This truck (for being just a regular gas consumer vehicle) is nothing short of amazing downhill. I was recently on a trip to NH and driving on 7-12% grade roads. With Cruise control on the truck would just downshift to 3rd or 4th and hold the speed. I have never had a regular vehicle that would just do that on it's own. I was nothing short of stunned to find out it could handle downhill roads this effectively by itself. Every other vehicle was on and off their brakes and this would just hold steady. It was really helpful to me too because I have plantar fasciitis thanks to Uncle Sam so my feet are always in pain so this was just a bonus not having to ride the brakes.
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Downhill Driving
- Thread starter Bigbags85
- Start date
Claude Henry
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I knew my Ram was good at this, being in the Black Hills, but I didn't know how good until a trip to Winter Park, CO, last month. It did very, very well. I was impressed.
bigdodge
Happy Ram Owner
yup this was something I found out while traveling the mountains around durango co. last month. pretty cool feature.
Richard320
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Yeah, I found that very handy coming down the Grapevine on Interstate 5.
Tow/haul will also hold speed by downshifting. If you take your foot off the gas at 45 mph on a downgrade, it will downshift before you get to 50. And keep doing it if needed to hold you around 45. If you hit the brakes to slow down, say for a curve, it will use that new lower speed as the new target. When things level off you'll have to give it some throttle to make it upshift and speed up again. Or turn off tow/haul.
Tow/haul will also hold speed by downshifting. If you take your foot off the gas at 45 mph on a downgrade, it will downshift before you get to 50. And keep doing it if needed to hold you around 45. If you hit the brakes to slow down, say for a curve, it will use that new lower speed as the new target. When things level off you'll have to give it some throttle to make it upshift and speed up again. Or turn off tow/haul.
It really comes in handy when towing a travel trailer too. Engine braking when using cruise control is pretty intuitive on its own. It will downshift way on down there to maintain the set speed. I've noticed if you tap the brake pedal going down hill (when not using cruise), it will downshift. It's like the truck says "Oh, you need some engine braking? Here you go."
