Down Hill Descent for Auto

[Brian_B]

When driving if I switch to M., does it stay in the same gear it was in? I just don’t wanna mess things up.

Yes
And it wont let you do anything too stupid, it will protect itself from over revving too badly or stalling out the engine

On the F150 usually i could just throw it in trailer mode and it would hold gears longer- had a good downhill braking effect without needing to juggle the gears if you didn't want to. Not sure if any modes on the Bronco would work the same way though

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[Scott R Nelson]

Thanks for the info. My last truck was a 2015 F150. So absolutely no electronics. The 24 Bronco is a big change. When driving if I switch to M., does it stay in the same gear it was in? I just don’t wanna mess things up.

You need to try it yourself on your Bronco to understand it. Just pull the shifter back one more position and you'll see the number on the instrument panel indicating what gear you're in. Then try out the +/- switch on the left side of the shifter to see how that works.

I don't think that the electronics will actually allow you to "mess things up".

Go try it yourself now.

 

[Scott R Nelson]

On the F150 usually i could just throw it in trailer mode and it would hold gears longer- had a good downhill braking effect without needing to juggle the gears if you didn't want to. Not sure if any modes on the Bronco would work the same way though

When I'm in 4L (Normal on the dial), it does a lot of engine braking for me, so I rarely have to actually shift to a lower gear to get it to slow down while descending hills.

 

[Mjasi3]

Yes
And it wont let you do anything too stupid, it will protect itself from over revving too badly or stalling out the engine

On the F150 usually i could just throw it in trailer mode and it would hold gears longer- had a good downhill braking effect without needing to juggle the gears if you didn't want to. Not sure if any modes on the Bronco would work the same way though

Thanks! Yes I would use trailer mode also. Thank you!

 

[Mjasi3]

You need to try it yourself on your Bronco to understand it. Just pull the shifter back one more position and you'll see the number on the instrument panel indicating what gear you're in. Then try out the +/- switch on the left side of the shifter to see how that works.

I don't think that the electronics will actually allow you to "mess things up".

Go try it yourself now.

Thank you, yes I will definitely try, just wanted to know first. Thanks.

 

[Oldhippie]

When I'm in 4L (Normal on the dial), it does a lot of engine braking for me, so I rarely have to actually shift to a lower gear to get it to slow down while descending hills.

Do not use 4L on pavement…

 

[Scott R Nelson]

Do not use 4L on pavement…

Okay.....

I only switch to 4L in the steepest and roughest of off road situations. Just trying to point out that the Bronco behaves a bit differently when using it that it does in 4H, 4A or 2H. Since the top speed of my Bronco in 4L is around 27 mph, I can't imagine wanting to leave it there on any pavement.

 

[CalvinT]

On paved roads I keep shifting to lower gears until it maintains the speed that I want. My goal is always to use the absolute minimum amount of brakes to slow the descent. In 4H or 2H it will be some combination of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. If I need to use 1st for any amount of time, I really should be in 4L.

Down seriously steep dirt roads, like 10 degrees or steeper, I will use 4L and 2nd or 1st. I've used trail control a few times - that button in the center of the dial - and don't find it to be an improvement over me just controlling it all directly. That mode uses the brakes a bit going down to maintain the specified speed. I feel that it is better to let it speed up or slow down by 1-2 mph without the brakes than have the Bronco use the brakes to stay within 1/2 mph of the selected speed.

I completely agree.

When I learned to drive I was taught use the same gear going down a hill that you used to go up it. That should get you close.

 

[Mjasi3]

You need to try it yourself on your Bronco to understand it. Just pull the shifter back one more position and you'll see the number on the instrument panel indicating what gear you're in. Then try out the +/- switch on the left side of the shifter to see how that works.

I don't think that the electronics will actually allow you to "mess things up".

Go try it yourself now.

Tried it today and I’m all good now. Putting into manual selects the current gear. Now I just need to get me some mountains

 

[Scott R Nelson]

Tried it today and I’m all good now. Putting into manual selects the current gear. Now I just need to get me some mountains

Come visit us in Idaho. We have lots and lots of mountians here.

Gratuitous photo of the Bronco up in the mountains showing many more in the distance:

 

[Mjasi3]

Come visit us in Idaho. We have lots and lots of mountians here.

Gratuitous photo of the Bronco up in the mountains showing many more in the distance:

HA! We're going to Bronco Super Cel in TN in April so there should be some there

 

[dgorsett]

You need to try it yourself on your Bronco to understand it. Just pull the shifter back one more position and you'll see the number on the instrument panel indicating what gear you're in. Then try out the +/- switch on the left side of the shifter to see how that works.

I don't think that the electronics will actually allow you to "mess things up".

Go try it yourself now.

Using +/- in Drive or M is good, I try to stay under 4000 RPM 'cause that sewing machine might come apart. With the Auto, Sport Mode works like a Tow/Haul and it will keep the right gear going both up and downhill. I've taken to using Sport in the mountains more than the +/-.

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