SECTION 4
TRAVELING WITH YOUR MOTOR HOME
4-6
MOUNTAIN DRIVING
Special techniques must be used when driving
in mountainous or hilly country.
Climbing A Hill
The transmission will automatically down-
shift as needed to climb most hills. If the hill is
long or very steep, however, you may need to
manually shift to a lower gear to keep the trans-
mission from repeatedly upshifting and down-
shifting. Select the lowest adequate gear range
for the duration of the incline. See your chassis
operating guide for more information.
Descending A Hill
When going down a long grade, you may need
to manually shift to a lower gear, rather than
keeping your foot on the brake pedal. A lower
gear will allow the engine to provide a degree of
braking action. Holding your foot on the brake
pedal for an extended period may cause brakes to
overheat, causing you to lose control of the vehi-
cle. See your chassis operating guide for more in-
formation.
CAMPSITE SET-UP
Try to pick as level a spot as possible on which
to park your motor home.
LEVELING
Leveling the motor home is very important,
not only for your comfort, but for plumbing and
appliances as well. Some refrigerators are ex-
tremely sensitive to being off level. The ammonia
vapor cooling system used in most RV refriger-
ators can “lock up” and damage the refrigerator if
it is not level. This is both inconvenient and cost-
ly. Also, water and holding tank level indicators
may give false readings because water level is
greater at one side of the tank than the other.
Blocking
A motor home can be leveled using several
methods, including sophisticated electronic-hy-
draulic systems. The most common and inexpen-
sive method, however, is “blocking.”
This is done by stacking various lengths of
planking (blocks) into a ramp-like formation in a
low spot to drive the tire onto, thus leveling the
coach as shown.
Wedge a pair of wheel chocks or similar de-
vices in front and back of a tire that is on the
ground as shown to keep the coach from rolling
forward or backward off the leveling blocks.
When placing blocks beneath a set of rear
dual wheels, be sure the blocks support both tires
so that the load weight is not resting on one tire,
which could damage that tire.
CAUTION
Observe the engine temperature
gauge more frequently than normal.
If overheating occurs, pull off to the
side of the road and allow the engine
to thoroughly cool before refilling the
radiator and restarting the engine.
Blocks
Wheel
Chocks
Leveling Your Motor Home
