Time for Camping?

We use this feature Always when towing.

Vann

Yes that is a typical setup on these vehicles....but that is type of 'passive' engine braking. IF the engine is big enough and/or the load mass or weight is low enough, and the grade is shallow enough, then that is all you need to maintain a safe speed down the hill, hardly touching the service brake pedal at all. This keeps those friction brakes nice and cool, and ready when needed to make an actual stop if needed, such as when pulling off the road into a rest area or slowing to make a sharp turn, or avoiding something on the road, traffic, obstacles, fallen rocks on the road, whatever.

The throttle plate closes and air flow thru the engine is restricted, which tends to retard engine RPM thru a 'vacuum effect'...sort've.

Active engine braking requires extra hardware and software to actively control or restrict engine airflow into and out of the cylinders or out the exhaust stream.

Since these small engines are getting even smaller, I'd like to see some kind of active engine braking, beyond the effect of simple throttle plate closure with fuel shut-off, along with forced downshifting on a downgrade.

But thats just me.

On my recent trip, I actively shifted down, at times even going into 1st gear.  At no time did I feel that I was getting on the ragged edge of going too fast down hill.  There was no one behind me most of the time so it didn't matter how slowly I went.  And, when I had folks behind me, I just pulled over to let them pass.  

I have to say, there are some descents I'd like to avoid in the Sierra Nevada mountains, but I avoided those with the 4.7L V-8 Dakota too.  The difference in engine braking, based on my experience, not qualitatively different.