The Best Way To Drive Down A Mountain

Driving down a mountain sounds like a whole lot of fun, but in truth descending from steep mountain slopes can be quite challenging even for experienced drivers. Although it’s not the easiest thing to do, with some sure-footed skills and basic driving experience, you’ll surely be able to drive down mountain ranges safely.

Downhill grades have a significant impact on a vehicle’s core components, this includes the engine, down to the brake pedal. Luckily, several precautions ensure your safety when descending or driving up mountain roadway.

Safety Tips For Mountain Driving

Driving down exceedingly steep mountains can be quite scary as the slightest mistake can send your vehicle tumbling. By implementing the following tips, the chances of this occurring are next to none.

1. Use Lower Gears To Go Downhill

As you begin driving downhill instead of using the brakes ensure to use your transmission and engine to decelerate. Try shifting to a lower gear at the start of the slope as it will help reduce the speed at which you descend from the mountain. This way, you don’t have to use your brakes.

Use L or 2 if your car uses an automatic transmission. Although, if you feel the need to brake occasionally, it’s best if you pull over after a while, as braking when descending from hills and steep mountains can put a lot of stain on any vehicle.

It’s vital to shift back into drive as soon as you’re on level ground. You can also continue to use your brakes as you usually would.

2. Be Prepared For Mountain Roads

Mountain roads are rarely wide and usually have dramatic curves which can be a bit difficult to see from a distance. For safety reasons, the National Park Service recommends using the tips below when driving down narrow mountain roads.

Always stick to your side of the road when mountain driving and ensure that there’s extra space between your vehicle and others around you in case they decide to make sudden stops. Keep an eye out for posted speed limits. Most mountain roads have warning signs that indicate when there are steep grades in the road ahead or a blind curve lying ahead Watch out for wildlife roaming around, especially at night. Ensure that your gas tank is sufficiently filled before heading out to remote areas. If you ever decide to stop and view scenery make sure to pull over safely with your parking brake and place a few sizable rocks behind your tires to make sure your vehicle doesn’t roll downhill.

3. Map It Out

Although GPS devices and mobile phones are very useful in case of emergencies there are instances where they fail to function. This usually occurs in remote areas, but not necessarily all considerably steep mountains. Before going on your trip, take some time to plan your route carefully with a good old-fashioned map. A standard map should specify steep grades, this should help you find the easiest path to take.

No matter how rough or rugged a trail is, having a good understanding of your vehicle’s limits and with basic safe driving skills you’ll most assuredly make it down safely from any mountain motorway.

Tips For Driving Downhill

If you plan on driving in the mountains or going down a hill you must first of all be aware of your drivetrain. Does your vehicle drive on manual or automatic? How would you grade your car’s traction control, how well do you think it will fare on relatively smooth and steep surfaces that allow minimal grip?

You should also be aware and extra cautious of road conditions as well. It’s crucial to drive extra carefully when downhill driving or descending from mountains in winter weather due to the Increased risk of traction loss on unpaved side roads. Remember to implement the tips below to ensure your safety regardless of the weather condition you’re driving in.

Manual

It can be quite dangerous to drive a manual down a mountain since gravity has a major impact on the descent of a vehicle. This demands the utmost care because if you don’t exercise the right amount of caution, your vehicle will descend incredibly fast, making it almost impossible for you to react on time. Ensure to use the following tips when driving down a steep hill or mountain path.

Shift to the lowest gear Using your car’s engine to decelerate will keep your brakes from getting damaged. Shift back to normal gear when you’re on level ground.

Automatic

Before you head down a mountain, it’s best to shift into second gear as it will help minimize your vehicle’s speed and prevent transmission damage. As soon as you’re able to do this, make sure to use the steps below:

Make sure to drive at moderate speeds and mind road conditions Apply the brakes if your vehicle begins to move too fast on the mountain road. Slowly release the breaks when you regain control of your vehicle Whenever you feel the need to slow down, downshift into first gear before stepping on the brake pads. As soon as you get to the bottom of the mountain, shift into drive then continue your journey.

Things To Avoid When Driving Down A Steep Grade

You might want to avoid riding your brakes down as it can lead to overheated brakes and even brake failure. Try to avoid pumping your brakes when going downhill unless you have to because overdoing it will likely lead to serious brake burnout. When this happens your stopping power will be significantly diminished, almost non-existent, and you’ll also see smoke coming from beneath your car.

Tips to Prepare You For Winding Mountain Roads

Prepare for your upcoming travels by using the tips below:

1. Give Your Car A Tune-up Before Navigating Mountain Roads

If you plan on driving through mountainous terrain it’s best to take your car for servicing a few days before the trip to make sure there’s sufficient transmission and brake fluid in your car. It’s wouldn’t be a bad idea to do an oil change while you’re at it.

Also, check your car’s cooling and heating systems, battery performance, down to your exhaust and windshield wipers to ensure they’re in good condition. Most importantly, your tires must be properly inflated and you should have a few spares just in case.

2. Fill Up

Most drivers aren’t aware of the fact that driving through the mountains and other high elevations demands greater quantities of fuel compared to flatland driving and interstate highways. With this in mind, filling up your car before your journey is best so you don’t run out of fuel while downhill driving on smoky mountains with minimal visibility.

h3(#be-ready-for-emergencies.). 3. Be Ready For Emergencies.

Adverse weather conditions and even the slightest error could leave you stranded in the mountains for quite a while. Before starting your journey, consider informing a relative or friend where you’re headed and how long you plan on staying.

Make sure to pack extra clothing, a well-equipped first aid kit, enough food provisions, and a toolkit if you have to do minor repairs on your vehicle. An extremely important tip for driving on a mountain road is to bring extra drinking water to prevent dehydration because you might experience severe altitude sickness as higher elevations diminish.

h3(#use-the-brakes-cautiously.). 4. Use The Brakes Cautiously.

Constantly using your brakes as you drive down a steep grade will overwork your brakes rather quickly, even if you’re operating an all-wheel drive. Always anticipate sharp turns on the road and watch out for speed signs as they indicate the safest speeds to go. If you have to make a left or right turn, it’s best to brake before doing so, as it directs the force of the vehicle to the back, which allows for better steering control.

h3(#shift-to-lower-gear-before-extreme-downgrades.). 5. Shift To Lower Gear Before Extreme Downgrades.

Downshifting into lower gear improves performance and traction when driving in the mountains. It also minimizes the stress on your vehicle’s engine and allows better speed control. Note that you should only shift into low gear when you are about to drive down steep mountains, not when you’re already halfway down, as it’s unsafe to do so.

h3(#watch-your-temperature-gauge.). 6. Watch Your Temperature Gauge.

As you descend, keep a close watch on your engine’s temperature gauge to ensure it doesn’t exceed the acceptable limit. If you notice it rising beyond the safe limit, slowly take your foot off the accelerator and pull over for a while.

h3(#stay-alert-and-on-your-side-of-the-road.). 7. Stay Alert And On Your Side Of The Road.

Even the briefest distraction can cause a vehicle to swerve off course and right into oncoming traffic. Avoid hogging the center line as much as possible and if there are over two vehicles behind you, make sure to use designated roadside pullouts if you want to stop and check out the scenery.

h3(#use-your-headlights.). 8. Use Your Headlights.

Driving in fog, rain, dusk, and night-time requires you to use headlights. Visibility is essential when driving on mountainous terrains because there’s a high risk of being involved in a crash if other vehicles cannot spot you. Due to the safety significance of headlights, it’s essential to ensure they are in good working order before leaving home.

h3(#map-out-your-trip-beforehand.). 9. Map Out Your Trip Beforehand.

It’s never a good idea to rely on a Garmin-type GPS device or your smartphone when driving to remote areas. While these devices will serve you excellently in urban areas, they will likely struggle in remote areas with little or no cell phone service.

To ensure you’re headed in the right direction, it’s best to plan your trip with a trusty paper map. Even if there are road signs to guide you or your smartphone can pick up a signal, it’s nice to have a backup just in case.

Conclusion

The key to an uneventful trip is to drive safely and within the speed limit regardless of how much you want to save time. Don’t hesitate to use your brakes whenever your vehicle accelerates out of control, and remember to use your headlights during night-time.