Using the manual shift feature to control hill decent?

[blackjeeprubi]

I’m heading to the Mountains in Jan. Will it be ok to use the manual shift feature on my Magnum R/T to control the decent on the steep mountain roads? It has been several years since I’ve driven a car up there. My Jeep is a manual and that’s what I usually take, but the wife over ruled me this year. I haven’t driven anything in the mountains other than an SUV for many years. Will these newer cars handle the holding gear going up and down the mountains? And no I’m not redlining or stressing the motor just using the engine braking to supplement my brakes. I know some people panic when they hear me talk about using lower gears in an automatic but that the way I was taught to drive in the mountains.

Wes

[SolidOrange]

you should be fine, i use autostick to slow my car to a stop 90% of the time with no problems! much better than using those squeaky dusty brakes.

[Super T]

Rumors have it that the engine goes pretty lean when you do that... I do it regularly to slow down in traffic, but I've been doing it less since those rumors started flying.

[chryslerking]

Chrysler tells you to do this in there manual and i have always done this with all my Chryslers... it won't hurt anything just use your common sense and have fun.

[blackjeeprubi]

Thanks Guys,

Should be a fun trip as long as it doesn't snow to much. Anyone have advise on snow chains??

Wes

[BlazeHemi]

One thing that you always got to think about when using a transmission to slow a car, is that it is cheaper to replace the brakes then it is to replace transmissions.

Greg

[BBMagnumRTAJ]

Thanks Guys,

Should be a fun trip as long as it doesn't snow to much. Anyone have advise on snow chains??

Wes

Dont put them on the front wheels.

The upper control arm bolt is really close to the tire already, any chains in there and something will get torn up.

[BBMagnumRTAJ]

One thing that you always got to think about when using a transmission to slow a car, is that it is cheaper to replace the brakes then it is to replace transmissions.

Greg

It is, but if you have the 05's, they have the 7-70 power train warranty.

In that case, its cheaper to replace the transmission than the brakes.

[formerice]

I tow quite a lot with my Magnum and love that feature. 113,000 miles, no problem. You might try to find some sand to keep in the trunk for emergencys. I'd be very careful with chains, not much clearance on these cars, but I've found that if you have good snow tires and you have 100-150 lbs of tube sand in the back, your gonna go until the snow gets so deep, you'll have 4 wheels off the road anyway.

[Ultimatecarman45]

I have used engine braking in all my vehicles this way. Many times traveling through the mountains if you decide to use the brakes to slow your decent they will be completely burnt, warping your rotors and grinding them also. Not to mention the fact that using the brakes too much overheats the brake fluid, and can lead to boiling it blowing the cap on it, and leaving you with no brakes at all while going down the mountain.

Besides the transmission is going to be doing work whether you are using it to slow your decent vs. using your brakes. It is meant to do this.