hill climbing fast vs slow

Climbing hills is one thing, but just as important, maybe more so, is your mpg as you are cruising along. I would image you would do better overall getting 2-3 mpg better on the flat than what you lose racing up a hill .

 

MPG is the last thing I'm worried about climbing a grade. Maintaining a safe speed and watching out for trucks coming up fast on my 6, or coming up on a truck around a corner going half my speed is my main concern. Yes I'll wind it up approaching the grade and I keep my rpm's high to maintain as much momentum as possible. Lose that momentum and you'll never get it back.

 

I agree. At steep grades my focus is on fluid temps and EGTs.

 

Starting down the grade you slip it into Georgia overdrive, the uphill is a little faster.

 

But plaid is to much!

 

Let er roll coming up to the start of a hill, get some momentum going. The short hills in the northeast that's the difference of having to grab a gear vs staying in the gear your in

 

Pointless on long pulls, you're gonna end up in the same gear going the same speed whether you hit the bottom at 80 or 60...I've tried lol always ended up in 16th gear, 1650 RPMs @ 58 MPH. Now it's 9th gear, 1500 RPMs @ 54 MPH no matter what I do. Oh I override the fan as well

 

I get in the highest gear I can without needing 100% throttle input. That gives me extra horsepower to engage the fan if I want. I like cresting a long hill at 177* with throttle to spare. If you're not standing on it the whole time, the truck doesn't even care.