[Richard]

We all have opinions and slightly different experiences. I generally do not run the CC going up a significant climb for one reason. It pegs the fuel to try to maintain the speed. The impact of that is rising engine temperatures. Now, the cooling system takes care of that but I prefer to run at something less than WOT (wide open throttle) when climbing. I am just not that interested in trying to pass the struggling trucks.

I do pay close attention to the slow motion chess game with the trucks on a mountain climb. Manually controlling the throttle and monitoring the situation allows me to plan my passes or avoid rapid deceleration events when approaching a slower vehicle.

I think you are asking fantastic questions for a new driver of a weighty vehicle. It has been a very good discussion.

While we are on the topic. If you find that you are overheating on a long climb, drop to a lower gear, run the engine at a higher RPM, and back off WOT. This does two things. It reduces the fuel (heat source) going into the engine. It moves more air through the engine at the higher RPM. The air takes heat with it. Just mentioning it because it is a nice trick to have if you need it.

And one final thing. On my coach, the CC and the jake do not play well with one another in rolling terrain. At each downhill the jake will try to slow me down, cutting into the fuel mileage, only to throttle up to climb the next rise. But……while cruising the highway, I personally want all the brake I can get. So, many years ago, we developed a 20 buck modification to the Jake on off switch that allows three positions instead of on off. On triggered by accelerator, off, and on but triggered only when brakes are applied. I use the last position cruising the interstate to avoid the CC Jake tussle. I use the first position triggering off the accelerator when in the mountains so that I do not have to ride the brake to use the Jake. If any are interested in the modification, speak up and I will post some instructions.