500 diesel coiffure cab tow pkg. 5th is a 32 human foot 2008 Heartland Sundance. The RV has a braking system. In that location is no compression brake on the truck. I am concerned about towing on steep mountain grades. Anybody says it will exist fine. Yet, I am allergic to white-knuckle driving. My hubby is an extremely competent driver.

Hullo gonealot,

Welcome to the forum [emoticon]

I don't know if you have the 2007 "Classic" or 2007.5 "New Body Style" Chevy, but for towing on most mountain freeways/highways you should not have to add an aftermarket device to enhance your trucks braking. Apply the Tow/Haul mode when towing per the owner's manual recommendations, that'south what it is engineered for. I accept a 2007 2500 DA and I tow a 10K# 5er upwardly & downwardly some fairly steep mountain roads, and have yet to encounter any problems slowing down on downhill grades when using Tow/Haul way.

Good luck.

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Posted By: Desert Captain on 09/28/11 01:36pm Interesting thread, I've learned a lot (don't own a diesel), simply I hope the folks contemplating larger TT's and smaller fivers with half ton gasser's are paying attention. The diesel's seem to requite you lots of braking options and I certainly apply my gas (5.4), for braking past coming out of OD and downshifting as needed when towing down grades. But, when you lot are not hit the brake pedal the TV is doing 100% of the braking, the TT/5W brakes are doing nothing and that's asking a lot of a one-half ton with 8 or 9000# of trailer behind it. (Likewise explains the screaming engine and DW). [emoticon]

I think this scenario accounts for a lot of the "White knuckle" posts we see. If your Tv set brakes are getting hot plenty for y'all to smell them you they are almost likely overloaded and a catastrophic failure awaits.


Posted Past: EPenney on 09/28/11 05:30pm LOL...you lot need to give your DW'south vocal chords a restriction (pun intended) and become a diesel fuel. [emoticon]
Posted Past: Desert Captain on 09/28/11 05:47pm

EPenney wrote:

LOL...you need to give your DW'south song chords a brake (pun intended) and get a diesel. [emoticon]

Not my DW, but male child take we heard some tales in camp. It helps that our TT is 3500# under our ratings. FTR: I would LOVE to get a diesel. [emoticon]

Posted By: Robert6401 on x/31/11 03:46am

raygreg wrote:

Thanks for sharing.

LOL! Thanks for the laughs!

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What Gear Do I Use Going Downhill Towing a 5th Wheel? UPDATED

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