refer to your Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/
Manual for any instructions supplied by the
chassis manufacturer with respect to this system.
DRIVING AND VEHICLE CONTROL
Driving your motor home will be different from
driving your family car or truck. Your motor
home is large and heavy. You may have to
adjust or learn new driving techniques to safely
operate your motor home.
Downhill driving puts extra strain on many
drivetrain components of your motor home. The
brakes are easily overloaded and overheated
when used for downhill slowing. Brake fade will
occur if the brakes overheat.
When driving down long grades, shift the
transmission to a lower gear at the top of the
grade. Rule of thumb: Use the same lowest gear
going down as it took to go up the hill. Crest the
hill in the lower gear. Monitor your speed.
Using the Engine to Slow
the Motor Home
To use the engine as a braking force, select the
next lower gear. Engine braking provides good
speed control for going down grades. When the
motor home is heavily loaded, towing or the
grade is steep, preselection of a lower gear prior
to the grade may be desirable.
Gear preselection means the selection of a
lower gear to match the driving conditions you
encounter or expect to encounter. Preselection
will give you better control on slick or icy roads
and on downgrades. Downshifting to lower
gears increases engine braking. The selection
of a lower gear often prevents cycling between
a gear and the next higher gear on a series of
short up-and-down hills.
MANEUVERING IN TRAFFIC
Be cautious when maneuvering to allow for
the length and width of the vehicle. Always
allow room to corner and to change lanes.
Your vehicle’s side view mirrors and rear view
camera monitor (if equipped) will help you keep
aware of your vehicle’s position and the position
of other vehicles and/or obstructions near your
motor home. You must monitor them constantly
while you are driving. Become familiar with the
operation of the side mirrors and learn to use
them to view objects and the road beside and
behind the motor home.
The rear view mirrors are controlled from a panel
located on the driver’s left side instrument panel.
Mirrors should be adjusted prior to operation
of your vehicle in traffic. To adjust the mirrors,
select either LEFT or RIGHT mirror and press
the appropriate arrow. Activate the mirror heaters
(if equipped) by pressing the HEATER position.
Remember that your motor home is heavier than
a car, making it less maneuverable and harder
to stop. Also, because of its greater side surface
area, it is more easily affected by cross winds.
Allow extra distances for passing and stopping.
Driving on winding or mountain roads is not
difficult if done with reasonable care. Observe
proper vehicle speeds when ascending or
descending hills and always operate in the
proper transmission range. Downshift on hills
to avoid overheating or undue engine loads.
Downshift when descending grades.
Engine compression and friction will help
control vehicle speed, and relieve some of the
strain on the brakes. Shift the transmission to a
lower gear before starting down the grade.
Mountain driving or desert temperatures can put
extreme demands on drive train components.
Under extreme heat conditions you may need to
turn off the vehicle air conditioner to improve
engine and transmission cooling.
On The Road
04-16
NOTE
Although your motor home is equipped with power
steering, the front wheels may be difficult to turn
when at a dead stop. When maneuvering in some
close situations, give yourself some room to move
either forward or backward. The vehicle has to be in
motion for the front wheels to be turned with ease.
3
Summary of Contents for American Allegiance
Page 2: ......
Page 21: ...03 3 Tradition and Allegiance Information DRIVER S CONTROLS Instrument Panel...
Page 23: ...03 5 Revolution Information...
Page 24: ...Revolution Information 03 6...
Page 25: ...Eagle Information 03 7 DRIVER S CONTROLS...
Page 26: ...Eagle Information 03 8 SHIFTER SELECTOR SIDE POD...
Page 52: ...04 23 On The Road...
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Page 113: ...Notes...
Page 114: ...Notes...