Thread: hill descent

Not familiar with that stretch of road but if it's bitumen I'd be using gears rather than HDC. I think HDC is more for rough conditions - dirt, loose stones etc. Other wiser heads may have different views.

Martin

My van weighs 2.9t & I always use the gears when descending long hills. Depending on the grade, you will need the brakes as even second gear won't hold you back enough.

Hill decent is designed for steep hill descents , usually off road and works via the abs system. While I use it regularly off road, personally I wouldn't reply on it with 3.1 tonnes pushing me from behind. As others have said chose the right gear to start with and control the sped from the beginning. Far easier to stop it speeding up than it is to slow em down.

HDC Is only designed for (very) slow controlled decent down steep, loose or slippery surfaces. As has been said it works via the ABS so it wont apply the van brakes. It's a nice neck of the woods you're driving in, take your time, select a low gear, use brakes as needed and enjoy the view (on the safe straight sections��!).

I know this stretch of road well and have been up and down it with our 1.5t camper a few times, it's long, steep and windy, especially the last section just before Harrietville, if you used HDC on this stretch of road, I'm pretty sure the ABS system would not handle it well and would probably overheat.

Use the box manually to keep off the brakes as much as you can, even with only 1.5t on the back the brakes fade by the end, ours did.

Are you aware that this road is sign posted as being unsuitable for caravans?

Not trying to sound like a smartass here, so please don't take offence, but, don't be afraid to use your gears,, that's what their there for, and feather your brakes to keep it all in check, including your trailer brakes. Better to wear them out first rather than the car brakes.
Unfortunatly, many people think because they drive an auto, you just need to chuck it D and away you go. As a transmission builder, the gears work just fine. If you go down the gears and it's not changing down as expected,, your going to fast for the selected gear. It's better, especially with a lot of weight on the rear, to enter a decline slower and have to speed up a bit, rather than try to pull up all the weight with brakes because it won't go down gears fast enough.

Originally Posted by Grumbles

Are you aware that this road is sign posted as being unsuitable for caravans?

GREAT ALPINE ROAD

ROADWAY DETAILS: Sealed road all the way, with some steep gradients between Harrietville and Mount Hotham; vehicles towing caravans, or trailers, may need to engage low range and/or a low gear.