I was towing my old 21 foot camper down a steep dirt grade this last week end. I had it in 4 low, tow haul mode, and was shifting back and forth between drive and 2nd to regulate my speed and minimize braking. About 4 miles down the grade it started taking longer to down shift. Towards the end of the grade it would take was taking a several hundred yards before it would downshift. Anyone had this happen before? Also, how much should the engine be slowing me down. Seem like if I dont use 4 low I end up breaking alot. My dad was following me in his f150 with a bigger trailer and left his in 2hi. said he didn't have to break much at all.
Towards the bottom of the grade it turns to pavement but is still pretty steep At that point I put it in 2 hi and dropped it down into one. The engine still would not hold the load back. Rpms would just up to 3000 at which point I would brake it back down. Is this normal?

 

I don't think the torque converter stays locked in 1st gear... Only in 2nd (if you're using tow/haul), 3rd, & 4th.

Gas engines will have better engine braking than a diesel without an exhaust braking. Gas engines have a butter fly valve on the throttle body that closes shut almost all the way.... our diesel's just have the turbo for restriction.

I would of just left it in 2nd the whole time instead of shifting it back and forth between gears... That's about the max engine braking your going to get.

 

Yep, one of the few advantages the gassers may have. I would not like the idea of towing heavy with a diesel in mountainous terrain without an exhaust brake.

 

Without having the engine revved pretty good and over 35 mph the TC won't lock in 2nd or drive. Almost no engine braking due to no throttle valve on a diesel. EB and a controller or a lockup switch is th eonly way to get any braking effect. The lockup switch is petty simple and relatively effective but not as good as an EB.

 

Thanks for the replies. I always wondered why the gassers seemed to slow me down better.