Hill descent

[4x4ord]

Has anyone used this useless feature? My warranty is up in 2000 miles and so I wanted to make sure everything was working. It appears to me that this Hill Descent feature doesn't work.

[bbc109758]

I got to use it the other day when I missed turn to rural address and made it to top of moutains in lots of snow and ice. Comming back down steep parts in 4 hi eld and was starting to speed up on the melted snow that was icey and decided to hit that useless button and was very suprised. Other than that I have never used it.

[JSolve]

Originally Posted by 4x4ord

Has anyone used this useless feature? My warranty is up in 2000 miles and so I wanted to make sure everything was working. It appears to me that this Hill Descent feature doesn't work.

How doesn't it work?

[ucpa111]

Mine works...12,000 miles

[dbj216]

It works like a cruise control for going SLOWLY down steep grades, maybe with a heavy load. The set speeds need to be below 12 mph. The system will apply brakes to maintain the speed so you don't have to. Press the hill decent button, brake until you are under 12 mph, and release the brakes. The system will maintain that speed, like 10mph.

I have not been in a situation where I felt the need for it. But maybe towing my 10K pound my camper down a winding mountain gravel backroad with a 20% grade, no guard rails, lots of switchbacks, and the wife gasping as she looks down the drop off. It might be handy in that kind of situation.

By the way, the brakes can still overheat. The manual says to cool things down after using Hlll Desent.

[4x4ord]

Originally Posted by JSolve

How doesn't it work?

I started off going down a steep hill - pushed the button, braked to slow down to 10 mph let go of the brake and the truck accelerated - braked to 5 mph, let go of the brake and the truck accelerated. The Hill Descent icon lights up and stays lit in the instrument cluster so long as I am below 20 mph. It does not start flashing if I slow down to 10 mph but it goes out above 20 mph.

[Painted Horse]

I tried mine a couple of times with the Horse trailer hooked up. And didn't like the way it worked. Truck would slow but trailer was pushing and wanting to jack knife the truck. Especially on gravel road where the grip was a little loose.

Figure it was better suited to a truck that didn't have 13,000lbs pushing it from behind.

empty truck it works just fine. Push button Slow down with brakes and it will hold that slow speed down the hill and you can use your feet to keep yourself pushed back in the seat.

[JSolve]

Originally Posted by 4x4ord

I started off going down a steep hill - pushed the button, braked to slow down to 10 mph let go of the brake and the truck accelerated - braked to 5 mph, let go of the brake and the truck accelerated. The Hill Descent icon lights up and stays lit in the instrument cluster so long as I am below 20 mph. It does not start flashing if I slow down to 10 mph but it goes out above 20 mph.

I tested mine today but from a stopped position. Accelerated to 5 mph down a 20% grade and it held that speed. You might want to try that and if it fails report the issue. As the forum suggests it is a pretty useless feature but the failure could be indicative of a larger issue so I would get it fixed under warranty (and inquire about an ESP while there).

[kinnisoj]

Its just a abs braking system. I have to mess around with some very ugly grades in the snow and mud at work and I gotta say it does all right. Kinda wish I could set the speed myself but what the heck, I get paid by the hour...

["Stroker 8"]

Considering it's part of the FX-4 offroad pkg. I believe this feature is geared more for off-roading when your not towing any loads. And yes, make sure to let your brake system cool off after using this system!