Mountain driving w diesel skoolie?

[Seeria]

We're about to hit the Rockies which I have driven before with gas cars but never with something 30' long (dt466 conventional) and heavy run by diesel
Any guides or tips to doing this? Fran has turbo which I've no idea what that means or how to use it or when not to :? When do I switch to the other gears? Have Drive, 3, 2, 1. Any tips on driving to save gas on those wicked ups and downs? Save on brakes, etc?

 

[bus-bro]

Make sure your brakes are up to snuff. If you have air brakes know your slack adjuster, and how to adjust the manual ones.

Going up, keep your engine rpm's up (i.e. don't lug the engine). Watch engine coolant an transmission temps. Don't overheat (does your engine have a hi-temp alarm? Shutdown?)

The old saw: go down in the gear you went up.

On drum brakes, as they heat the drum expands, and the shoes have to travel further to make contact with the drum. If your slack adjusters can't fully throw the brake shoes you can completley lose your brakes just when you need them the most.

Plan your route to avoid the steeper grades.

Turbo does it's thing, no user control. Turbo pumps air to the engine, driven by an exhaust gas turbine. If turbo's not working right you won't have to worry about the downhills. Do you have a turbo boost gage.

I take it that Fran has no retarder, exhaust brake, etc..

 

[opus-SKO]

Drive as if you had no brakes at all. That will keep you safe. You will want to slow down BEFORE you go over the crest of the hill. Drive and shift according to your RPM's. Know where the RPM'S are on your tach when you can downshift safely.

 

[100mpg]

Do not keep the brakes on all the way down the hill, because when you REALLY need them they will already be too hot to work. Stay in the same gear as climbing the hill, at least, and if you are unsure, drop a gear. If you are in 2 climbing the hill, don't drop a gear. You need some injector cleaner!

If you know how to adjust the brakes, they already should be adjusted before you get to that hill. If you don't find someone who knows how. On the way down, if the bus starts increase speed quickly, with your foot off the gas pedal, step on the brake briskly and in shorts burst to slow down and once the rpms are low enough to down shift, downshift.

If you are capable of driving the bus at 80mph without over reving the engine, that is what I would do, but I have well over 1,000,000 miles of driving,So don't do that.

 

[Seeria]

Thanks all!! We're setting up to get two new steer tires on this week before hitting the great divide and mountains of WY-ID-OR. Some $700ish cost there. Ouch.
Brake lines are new. Don't think we have that gage, no exhaust brake or retarder. Running short on funds thanks to tires and what not but might get an oil change before hitting the hills as Fran is looking a bit dark in the oil lately.

 

[GreyEagle-SKO]

When braking on the downhill side ... slow down to 5 MPH or so below your safe speed release brake and let the brakes cool while it coast, then about 5 MPH above your set safe speed, brake and slow down to 5MPH below your set safe speed,
do not let it get too fast, and do not ride your brakes...... good luck on your trip.......

 

[syke]

When braking on the downhill side ... slow down to 5 MPH or so below your safe speed release brake and let the brakes cool while it coast, then about 5 MPH above your set safe speed, brake and slow down to 5MPH below your set safe speed,
do not let it get too fast, and do not ride your brakes...... good luck on your trip.......

What he said. And also keep in mind not to over rev the engine.

300,000 miles of driving over the road trucks and that exact method has served me well.