Hi Warpath,
With the loads we RVers are hauling downshifting is really not necessary most of the time. When I have to slow up, I just kick it in neutral, and slow up using the service brakes. When I can resume speed, I shift into the appropriate gear for my speed at that time.
If I have to come to a full stop, I leave it in neutral until the light turns to caution for the cross traffic, then I shift into gear and go.
Another thing I do is find a baseline for downshifting when necessary. I check my speed at, say 1000 RPM in 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th gear. These speeds are different for each truck due to different axle ratio, tire sizes and OD ratios.
Anyway, write down the speed for each gear at 1000 RPM. That way you will know what gear you can always get into for the speed you are traveling. You can extrapolate from these basis shift points as time goes on.
onezman
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