RV Driving Tips ~ Grades, Gears & Brakes

Today we are driving down Highway 395 and sharing RV driving tips for grades, gears and brakes. Going down hills in a heaving RV can be nerve racking experience, but with a few tips you can ensure a safe road trip.
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[@JohninTucson]

Excellent explanation of the proper 'braking' technique on the Ford F53 chassis with the V-10 and 4 speed (OD) Automatic transmission. That is exactly the way I have always driven my '04 Fleetwood Flair 34' class A (same drivetrain and Disc brakes) when I encounter hilly terrain. My rule of thumb is to ascend and descend the grades at the same safe speed, both up and down, regardless of what the posted speed limit may be. Stay in the SLOW lane with emergency lights flashing. Using the engine as a brake and scrubbing off excess speed in one big quick maneuver stops brake glazing and heat build-up. The V-10 was specifically designed for this type of high-revving to help control vehicle speed safely for the engine. Everyone needs to stop trying to maintain the posted speed limit in long hilly situations, slow down the ascent and descent and stay within the vehicle tolerances from the manufacturer and you'll be safe. Well done video buddy!

[@skyluv420]

how to I use the gears in my 1990 class motorhome automatic? like, do I start in first gear doI slow to acetone speed and then go down to second? it only has 1 2 and D ad I don't know how to do it

[@LetsRVtv]

Great advice on driving down steep grades. I love that Champion I've done a few videos on them myself. Can't wait to hear your thoughts after you put this new one through its paces.

[@grindygrindstaff9378]

Another great video, lots of good advice for those starting out.

[@mikecox3659]

Moved from that area about 9 months ago ... miss it like a root canal. All thr best!

[@PocketfleetDS]

The TOW/HAUL button - even though you may not have a trailer, will assist by downshifting when you tap the break thus allowing the transmission to help slow you down.

[@FrostyPixelsOG]

For something like a Redhawk on the Ford 450 chassis, I think you can use the o/d (overdrive?) button on the shifter (which is attached to the steering housing on the 450).

[@ambroinaz]

I am a new RV owner and have been really enjoying your vids. good stuff!

[@tomrodgers1578]

I pull a 18ft trailer behind my Grand Cherokee. For both uphill and downhill, 3% TO 6% grades, I downshift my automatic to second gear and set the cruise control to 50 MPH which is 3,500 rpm. It seems to hold that without any breaking. When I was a kid, back in the 60's , I was riding in the back of a pickup with 10 other kids going down the backside of the LA Grapevine hill when the driver pulled into the gravel runaway lane. We let the brakes cool down and the 11 of us just muscled the pickup and the small trailer full of our camping stuff out of the gravel pit and were back on the road. It's amazing how you can do such things when you're 17 years old!

[@sugargold4126]

Wish me luck, first time driving an RV out west!

[@ryanmcguire2679]

I actually just yesterday loss my brakes coming down a mountain on the NC GA border. Coming down the mountain there was no brakes. I was a truck driver in the army and civilian life. Before panicking remember 75% of the time pumping the brakes will slow you down. It's a very scary situation.

[@DarkZephyrus]

That was the perfect amount of driving to good advise. Thanks!

[@kelliedavidson2061]

Oh how I love your old Nelly videos!!! I still reference them when I need advice. Thanks guys❤

[@outliersoverland]

So good to hear from you!!! Hope you are happy and well! ❤️❤️

[@Diamondback68]

When descending steep winding roads where you are on and off brakes for constant switchbacks consider stopping once or twice on the way down and take a 10 minute break while your brakes, rotors and wheels cool off. Finish your coffee, have a bite to eat, walk the dog and save yourself $600.

[@timechangeseverybody3608]

More like$5,000!!!. I had my breaks go out downhill mountain first 23 miles I drove it. Dealer lied and drove it to deliver it. He way overheated the breaks. Caliper was melted. Had to replace whole breaking system almost. Gas RV. Regular fucking car breaks ... Expensive as hell

[@ryanmcguire2679]

As a commercial truck driver that's the safest thing to do. It doesn't hurt at all to stop and let everything cool down. Saves the brakes, engine, and your life

[@ShorelooksniceRV]

Great tips!

[@barrydrefs1766]

wow, nice seeing you come down the 395 close to my town, as I have been watching your channel for awhile, keep up the great videos

[@barrydrefs1766]

Out in Ridgecrest , I've learned a few things from watching your channel, still searching for our first MH, thanks for that link, Its rough here for 4 months of the year, ( Summer 115 to 123 ) is just HOT on some days, fall and winter are the better weather times

[@tinathomas4999]

I've never traveled in a motorhome...didn't realize it got so hot while traveling in one. Bless you.....

[@gregweir4072]

Gearing down with an automatic transmission is a good option, but also it should be used sparingly, along with the braking techniques, slow speeds, and frequent stops along the way. Don't be in a hurry, and don't worry about all those cars and SUV's behind you. But, be aware of them and don't be a jerk and pass-up a good turn-off. The rule-of-thumb should be you don't want the engine and transmission to work too hard to keep the speed down. It's cheaper to replace brakes than a transmission (and engine components).

[@outliersoverland]

Thanks for watching. I like to think there is balance and with a good driver the vehicle decides the right speed for the conditions.

[@roydavis2242]

On downgrades I was taught to down shift and let the engine help. My uncle was a cross-country trucker who said he never touched the break unless stopping at a light or stop sign. I almost had to use a runaway ramp in PA pulling a 34 ft camper once.

[@Jumpingoffthecliff]

He's right, and the general rule, assuming a symmetric hill, was to go down it one gear below what you climbed it in. The engine brakes are a huge improvement in safety. Truckers learn to look further down the road than most people, so they aren't accelerating to a stop, LOL, and basically, you don't want to have to come to a complete stop, then you have to keep the clutch in AND press on the brake pedal, that's extra work man!

[@2Peachcobler]

Learned something new. I've never heard/seen a runaway ramp! As for the dogs you can get them chill pillows to lay on and cool jackets to wear. A cool jacket is made either out of terry cloth or shammy cloth. They are made to be warn like a winter coat for dogs only you wet these down and squeeze out the excess water. Chill pillows first started as an office aid to help reduce the swelling in the hands of computer operators. They are approximately an incentive thick and come in different sizes. They hold water and are suppose be cooler than the air around it. I first got one to help with my migraines but soon realized they were great at keeping my show dogs cool on hot days, now I see them in pet stores. When I was showing dogs they would stand on the pillow while waiting to go into the ring. I would also lay a cool jacket across their back before and after showing . This was the only thing that helped when l was showing in 95-110 degree 100 percent humidity. They say you don't need to put the chill pillow in the refrigerator but I do along with the shimmies when they are not in use. I just saw chill pillows on sale last week at PetCo. A spray bottle works ok. If all else fails put them in a pan of water!

[@jamesshepard9457]

Thank you for sharing this video

[@jbwolfgram]

I have seen a 1-ton dually and fifth wheel trailer in a runaway truck ramp a couple times, but never a motorhome.

[@discoveringthetruth]

Great video and braking tips! Acton Thousand Trails is in my backyard, met another KZbinr that was there last month! Glad Rebecca will be back!

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

thanks for the tips.

[@sugargold4126]

I loved Chris Cornell!! One of the best rockers ever!

[@flat4314]

Another thing to keep in mind if you've just gone done a hill and theirs a stoplight at the bottom let the vehicle roll slowly to avoid warping rotors. I race cars and one time I had to come to a stop immediately on track because I blew a oil line and not only did I loose the engine the rotors cracked from the heat without airflow under the caliper to cool them off. Unfortunately my rotors are custom made and cost $300 a corner.

[@JFSMASH]

I wished I had been current on your channel, I'm near Fontana and would have come down to meet you. I really enjoy your channel. We're trying to sell our place in running Springs and go full time in the motorhome till I find a new place near Sandpoint Idaho.

[@debinvenice]

In L.A., the gas at Costco is 10 to 20 cents per gallon cheaper than anywhere else (that's way more than 50 cents per tank). Since we pay more for gas than a lot of the nation and drive so much, that savings is worth the wait (though I try to go early in the morning before 9 am to avoid the lines). :-)

[@Despiser25]

I just came outta the Sierras for the first time and my pedal was very squishy by the time we got to the bottom. I wasnt really thinking about it as we came down then all of a sudden I was pushed deep into its travel. Brakes still worked good but it did cause me some sweat as the friction point kept moving down, lol. Next time Ill be more prepared.

[@joseavila8752]

Thank you very much, very informative Good luck outer

[@outliersoverland]

Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@buckreynolds1795]

thanks for sharing Ben

[@programminglarge]

BUCK REYNOLDS h

[@douglasmcneil8413]

Going down the 15 towards San Bernardino, you can get off on Cleghorn Rd. and take old 66 the rest of the way in. Gets you way from some of that traffic.

[@mrzif0013]

in the hills i use manual mode and go up and down gears as needed and try not to brake if possible use the engine to keep a low safe speed and keep to the right lane.

[@tkendr01]

My RAM 2500 Hemi has a gear limiter which easily controls the speed and saves the brakes.

[@larryandjackieoz5275]

The TowHaul feature on the newer MH does all that automatically. And depending on where you are Costco gas here is normally 10 to 15 cents per gallon cheaper, and you get an additional rebate at the end of the year on your Costco credit card. So when I put 55 gallons in it is more than saving fifty cents. And most of the newer Costco stations here have many lines with 3 pumps per line. Even on busy days, I have never waited more than 15 minutes. Still worth it to me.

[@angelakrause166]

My local Costco in San Bernardino is 30-50 cents lower per gallon than my closest stations. $9-15 is definitely worth sitting in a line for no more than 10-15 minutes.

[@elcaminomant]

just drove thru that stretch yesterday in our super c. i absolutely love the 395, at least from Kramer Junction northward ;) question, do you have 19.5" wheels on your rig?

[@ClassALiving]

Great tips man, Thanks! :-) 👍

[@akbychoice]

It's expensive to get pulled out of a runaway ramp, but better alive than dead.

[@2-old-Forthischet]

One thing I do for my vehicles is to "wash" out the disc brakes often to get rid of the brake dust between the pads and the rotors. I can really feel the difference when I do this. The disc brakes stop the vehicle more evenly.

[@gailalice2000]

How do you do this?

[@2-old-Forthischet]

@@gailalice2000 if possible, wait for the rotors to cool as much as possible then just shoot water from a garden hose on them, both inside and out. You'll be surprised to see how much brake dust washes out. My GF thought she needed new rotors because her brakes were chattering on the down slope of the hill she lives on. I told her I thought we just changed those rotors not too long ago but before we go through that again, try washing them out and sure enough that cured that problem.

[@Troutfishers]

This may have been asked before, but what is the black wire to the left of you when driving along your door frame. Thanks

[@odontomatix]

When my dog gets hot like that, in addition to running the air conditioner, I spritz her with a little spray bottle of water all over her body. Dogs don't sweat and their tongue just doesn't have much surface area compared with their body, so a little artificial sweat (just plain water) helps cool by evaporation. Of course, if it's hot and you're in a humid area, evaporation doesn't work very well, but in the West, like you're showing on US-395 or in Nevada or Arizona, it works.

[@odontomatix]

I got mine for $1 at a dollar store. It's smaller than the ones at hardware stores; just right for a dog spray.

[@mrzif0013]

good tips 4k is max. rpm for me too then i brake.

[@ChrisRI1000]

Here's a tip that should be obvious but isn't to quite a few people. Never use water to cool down your brakes. Yup it happens believe it or not.

[@mrzif0013]

traffic and clouds of smoke and smoldering campfires ALL day in campgrounds is going to send me back to boating.

[@MarkRose1337]

The other point of pulsing the brakes is to allow air between the pads and rotors to help cool them off.

[@akbychoice]

Mark Rose do that in a semi weighing 80,000 lbs and you will usually heat them up more. Air and heat means fire. Better to drop gears and go slower from the beginning.

[@MarkRose1337]

Well yeah, better to drop gears and go slower, for sure. That's obvious. But I'm talking about one aspect of not riding the brakes: they cool down faster. It's not just a reduction in friction. I don't mean pulsing like ABS, but doing like in the video. If the brakes were used so hard the pads ignite, then the hill descent technique is unquestionably wrong. I can't speak to air brakes used in semis. I've only driven vehicles up to 10,000 lbs. What makes them different? Running out of air?

[@Jumpingoffthecliff]

I took a couple years off from IT work to drive a semi. I did know one driver who used an escape route out east in Tennessee if I recall. It saved his butt, but was wasn't fun. The gravel is deep and you have to get towed out! The reason they don't get used more are the Jake brakes, which are fantastic. I have the Cummins version on my class A and love it. It was on my had to have on my RV list before buying. BTW, I'm guessing your rear brakes aren't working leaving only your fronts to do all the work. Thanks for the vids!

[@sierraAframe]

Jumping Off The Cliff

[@calliejohnson7871]

Jumping Off The Cliff that is really helpful! Thanks

[@davidjacques3993]

Turn the air conditioner on. You don't have to turn the fan on just get the compressor to help slow the engine down.

[@TheTravelingTogetherJournal]

Don't you just love Costco!? Saved our bacon so many times, and you can buy loads of bacon while you're there. There are Costcos all through Mexico, and they switch to PriceSmart in Central America. It's how we keep Jaeger our dog on a regular diet and get our American luxuries.

[@djtoo7]

ok so whats the best way to go up hills, what gears, how fast? got a allison 6sp and cummings 500hp, but still seemed to run hot, granted I live in Phoenix az ya 110 but will be going all over this is a used rig 2002 tiffin allegro zephyr. thx dan

[@deeptravel]

in manual transmissoin drive one needs to downshift to lower gears such as 2nd or 1st after reducing speed by gentle breaking then should take foot off the break with vehicle being in 2nd or 1st the engine breaking will do a nice job making the vehicle roll down with fullest control possible and engine and breaks are safe.

[@outliersoverland]

Sound advice for manual transmissions.

[@oldbaldfatman2766]

Oct. 25, 2020----Boy, talk about the memories you gave me going down 395. Drove truck for 15 years and I don't know how many THOUSANDS of miles I've gone down that road. Curious...did you start on 395 by going thru Carson City, etc.? There are some real "fun" hills to climb and downgrades before you get to Bishop that way. Which is why I always went 80E, 95S, 360 then 6 which took me right into Bishop with 1 good hill to climb, another to go down. When you took the San Bernardino road split, there's a truck stop a few miles before it, along with a rest stop area also in that area. Got more than one sandwich from the Port of Subs there. As to downshifting and using your brakes sparingly, so true. Wish the manufacturers would put jakes on these things. It'd make life so much easier and not using the brakes so much. And yes, stopped at that Pilot truck stop.....is that the one at 4 Corners? If so, there's a burger place on the other side of the road (on the right) that served kick ass cheeseburgers. However, they were a CASH only place....NO checks or debit/credit cars accepted. Me and my partner had just enough cash between us to pay for our meals. After that, we made sure we had enough cash on us. Getting on the freeway to get to San Bernardino is Hesperia and all those stores, truck stops, etc. weren't there 30 some years ago. Spent a couple of years living along 138 which is off the 15. Hell, even the gas station, scales, etc. in that area didn't exist back then. Calif. even put an overpass over the railroad tracks I don't know when because of the number of trucks calling ass downhill suddenly found themselves facing a 100 or more freight cars....and there was NO light signal there either. Just the regular RR sign. And Cajon Pass is a STEEP grade for trains FYI. Dad, I and my 2 brothers filled up gunny sacks of carrots from one of these mishaps, which I fed to our rabbits and we'd eat them on a regular basis. When you're a retired G.I. with 5 kid, you do what you need to do to stretch the dollar. I've also stopped at the brake check area just before you go downhill. Saw a runaway ramp used one time going west over Donner. I'd just passed the ski slop place and I, along with others saw another driver with SMOKING brakes. He was told over the CB to downshift before he got into serious trouble.....he didn't or didn't have a CB. He LOST his brakes and got luckier than shit because about 100 feet or less in front of him was the runaway ramp which was covered in snow, along with the trees bordering it. He went the entire length of his rig before coming to a stop, with his truck and about 20 feet of his trailer covered in snow.....as in he couldn't see out his windshield. Not only would he need a tow truck to pull him out, he was possible facing a MAJOR fine for using it. In Idaho, I was going down a 7% grade with a heavy load, but between being downshifted and jakes going, I had no problem. But this other guy in front of me started having smoking brakes, so on the CB, told him. Him: what do I do, what do I do? Newbie of course. Had him pull over to a wide area to cool his brakes, with me parked behind him. While they were cooling, I told him what he needed to do. Once we started up again, he had no problem. Thing is, what goes around, comes around. Didn't know how to chain my truck and trailer as I too was a newbie. Asked another driver to show me how it was done and he showed me how to do one of them, then I was on my own. And believe me, I've met A LOT of drivers who didn't know how to chain up while just past the bug station in Truckee, Calif. Many were from the south and never had to chain up before. Another funny thing was while they had chains, they didn't have the locking handles to tighten up the chains?! I call them church keys and ALWAYS snagged every one I could get my hands on, because some times I simply forgot them on a tire or inside a rim after unchaining. Then of course, pass one of them to the newbies.

[@outliersoverland]

Wow, sounds like you are well traveled! A lot of memories are made on the road. Thanks for watching.

[@biga4135]

I seen a rv use a run away ramp brakes smoking

[@pedrobastos3218]

Nice bad-way question how get discounts in diesel on road

[@christopherstokes6921]

Do a classes normally ride up and down the grooves in the road. I test drove an A class diesel pusher and I was going back and forth on the grooves, is this normal?

[@littleweasel1957ify]

What about trucking wind/vortex?? Nobody ever talks about that!! I've seen motorhomes pitch and sway pretty bad!!

[@captlarry-3525]

Keep speed under control, by selecting a lower gear and establishing your lower safe speed Early. Stay way ahead of the vehicle.

[@dr.fishing5740]

What song is that at 6:08???

[@stevewillocks4665]

I live in NC and a trucker was killed a few months ago using a runaway ramp. Not something I would want to try.

[@jeanettedavis9348]

I hope someone can help me. This is a great video. Thanks! So... driving a motorhome in mountains... we do not know when to use third, second, or first gear and do you hold gear shift to change it while driving?? How do you know the best rpm to have while driving?? I need to take a class! Thanks so much in advance!

[@mattdh8]

Downshift from Drive to 3 in order to maintain or reduce your speed. If your RPM's are getting to high while your speed increases, reduce speed with the brake then let off the brake and shift down. Continue this process to maintain safe speed. Do not ride your brakes. Hope this helps.

[@ryanmcguire2679]

Especially when Costco has such cheap gas and horrible for your vehicle. I would never do it unless I was running out of gas.

[@rafaelgilabert5710]

How manny miles per tank ,you can gey

[@1617kinsella]

Great way to slow down and not slide on the winter roads is to gear down as well.

[@JoseRivera-lk4cz]

Drive the recommended speed limits

[@tmgibbons]

Why is my RV only getting up to 40 miles an hour going up a steep hill it is a diesel

[@chriskriaris2671]

You know why?

[@tmgibbons]

@@chriskriaris2671 why

[@timjacobs9860]

omg then you put heat and presure on you clutch pak in the trans

[@outliersoverland]

It’s always compromising one thing or another.

[@Punxsyjumper]

That's a technique called "stab braking".

[@nicholascherry5962]

If the dogs are so hot just pour some cool water on them or give them a drink man

[@Arthur-Silva]

My goodness, get to the point.