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06-06-2012, 05:55 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 437
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Is there "grade braking" on my 2004 Workhorse?
When I towed a fifth wheel with a 2003 Chevy Duramax/Allison, my transmission had a very good grade braking system. Does my 8.1/Allison have the same feature? If so, I can't find how to activate it or find it in the owner's manual. Any advice would be appreciated. Tim
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06-06-2012, 06:36 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Official iRV2 Sponsor
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Centralia, WA
Posts: 1,216
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No, Workhorse did not incorporate the Allison GradeBrake until MY 2005. However, we do offer the UltraPower Allison GradeBrake that can be added to your coach for the exact same gradebrake functionality as the newer ones that came factory equipped.
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06-06-2012, 07:20 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 437
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Thanks for the info!
I have only taken one trip with this motorhome so my mind is not yet made up whether I feel the need. It was a nice feature when the fifth wheel was encouraging me downhill. I do all my own maintenance. Can your package be installed by an owner?
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06-06-2012, 07:32 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Surprise, AZ
Posts: 282
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Do you have the option to manually shift into 4th, 5th, and 6th gear. Both in my duramax chevy when I pulled a 5er, and now in my motor home with an allison trans that both have the grade brake, I prefer to just mannualy shift into a desired gear and use my brake pedal to control my rpm's as I desend down the grade.
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06-06-2012, 08:16 PM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner Coastal Campers Carolina Campers
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Conway, SC
Posts: 23,641
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TimLoon
Any advice would be appreciated.
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Take a look at this article:
Ultrapower Grade Brake Project
__________________
03 Adventurer 38G, Workhorse W22
F&R Track Bars, Safety+ , Ultrapower, Taylor Extremes, SGII
TST 507, Blue Ox, SMI, Koni FSD, CrossFire
RV/MH Hall of Fame - Lifetime Member
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06-06-2012, 08:26 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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Jon.. You made me glad I bought a 2005 . (Actually I wish I'd gotten a 2006 SS model but hey.. If wishes were horses I'd need to buy hay instead of gasoline).
I love the Grade brake on my coach. Works great and really helps.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
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06-06-2012, 10:04 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,090
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I have a 2004.
You take the gear lever and pull it down. Amazing and free.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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06-06-2012, 10:31 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Kansas City, MO./Pollock, LA.
Posts: 1,556
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I have a grade brake on my 06 and it works well on 6% grades or less. But on 7% and 8% grades my MH will pickup speed and it will downshift and let my RPMs get up in 4500 range. I try try to stay below 4000 and won't use the grade brake and manually shift down and stay at a slower speed and use my brakes occasionally to keep the speed down. But my MH is heavy and with 3400 lb toad.
A good rule of thumb I use is: What ever gear and speed I use going up the hill, I will use the same gear and speed going down.
__________________
06 Hurricane 34FT WH W20 Chassis 8.1L 132K, Steersafe, Koni Shocks, DIY Trac Bar, Tri-Metric 2025RV Battery Monitor, 4-6V Batteries, Scan Gauge 2, Crossfires, 735W Solar Morningstar MPPT-60, WG T4 In-Motion Sat, XM Radio, 07 Chevy Malibu Maxx Toad, Falcon 2, Brake Buddy, Escapee
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06-07-2012, 04:22 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 437
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All Good Info!
Folks, Thanks for the sharing of on the Grade Brake, especially the link to the install. Although my wife is used to me tearing half our house down and rebuilding, she would have a fit if she saw the dash half apart.
I don't disagree with the concept of manually downshifting as I come from the old school of driving where it was commonly taught. The big issue with me and the Workhorse is trying to find the gears. When I move the gearshift level there is no positive indication of what gear I am in. Sometimes, the indicator light does not seem to match or keep up with the manual shifting. Is there another issue going on here or is this a quirk of the ellectronic display?
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06-07-2012, 03:50 PM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner Coastal Campers Carolina Campers
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Conway, SC
Posts: 23,641
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TimLoon
she would have a fit if she saw the dash half apart.
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The dash is not actually half apart .... it's half together.
Really the only thing that you should take away from that shot is that the dash pod can swing open on a hinge making access to the key items a lot simpler.
Making the downshifting and upshifting automatic reduces the driver's work load and it does indeed work. Most folks will not remember to upshift in a timely manner and will wonder why the engine is reving up on a level roadway.
__________________
03 Adventurer 38G, Workhorse W22
F&R Track Bars, Safety+ , Ultrapower, Taylor Extremes, SGII
TST 507, Blue Ox, SMI, Koni FSD, CrossFire
RV/MH Hall of Fame - Lifetime Member
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06-08-2012, 01:17 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,090
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OP said:
When I move the gearshift level there is no positive indication of what gear I am in. Sometimes, the indicator light does not seem to match or keep up with the manual shifting. Is there another issue going on here or is this a quirk of the ellectronic display?
Something funny going on. Mine kind of clicks into place and the wonderful Actia gauge indicates the gear I'm in.
I never exceed 4,000 RPM and stab hard on the brakes for less than the count of 5 and drop my speed and RPMs accordingly.
__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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06-08-2012, 11:30 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2000
Location: California Central Coast
Posts: 2,034
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I've found the grade brake to be useless. On any hill that needs a downshift it will end up in 1st gear because I have to constantly use the brake due to minimal engine braking available. So I just shift down to a gear that gives me a good rpm level and brake in short stabs.
Glenn
__________________
2006 Sea Breeze LX 8341 on a Workhorse W22 Chassis with 22.5 Alcoa Alum wheels,
2011 Chevy Colorado 4X4 with Ready Brake
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06-09-2012, 01:37 PM
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#13
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Moderator Emeritus
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner Coastal Campers Carolina Campers
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Conway, SC
Posts: 23,641
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn and Kathy
So I just shift down to a gear that gives me a good rpm level and brake in short stabs.
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What gears do you ultimately select when manually downshifting? I doubt that your grade brake will take you all the way down to 1st unless you're on an intense grade and you've input a lot of brake.
__________________
03 Adventurer 38G, Workhorse W22
F&R Track Bars, Safety+ , Ultrapower, Taylor Extremes, SGII
TST 507, Blue Ox, SMI, Koni FSD, CrossFire
RV/MH Hall of Fame - Lifetime Member
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06-09-2012, 07:20 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northwestern Montana
Posts: 3,512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arch Hoagland
I have a 2004.
You take the gear lever and pull it down. Amazing and free.
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Yes siree, Si senor, etc............
I find third gear in my five speed Allison to be the most versitel gear. I can easily handle long 6% downgrades using this gear and a few quick hard stabs on the brake pedal to keep the RPMs in the 4000 range. My rig climbs very well in third also. I have, but very rarely, used second gear for down grades. I try to anticipate the need to downshift, rather than wait until I am well into the grade before shifting down.
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Dieselclacker
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