Driving in the mountains

[Nasdaqer]

Hi there. I'm planning a trip out west in a couple weeks and will be driving through Colorado - Loveland pass, vail, aspen, etc. I've certainly done my share of driving through the mountains but never in my new truck - 2014 silverado 1500 crew cab, 4x4 LTZ z71. Would the consensus be to gear down when descending? Does anyone use the tow/haul mode? I won't be pulling a trailer. Thanks

[txab]

I do when necessary. Easier to let the engine do some the braking for you, imo

[Nickshu]

The truck will downshift automatically when descending a steep grade, like coming down from the Eisenhower tunnel. The driver information area will show a notification about descent control being active. This works whether you are in regular mode or towing mode. When in towing mode the downshift is much sooner. I drive I-70 in this area regularly and I generally don't put it in towing mode (usually I'm not too loaded) and it does fine. I rarely manually downshift it unless speeds are low like 35-45mph.

[bdbake01]

What he said. It will auto downshift, but much more aggressively in tow/haul. I noticed that when coasting, a slight tap of the brakes would bring on a single downshift, and a second would bring on another shift. Very easy to decide how it works. I did this all week in the Smokies. Worked great.

[bdbake01]

DIC will show "Grade Braking Active" I think. Not Hill Decent, that's just for loooow speed and requires a button push.

[dntlkbak]

I went on a trip through the Rockies a few weeks back and found that the grade braking works pretty good, went down some long grades and never had to use the brakes, mine came on automatically but maybe it was already active. Also went up a few miles of steep nasty switchbacks to a spot where the hang gliders jump off, the sign said 7000ft when I got there, on the way down the grade braking was working excellent.

[Crf450r420]

Also, you will only get the message once the first time it activates and it will be ready to go the rest of the trip.

[Northside]

I came down from Breckenridge to Wheat Ridge this morning. The tranny handles it well. If you drop back to M it will go to 4th and you can shift up and down manually. The truck is such a pleasure to drive in the mountains.

[Nasdaqer]

That's fantastic. Thanks for the help. I was debating wether to take my truck or her 2013 honda pilot, and I think the decision has just been made. My guess is I end up getting the same or even better mpg! Thanks again

[Northside]

That's fantastic. Thanks for the help. I was debating wether to take my truck or her 2013 honda pilot, and I think the decision has just been made. My guess is I end up getting the same or even better mpg! Thanks again

As for mpg...I run E 85 my mileage is less than with straight gas. The Driver info said I got 27.8 mpg coming down the last 50 miles. It's something like 67 miles and I've used less than a gallon on my Harley. The truck handled so well, and had plenty of power with the 5.3 and 3.42 gears. These things ride so well and are quiet, they are really a pleasure to drive.

[haider320]

The truck will downshift automatically when descending a steep grade, like coming down from the Eisenhower tunnel. The driver information area will show a notification about descent control being active. This works whether you are in regular mode or towing mode. When in towing mode the downshift is much sooner. I drive I-70 in this area regularly and I generally don't put it in towing mode (usually I'm not too loaded) and it does fine. I rarely manually downshift it unless speeds are low like 35-45mph.

Yup, mine went into the hill decent mode and gave me a notice when it did. Never knew the truck would do that. It startled me the first time when it down shifted.

[Savagecanuck1]

I live in the mountains of British columbia.I usually always put it in manual mode and down shift myself.Truck runs away otherwise,even with grade braking.

[AllTerrainBum]

Talk about being more aggressive when in tow/haul mode. I was coming down a steep highway and had it in tow/haul mode and tapped the brakes and it downshifted and actually chirped the rear tires a ton. It was a little surprising to say the least.

[Wormydog1724]

Does my LT have that hill decent mode? Or only the LTZ?

[Spurshot]

Does my LT have that hill decent mode? Or only the LTZ?

 

It looks like all 6 speed trucks have it.

http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/vehicles/silverado/2013.html