💯 thank you very much for turning a crappy morning into a wonderful afternoon. From your number one Albuquerque New Mexico supported. And remember your bear spray
Glad to see y'all are still plugging along! One thing I've found, over the years, was it helps to have a simple status board with red strips for each critical item with a velcro patch at each item and a velcro strip on the board - when you deploy an item (like flipping the pump on) you just move the strip from the patch at the switch and put it on the status board, and when you are ready to go, the status board has all the strips so you don't miss something (return the strip to the patch at the item) - a bit OCD, but it's come in handy many a time when you either stay at one spot for a while or have to get underway quickly!
The raw awe of the land speaks to those who take the time to stop and soak it all in. The Tetons, Yellowstone & Glacier NP are some of my most serene and sacred places on earth! 💚⛰
The Tetons are one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on the planet. But serene? You must be from New York! Not with three and a half million visitors a year all trying to squeeze into a small town and two or three campgrounds.
Good riving Jimmy. Keep the old bus in the best running order possible, as you take on the mountain passes. The stress is real, smoke from the brakes will test the stress levels of the most experienced of drivers. Well done Jimmy. I will drink a beer in your honor later today as I recall my first journey through those passes. You guys make a great team. I think this was a great video. Thank you for sharing.
Hey thanks Steve 😄 It was definitely a test we did not think we were taking when we woke up that day. We had gone down 8% grades before but severely underestimated the 10% on the Teton Pass! 😅
Down shift, don't use the brakes much they can catch something on fire. Use a DOT 5 synthetic racing brake fluid if you haven't already. You guys are doing great. Safe travels 🌲🌲🌲
As a driver of semi-trucks, downshifting is more than safe with diesel's. It is very wise to do with large vehicles including the bus. It uses the compression of the engine to slow the vehicle. Also, applying the brakes for 5 seconds on and 5 seconds off help to prevent overheating when downshifting doesn't keep the speed all the way down or RPM's of the engine creep too high.
Be sure to search for the downsides of DOT 5 before committing to it. Since it tends to hold tiny air bubbles, you can lose your braking at altitude. And it is a commitment, in that a thorough flush is required -- don't mix DOT 5 and DOT 3 or 4.
Hi from the east coast of Canada here in the Maritime. I always carry a laser thermometer to check brake and tire Temps. Usually sell for $40 cad on sale at automotive parts stores. Never let the brakes get hot enough to expand the drums and result in fade.This reduces the ability of the brake shoes to create adequate friction. And can also result in cooking the wheel bearing grease in the hubs. Which can result in tire fires. Really! Great job in stress management travel safe up to Canada. We have mountains here too. Drive on.
I live right on the Idaho side of the pass! It can be real scary. If the weathers not great or we’re in our van we’ll take a 20 minute detour and go through swan valley and around and come into Jackson from the south end and avoid the pass all together. 🙌🏼🙌🏼
@@JimmyandNatalie My first time on you You-Tube ,,,,, really well done. Noticed that it seems that you were in the kayak, without PFDs. Cold water is the enemy, if you went swimming. USCG CO2 inflation PFDs are very small, lightweight, easy to wear in any water craft. And is really good insurance. Hoping for a long a fruitful adventures for the both of you. Stay well. Ron
When running down hill on a long grade, use a lower gear so the engine can provide some braking. Also feather the brakes and don't ride them constantly. You experienced brake fade when they overheated. That can be extremely un-nerving as you still have pedal but the brakes become less effective as they heat up. And yes, it is possible to damage the brake shoes and drums if they overheat too much or too often.
Fix the brakes at the earliest opportunity - Use lower gears for downhill - engine brake - try to pick the gear below "D" best with out riding your brakes.
Severe brake heat will affect wheel bearings & spindles - check bearings and spindles for damage - install new if they are compromised. Same for the rear brakes.
Dude, your information is totally wrong on a diesel engine. The way diesel engine works it doesn't hold back on a downhill unless it's equipped with a jakebrake. It will run away and rev till it blows the engine. Pumping brakes is like fanning a fire. Heat-oxigen, heat-oxigen, heat-oxigen, that is how you make a fire. Go very slow, 10mph or slower, and hold a steady light pressure on the break. At 10% grade, l never did that, but maybe 5mph. Better to take a long time to get there safe and not get killed. Also just pull over and let brakes cool down. Hydrolic breaks are worse than air breaks because boiled fluid puts air in the lines and your brakes are gone then. Brakes that have boiled have to be bled after to get the air out of the lines.
@@tiger7777 Do NOT apply steady pressure on the brakes for long periods of time! That will cause overheating and possible runaway of the bus with brake failure. Use your lower gears to provide maximum engine braking and, if necessary, hard on the brakes to slow down then foot off the brake to let them cool, and repeat, until you get down. Any sign of fade and pull over and let them cool!!!
We did Teton pass going from Jackson to Idaho in our 2000 F-350 towing our 30' toy hauler. Piece of cake. The V-10 was working, but no big deal for it. Just take it slow and easy, use turn outs to let people get around you and use turn outs on the down hill side if you need to stop and let your brakes cool. Best to just gear down and take your time. I took our 40' diesel pusher over Sonora Pass from Bishop to Sonora. We did it no problem, but never again. I was an idiot to do it.
I can sympathize. I towed my little camper over Teton Pass last year, and even with down-shifting the brakes on my van were unhappy by the time I was down on the Wyoming side.
The Tetons are my favorite place on earth. I see you found the Albertsons in Jackson - the camper’s favorite resupply store. Enjoy your time up there. There is so much beauty surrounding you.
@@EfficientRVer just based on what I see in this video, this bus appears to have an International T444E engine and the Alison 560 automatic. If I’m right on those previous specs, the 560 will have no problem handling the load with a banks exhaust brake or similar system. Personally if it were me, I’d spend the money to add the exhaust brake, swap to an Alison 2,000 transmission, and change the main computer out for the Ford version so you can get a little more power out of that engine. The international stunts the torque and Hp on that engine in exchange for longevity. But the 7.3 power store is the exact same engine with a higher torque and horsepower output with a lighter transmission behind it. Pretty cool idea these schoolies are.
I think you guys are doing an excellent job with all that you're having to put up with and the beautiful scenery that you're looking at I think it's a beautiful memory to have
Thanks for this latest video; very enjoyable to watch. For sure, the cooler weather helped with your uphill engine-overheating situation. I'm not sure about all the other Canadians who are watching your videos, but I know that I'm getting more excited the closer your Skoolie gets to the 49th Parallel. :)
Chelsea's bus is cute looking. She was taking care of you guys, seems like an awesome person. Even with shifting down you can build up more speed than you would like, if you can feather the brakes. the parking brake is probably the same brakes in the rear only no front brakes so do not trust it to stop you if you have brake fade. Glad to see Natalie is happy again. Stay safe and healthy.
Love that part of the country. Did that pass twice pulling a 28 foot travel trailer, Going up was OK, going down was the tricky part but using low gears and the breaks gingerly we made it without any issues.
Hey Sweet Friends, I’m sorry you had another issue. Y’all are so amazing. No matter what is going on, you are always so kind and respectful to one another. You remind me of my parents. They liked each other from 8th grade on and they never had a fuss in all of their nearly 50 years of marriage until he went on to Heaven. I’m glad Jimmy is so handy that y’all were able to install the water pump yourselves. So nice to have friends willing to help out....I’ll bet that water where you kayaked was freezing! Stay safe and have a better week. So much love from SC, Jane ❤️🙏🏻
It's fun to see you getting closer to the border. A tip that was helpful to me on previous road trips, when you need a non emergency repair, have the part shipped to a place further down the road. That way you don't have to sit still if you don't want to. I had the tailgate latch on my 4Runner fail in Niagara Falls and picked it up on the way home in Iowa City heading to meet some friends.
Jimmy is such a mountain man. Unafraid of bounding from a stable level to the side of a rock and back again. one of your videos comes to mind. He kept climbing up until it looked straight up. Freaked me out.
So glad you made it and that the brakes cooled down! You might want to invest in paper plates, bowls, plastic spoons, and forks. You can open up a can of spaghetti, vegetables, pasta, etc. And warm it in the microwave, no mess, no dishes, just a thought 😉 thank you for letting us into your lives ❤ 🥰
Teton Pass can be rough. I went through there 3 years ago in a Jeep and learned to downshift into lower gears. While working my way up the mountain, the Jeep lost power and sounded like it was in asphyxiation gasping for air. I had to pull over and remove the air filter to give it more air. I came from Yellowstone / Teton / Jackson Hole and was working my way to Idaho Falls. I put the air filter back in when I got to Idaho Falls. Another drive where you have to lower gears on the way down is Pikes Peak in Colorado.
I did pikes peak in a rental car 1997. What view and what an awesome road to drive up and down. I had the rental in 2 braking occasionally keeping the speed down. I saw many vehicles pulled over on the side with smoking brakes.
I agree with the comment about shifting down BEFORE you start the descending grade........ don't ever worry about the traffic behind you.......big rigs have to do the same.......love your show !
Idaho - known for trout fishing too. Mountain directory East and West will give you a description of road grade conditions, before you travel the route. Everyone must do the Teton Pass someday (we have not), so congratulations you made it. Thanks for taking us along.
I have seen water pumps in RV's that have been replaced several times. USUALLY the problem isnt the motor, it's the contacts burning up. I am doing my own bus conversion and when the pump arrived I modified it. I had a 12 volt relay in my toolbox and cut the wire going to the motor and attached a wire from the hot wire coming to the pump and wired the relay so that the relay is turning the power to the motor on and off and is activated by the wire that normally does that. So the points in the pump are only turning the relay on and off and the relay is handling the higher current of the motor.
Great video. I had a bus home for 29 years. I have been in the philippines for the past three years but will return to America in late 2022. My new travel home is a 3/4 ton ford diesel truck with a camper on the back. National forests are the best. Eight drops of bleach per gallon of drinking water will Kill the germs. A one micron water filter also helps. Great bus.
Glad you made it out of the pass ok. That is great that you met up with a friend and that place where you were kayaking was just beautiful. At least the water pump was an easy fix even if it was annoying. Thanks for sharing.
Im so impressed with you two!!! You always rise to the challenge, and take care of business!!! That's an important quality to have, because life is full of never ending challenges!!! Sometimes its so tempting to say i give up, but the only thing THAT gets you is beat up by life. Rising above adversity not only gets the problem solved, but also gives you a sense of confidence and added strength to get you through the next problem, and the next, etc. Life rocks on for our beloved sweet and capable Jimmy and Natalie!!! See you on the next adventure!!! Much love and big fat hugs!!! 🍃🤗🍃
We have a 35ft RV…we went down a 10% grade going to Yellowstone, our brakes smoked like your did…with using 1st & 2nd gear to slow us down - at the bottom stretch of the hill our brakes went out…completely - pedal went to the floor, ‘luckily’ we was able to roll to a stop off the side of the road. We let the brakes cool for like an hour…checked the brake fluid and it was empty. Filled it with what we had and found a gas station a few miles away. After adding fluid the brakes worked…and have worked since.
A spare water pump is always on board with us. The last time I had one go out was Christmas Eve 2020. Having one on hand turned a several day inconvenient into a 15 minute fix. I suggest ordering a spare.
Back in 2016 we did Teton Pass and overheated our brakes in the same place! We pulled over in the same spot and had lunch for over an hour to let the brakes cool😉
All dreams include a few nightmares, you guys are living the dream, even with the few bumps in the road. Very Awesome and so inspiring. Live the Dream.
"It felt dangerously close to camping" 🤣 I feel that. hahaha Seriously though, your guys' abilities to tell a great story as it unfolds, make anything interesting, AND have great videography skills. 👌
You guys NEED a book we use ALL the time in trip planning: Mountain Directory West (for truckers, RV & motor homes). It will save you a lot of grief. Also learn to go slower and use lower gears effectively to keep yourselves safe on downhill portions of the trip. The less braking you do the better... but obviously you know that part now. Keep a smile going and keep up the posts.
@@EfficientRVer Yes, but there may be more to that than meets the obvious. As was stated, "...you know that part now." Does the bus have electric overdrive to cycle out of? Is there a slower top of the hill speed? All sorts of other questions to ask yourself after the event. Schoolies are built in way supposed to be safe for transport of kids so one tends to assume they handle a wide range of situations... even though they cannot.
Steep grades can always be a bit scary. Cooler heads prevailed and you managed beautifully. Another great on the road experience to have under your belts. The scenery is fantastic there! Love it all. Regards!
Yeahhhh! The Tetons!!! Met my hubby at Jackson Lake Lodge in '85!! Sorry about the Teton Pass and the frustrations that day. Enjoy the Tetons, and then Montana too!
Glad you were able to pull over safely and stop for lunch and for the brakes to cool down good call, lovely to see you on the river again fun after all the stress eh, glad water pump issue is fixed with new, have fun xxx
Lewis and Clark did the US west with out a water pump. At home I keep my drinking water in 1-gallon containers and do the pore it thing. Lived in a camping trailer with out a water pump for years. Use spray bottles and a paper towel to clean dishes.
Always use your lower gear and just ease down anything more than 3% grade. If you have to get on your brakes you’re gear is too high. We pulled Teton pass from Jackson into Idaho with a truck camper on. Huge pull even for a dually with loaded truck camper . Love your schoolie
I LOVE the Tetons. I'm just hoping you will always remember it as a positive experience. Remember any trip as long as yours can't always be perfect... and also remember: Just Breathe. PS... what a wonderful thing to meet someone you knew! Those burgers and corn looked like the best!
I spent a lot of time at my grandparents homestead in Palisades during the 50's and 60's, Pass is dangerous so we always took the drive through Swan valley to Alpine and then 89 through Hoback to Jackson Hole. Stay safe. Regards, Pat
I saw your bus at Teton visitor center and Chelsea’s bus at Yellowstone general store while I was there. I’m going to purchase a bus in the next few weeks and start converting it. Hopefully to make a trip back out there mid September. Safe travels!!
I pulled a 1971 28" Carriage camper packed with rock collections, fossils, canning jars etc etc, up and down that thing. I had to stop so many times to cool my brakes. You exceed your luck and you're down that roller coaster :P We should start a support group lol.
Serenity blue here! So glad you guys met up with Chelsey! She followed me when I had a problem with my gear shift cable, all the way to Denver from Buena vista in Colorado ! Happy you made it out of that pass!
Speed is key when going downhill. If you are slower , the brakes don’t have to work as hard to slow you. And lightly drag the brakes rather than repeated hard stabs. Either way. Long grades will eventually put you in that position and you did the best thing. Stop and let the old girl cool off. 15-20 min Delay is faster than pulling it out of a ravine!
Sounds like "life happening" and you handled it plus had a great time kayaking in a beautiful place. I love all of the colors on the fox. Your friend has a beautiful setup inside her bus.
Back in the 80s, I was warned about this pass. The guy said that the trip up from Wyoming was tough on a vehicle towing a trailer, but it's the trip downhill that is treacherous! I did it in a GMC 1500 Suburban and the truck did super well. Cool down brakes totally before proceeding.
I swear I saw your bus just outside Grand Teton National Park, June 2. Your had the hood up, I hope it wasn’t more problems. (Just off of Hwy 89). I do enjoy your channel.
My daughter is finishing up her small bus about your size and using a foot pump with a 5 gallon water container beneath the sink and a 5 gallon water bottle for the gray water leaving the sink. She’s not using an electric pump. Simple sometimes is more cost effective. Subscribed tonight.
Just made a trip to Iowa to see family and then up to Upper Michigan. I hope you all get a chance to visit both of those areas too. There is just so much to see in our big beautiful country. Enjoy the journey!!!
I used to work at the Jackson Hole Historical Society. Teton Pass took an original pioneering family a week to get over with wagons and livestock. Then when the train arrived in Victor it was a two day journey with a travel lodge at the top. The Pass is no joke! The other option to get from Idaho to Jackson is south. You would cross into Wyoming at Freedom and then north through Star Valley and the Snake River Canyon. Two lanes and curves but not the steep incline. But the view from the top of Teton Pass is unparalleled.
Running water is awesome!😀 glad it’s fixed 😀I don’t mine camping I would go for weeks I did one time for a month and I hated coming home. See u next week safe traveling
We definitely love camping, as long as it's what we're trying to do! 😅 Although the longest we've ever gone is a week. Camping for a whole month is impressive! 😊
I went to Yellowstone and then my GPS routed me to take Idaho hwy 33 and Teton pass back to Jackson hole. I literally felt like I was gonna died as I go higher with inclines and turns, it was almost 10pm at night and I couldn’t see much. I felt so bad for the driver behind me but couldn’t pullover since it was a single lane and no pullover spots. I was all alone and really thought I was gonna died and be on the next day local front page news. God blessed me that night because somehow I survived the drive.
At this time last year we were in Moose and the Tetons… really enjoyed the time while there got to see a brown bear with her three cubs right outside side the truck window just inside of Yellowstone park way
@@JimmyandNatalie yes it is and seeing the bear cubs was our highlight… ooh while down in Wyoming Pearl got see up close a moose with a calf too … well close was about 300 yrds away
I didn't read through other comments but some mechanical advise.It's better to leave the engine running when you are having high temperatures.As long as a leak didn't cause the high temp the radiator will disapate the heat fastest.Also when going down hill select a lower gear to allow more engine braking.Maintain a slower speed will help the brakes.When climbing choose a gear that doesn't require full throttle application.A slower journey is better for sightseeing anyways.Good luck and hopefully you get to Canada soon.
Hi guys, you can buy 12v circuit breakers that plug into your fuse panel. Just so you don't get caught without spares. When they pop you'll need to let them cool a little bit before resetting them. When searching for them look for 'T Tocas Manual Reset Low Profile ATC Circuit Breakers 12V - 32V DC'. I Remember that the fuse will usually pop for one of two reasons to much draw or a short. looking forward to more of your journey.
Just an FYI Your bus is an automatic transmission , so when going downhill or uphill you can shift that trans into a lower gear with the shift selector that will help slow you down , giving the brakes a break or give you more power , making it easier to climb - Good luck and safe travels . Rick out.
I've seen other vanlifers put a timer switch on their water pump switch then they never needed to worry about remembering to turn it off. For what it's worth. Good luck!
You can go thru Alpine around palisade lake. Beautiful drive also, a little longer, not so steep. Where you camped in the caribou forest is my backyard.
Idaho has lots of beauty on its own. Central and Northern Idaho, that's around the sawtooth wilderness area and Coeur d'Alene areas, are beautiful. As beautiful as Montana and Wyoming. Even the area of Eastern Idaho from about Ashton heading toward West Yellowstone is pretty amazing. We've driven that pass out of Jackson and yeah. It's tough. 10 miles of 10% grade is no joke. If you go south from Jackson there's a much milder pass that goes into Idaho Falls.
Agree with John Adams...Adam's.... use a lower gear to go downhill. Managing your speed with the brakes can get dangerous. The hotter the brakes, the less effective they are... and leaving your water pump on shouldn't hurt it unless it is cycling nonstop... and you should be able to hear that. Thanks for sharing your journey! I love what you guys are doing. Stay safe out there!
As said in other comments, descending a grade in a lower gear is key! Instead of D put it in L2 and let her coast. People behind may stack up but your life and home are more important. Either way, they can't eat ya. Normal rule of thumb for truckers is go down hill in a lower gear than you go up. Safe travels to ya!
The first 1,000 people to use the link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/jimmynatalie06221
Thanks everyone for watching! 😄💚
💯 thank you very much for turning a crappy morning into a wonderful afternoon. From your number one Albuquerque New Mexico supported. And remember your bear spray
💯✌🏽You two are amazing and should feel very lucky you have each other in each other's life🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
@@archieletsyouknow5508 Aw thanks Archie! 😊
@@JimmyandNatalie 💯 some kind of running competition for mandatory foot massages in the evening between you two👊🏼🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
thank you for sharing your adventures, I find them very interesting.
Glad to see y'all are still plugging along! One thing I've found, over the years, was it helps to have a simple status board with red strips for each critical item with a velcro patch at each item and a velcro strip on the board - when you deploy an item (like flipping the pump on) you just move the strip from the patch at the switch and put it on the status board, and when you are ready to go, the status board has all the strips so you don't miss something (return the strip to the patch at the item) - a bit OCD, but it's come in handy many a time when you either stay at one spot for a while or have to get underway quickly!
I have to say that I watch the videos not just for the places you go but more for seeing both of you laugh through every day life! 😉
I am glad you love my great Idahome! Thanks for visiting.
The raw awe of the land speaks to those who take the time to stop and soak it all in. The Tetons, Yellowstone & Glacier NP are some of my most serene and sacred places on earth! 💚⛰
The Tetons are one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on the planet. But serene? You must be from New York! Not with three and a half million visitors a year all trying to squeeze into a small town and two or three campgrounds.
Good riving Jimmy. Keep the old bus in the best running order possible, as you take on the mountain passes. The stress is real, smoke from the brakes will test the stress levels of the most experienced of drivers. Well done Jimmy. I will drink a beer in your honor later today as I recall my first journey through those passes. You guys make a great team. I think this was a great video. Thank you for sharing.
Hey thanks Steve 😄 It was definitely a test we did not think we were taking when we woke up that day. We had gone down 8% grades before but severely underestimated the 10% on the Teton Pass! 😅
I agree. I took my 64 though Sherman pass. Carb iced 2 gr for days
Streeeessss. No smoke but fade.
Had municipal brake pads What a trip
Down shift, don't use the brakes much they can catch something on fire. Use a DOT 5 synthetic racing brake fluid if you haven't already. You guys are doing great. Safe travels 🌲🌲🌲
Diesels dont react very good to down shifting
As a driver of semi-trucks, downshifting is more than safe with diesel's. It is very wise to do with large vehicles including the bus. It uses the compression of the engine to slow the vehicle. Also, applying the brakes for 5 seconds on and 5 seconds off help to prevent overheating when downshifting doesn't keep the speed all the way down or RPM's of the engine creep too high.
Be sure to search for the downsides of DOT 5 before committing to it. Since it tends to hold tiny air bubbles, you can lose your braking at altitude. And it is a commitment, in that a thorough flush is required -- don't mix DOT 5 and DOT 3 or 4.
I've driven students loaded with suitcase. Please down shift. The hotter they get the less brake. Brake Fad.
@@howardwatts4238 FALSE.
Diesel LOVE being in a lower gear, higher RPM to hold/maintain or atleast fight gravity, as opposed to using brakes......
"It has to be okay, it can't not be" - such a mood lmao, gotta stay positive! That fox was beautiful, I love how you guys show all the critters!
Haha, thanks! I (Natalie) always get super excited when I see wildlife, so I love capturing it on camera when we can! 😄
Hi from the east coast of Canada here in the Maritime. I always carry a laser thermometer to check brake and tire Temps. Usually sell for $40 cad on sale at automotive parts stores. Never let the brakes get hot enough to expand the drums and result in fade.This reduces the ability of the brake shoes to create adequate friction. And can also result in cooking the wheel bearing grease in the hubs. Which can result in tire fires. Really!
Great job in stress management travel safe up to Canada. We have mountains here too. Drive on.
I live right on the Idaho side of the pass! It can be real scary. If the weathers not great or we’re in our van we’ll take a 20 minute detour and go through swan valley and around and come into Jackson from the south end and avoid the pass all together. 🙌🏼🙌🏼
I love he way you all just go with the flow (or without it in this case) when things turn sideways. See you next week!
Thanks Patti! 😄 We’ll see you next week! 💚
@@JimmyandNatalie My first time on you You-Tube ,,,,, really well done. Noticed that it seems that you were in the kayak, without PFDs. Cold water is the enemy, if you went swimming. USCG CO2 inflation PFDs are very small, lightweight, easy to wear in any water craft. And is really good insurance. Hoping for a long a fruitful adventures for the both of you. Stay well. Ron
When running down hill on a long grade, use a lower gear so the engine can provide some braking. Also feather the brakes and don't ride them constantly. You experienced brake fade when they overheated. That can be extremely un-nerving as you still have pedal but the brakes become less effective as they heat up. And yes, it is possible to damage the brake shoes and drums if they overheat too much or too often.
Fix the brakes at the earliest opportunity - Use lower gears for downhill - engine brake - try to pick the gear below "D" best with out riding your brakes.
Severe brake heat will affect wheel bearings & spindles - check bearings and spindles for damage - install new if they are compromised. Same for the rear brakes.
Dude, your information is totally wrong on a diesel engine. The way diesel engine works it doesn't hold back on a downhill unless it's equipped with a jakebrake. It will run away and rev till it blows the engine. Pumping brakes is like fanning a fire. Heat-oxigen, heat-oxigen, heat-oxigen, that is how you make a fire. Go very slow, 10mph or slower, and hold a steady light pressure on the break. At 10% grade, l never did that, but maybe 5mph. Better to take a long time to get there safe and not get killed. Also just pull over and let brakes cool down. Hydrolic breaks are worse than air breaks because boiled fluid puts air in the lines and your brakes are gone then. Brakes that have boiled have to be bled after to get the air out of the lines.
@@tiger7777 Do NOT apply steady pressure on the brakes for long periods of time! That will cause overheating and possible runaway of the bus with brake failure. Use your lower gears to provide maximum engine braking and, if necessary, hard on the brakes to slow down then foot off the brake to let them cool, and repeat, until you get down. Any sign of fade and pull over and let them cool!!!
@@tiger7777 you have no idea what the fuck you are talking about. I feel dumber just reading the shit you typed
We did Teton pass going from Jackson to Idaho in our 2000 F-350 towing our 30' toy hauler. Piece of cake. The V-10 was working, but no big deal for it. Just take it slow and easy, use turn outs to let people get around you and use turn outs on the down hill side if you need to stop and let your brakes cool. Best to just gear down and take your time. I took our 40' diesel pusher over Sonora Pass from Bishop to Sonora. We did it no problem, but never again. I was an idiot to do it.
I can sympathize. I towed my little camper over Teton Pass last year, and even with down-shifting the brakes on my van were unhappy by the time I was down on the Wyoming side.
Yeah we definitely overestimated the 10% incline 😅 We’ve done 8% before and managed but the Teton Pass was on another level!
The Tetons are my favorite place on earth. I see you found the Albertsons in Jackson - the camper’s favorite resupply store. Enjoy your time up there. There is so much beauty surrounding you.
Look into a "Jake Brake". It turns your diesel into an air compressor which slows your bus without having to use your brakes as much :)
@@EfficientRVer just based on what I see in this video, this bus appears to have an International T444E engine and the Alison 560 automatic. If I’m right on those previous specs, the 560 will have no problem handling the load with a banks exhaust brake or similar system.
Personally if it were me, I’d spend the money to add the exhaust brake, swap to an Alison 2,000 transmission, and change the main computer out for the Ford version so you can get a little more power out of that engine. The international stunts the torque and Hp on that engine in exchange for longevity. But the 7.3 power store is the exact same engine with a higher torque and horsepower output with a lighter transmission behind it.
Pretty cool idea these schoolies are.
I think you guys are doing an excellent job with all that you're having to put up with and the beautiful scenery that you're looking at I think it's a beautiful memory to have
We were so surprised about Idaho, it was so beautiful.
We were shocked too! 😄
Thanks for this latest video; very enjoyable to watch. For sure, the cooler weather helped with your uphill engine-overheating situation.
I'm not sure about all the other Canadians who are watching your videos, but I know that I'm getting more excited the closer your Skoolie gets to the 49th Parallel. :)
Oh we are so excited too! The landscape has been changing so much the more we get north so I can’t wait to experience what Alberta has to offer 😄
Chelsea's bus is cute looking. She was taking care of you guys, seems like an awesome person. Even with shifting down you can build up more speed than you would like, if you can feather the brakes. the parking brake is probably the same brakes in the rear only no front brakes so do not trust it to stop you if you have brake fade. Glad to see Natalie is happy again. Stay safe and healthy.
Love that part of the country. Did that pass twice pulling a 28 foot travel trailer, Going up was OK, going down was the tricky part but using low gears and the breaks gingerly we made it without any issues.
Hey Sweet Friends, I’m sorry you had another issue. Y’all are so amazing. No matter what is going on, you are always so kind and respectful to one another. You remind me of my parents. They liked each other from 8th grade on and they never had a fuss in all of their nearly 50 years of marriage until he went on to Heaven. I’m glad Jimmy is so handy that y’all were able to install the water pump yourselves. So nice to have friends willing to help out....I’ll bet that water where you kayaked was freezing! Stay safe and have a better week. So much love from SC, Jane ❤️🙏🏻
It's fun to see you getting closer to the border. A tip that was helpful to me on previous road trips, when you need a non emergency repair, have the part shipped to a place further down the road. That way you don't have to sit still if you don't want to. I had the tailgate latch on my 4Runner fail in Niagara Falls and picked it up on the way home in Iowa City heading to meet some friends.
Jimmy is such a mountain man. Unafraid of bounding from a stable level to the side of a rock and back again. one of your videos comes to mind. He kept climbing up until it looked straight up. Freaked me out.
He really is! He keeps me on my toes! 😅
So glad you made it and that the brakes cooled down! You might want to invest in paper plates, bowls, plastic spoons, and forks. You can open up a can of spaghetti, vegetables, pasta, etc. And warm it in the microwave, no mess, no dishes, just a thought 😉 thank you for letting us into your lives ❤ 🥰
Thanks! 💚 We ended up buying some disposable bowls as a backup option while all this was going on 😊
Teton Pass can be rough. I went through there 3 years ago in a Jeep and learned to downshift into lower gears.
While working my way up the mountain, the Jeep lost power and sounded like it was in asphyxiation gasping for air. I had to pull over and remove the air filter to give it more air. I came from Yellowstone / Teton / Jackson Hole and was working my way to Idaho Falls. I put the air filter back in when I got to Idaho Falls.
Another drive where you have to lower gears on the way down is Pikes Peak in Colorado.
I did pikes peak in a rental car 1997. What view and what an awesome road to drive up and down. I had the rental in 2 braking occasionally keeping the speed down. I saw many vehicles pulled over on the side with smoking brakes.
That was so cool that you got see a moose and a fox. I am glad you are okay and safe. That was so nice of your friend to make dinner for you guys.
Thanks! It’s hard to beat wildlife sightings, and spending time with good friends! 😄💚
Great video. Nice to see that you both didn’t get to STRESSED, Jimmy knows how to keep his cool behind the wheel. SAFE TRAVELS 👍🏼
I agree with the comment about shifting down BEFORE you start the descending grade........ don't ever worry about the traffic behind you.......big rigs have to do the same.......love your show !
5 days without water sucks. Glad y'all solved the problem!
Thanks! We’re glad those 5 days are behind us! 😄
Glad you resolved your water pump is here also good to see you all being so transparent
Idaho - known for trout fishing too. Mountain directory East and West will give you a description of road grade conditions, before you travel the route. Everyone must do the Teton Pass someday (we have not), so congratulations you made it. Thanks for taking us along.
Don’t forget the National Reactor Testing Station and battleship BIG gun testing
I have seen water pumps in RV's that have been replaced several times. USUALLY the problem isnt the motor, it's the contacts burning up. I am doing my own bus conversion and when the pump arrived I modified it. I had a 12 volt relay in my toolbox and cut the wire going to the motor and attached a wire from the hot wire coming to the pump and wired the relay so that the relay is turning the power to the motor on and off and is activated by the wire that normally does that. So the points in the pump are only turning the relay on and off and the relay is handling the higher current of the motor.
Omg. Idaho is SO MUCH MORE than potatoes. You missing a huge chunk of the most beautiful parts.
Great video.
I had a bus home for 29 years. I have been in the philippines for the past three years but will return to
America in late 2022.
My new travel home is a 3/4
ton ford diesel truck with a camper on the back.
National forests are the best.
Eight drops of bleach per gallon of drinking water will
Kill the germs. A one micron water filter also helps.
Great bus.
Glad you made it out of the pass ok. That is great that you met up with a friend and that place where you were kayaking was just beautiful. At least the water pump was an easy fix even if it was annoying. Thanks for sharing.
Im so impressed with you two!!! You always rise to the challenge, and take care of business!!! That's an important quality to have, because life is full of never ending challenges!!! Sometimes its so tempting to say i give up, but the only thing THAT gets you is beat up by life. Rising above adversity not only gets the problem solved, but also gives you a sense of confidence and added strength to get you through the next problem, and the next, etc.
Life rocks on for our beloved sweet and capable Jimmy and Natalie!!!
See you on the next adventure!!!
Much love and big fat hugs!!!
🍃🤗🍃
Thanks so much Donna!! 😊💚
We have a 35ft RV…we went down a 10% grade going to Yellowstone, our brakes smoked like your did…with using 1st & 2nd gear to slow us down - at the bottom stretch of the hill our brakes went out…completely - pedal went to the floor, ‘luckily’ we was able to roll to a stop off the side of the road. We let the brakes cool for like an hour…checked the brake fluid and it was empty. Filled it with what we had and found a gas station a few miles away. After adding fluid the brakes worked…and have worked since.
I live in Idaho and that pass is no joke! It's worse in the winter and sometimes it's closed due to the massive amount of snow it gets.
We enjoyed watching, from 🇨🇦🍁 as always. Very impressive improvements.
Thank you! 😊💚
A spare water pump is always on board with us. The last time I had one go out was Christmas Eve 2020. Having one on hand turned a several day inconvenient into a 15 minute fix. I suggest ordering a spare.
Back in 2016 we did Teton Pass and overheated our brakes in the same place! We pulled over in the same spot and had lunch for over an hour to let the brakes cool😉
All dreams include a few nightmares, you guys are living the dream, even with the few bumps in the road. Very Awesome and so inspiring. Live the Dream.
You may consider obtaining a switch for the water pump that light up when it’s on.
"It felt dangerously close to camping" 🤣 I feel that. hahaha Seriously though, your guys' abilities to tell a great story as it unfolds, make anything interesting, AND have great videography skills. 👌
You guys NEED a book we use ALL the time in trip planning: Mountain Directory West (for truckers, RV & motor homes). It will save you a lot of grief. Also learn to go slower and use lower gears effectively to keep yourselves safe on downhill portions of the trip. The less braking you do the better... but obviously you know that part now. Keep a smile going and keep up the posts.
@@EfficientRVer Yes, but there may be more to that than meets the obvious. As was stated, "...you know that part now." Does the bus have electric overdrive to cycle out of? Is there a slower top of the hill speed? All sorts of other questions to ask yourself after the event. Schoolies are built in way supposed to be safe for transport of kids so one tends to assume they handle a wide range of situations... even though they cannot.
Glad you were able to arrive at the Tetons safely. I have the same kayak and keep it stored in a closet.....so easy. I like the comfort too!
People go the long way around through swan valley to Alpine, then Hoback Junction. It’s flatter and still a beautiful drive.
Steep grades can always be a bit scary. Cooler heads prevailed and you managed beautifully. Another great on the road experience to have under your belts. The scenery is fantastic there! Love it all. Regards!
Water is important. So glad for you two to get your water works sorted out. 👍
Beautiful stunning views great driving, stunning Idaho and delecious cooking! Loved the video!
Yeahhhh! The Tetons!!! Met my hubby at Jackson Lake Lodge in '85!! Sorry about the Teton Pass and the frustrations that day. Enjoy the Tetons, and then Montana too!
Good video, thank you! If you find yourself forgetting to turn off the water pump, you might consider using a timer instead of an on/off switch.
We saw a Smithsonian video of Idaho recently and were amazed at how scenic and
beautiful it is. We had no idea.
Idaho was unexpectedly beautiful! 😄 I’m surprised we haven’t heard more about it!
We try to keep Idaho's beauty quiet. LOL.
Overheated brakes is a problem. Do you downshift out of high gear so the engine can help slow you down without applying the brakes ???
Yep! We were downshifted all the way to 1st gear
Dry slower, use the weight of vehicle to break you.
Gear now,
The emergency brake uses the same rear shoes that are smoking, so it doesn't help to use it.
Your “emergency “ brake is just the rear brakes, so if rear brakes don’t work it won’t either…. You did good by stopping to let them cool
Emergency brake on a bus like that is more likely a brake on the driveline on the output of the transmission
@@petervaneverdink448 Yep! In our bus it’s connected to the driveline so it’s separate from our hydraulic brakes.
Glad you were able to pull over safely and stop for lunch and for the brakes to cool down good call, lovely to see you on the river again fun after all the stress eh, glad water pump issue is fixed with new, have fun xxx
Thank you Julia! We’re glad everything worked out too! 😄💚
Lewis and Clark did the US west with out a water pump. At home I keep my drinking water in 1-gallon containers and do the pore it thing. Lived in a camping trailer with out a water pump for years. Use spray bottles and a paper towel to clean dishes.
Always use your lower gear and just ease down anything more than 3% grade. If you have to get on your brakes you’re gear is too high. We pulled Teton pass from Jackson into Idaho with a truck camper on. Huge pull even for a dually with loaded truck camper . Love your schoolie
I LOVE the Tetons. I'm just hoping you will always remember it as a positive experience. Remember any trip as long as yours can't always be perfect... and also remember: Just Breathe. PS... what a wonderful thing to meet someone you knew! Those burgers and corn looked like the best!
I spent a lot of time at my grandparents homestead in Palisades during the 50's and 60's, Pass is dangerous so we always took the drive through Swan valley to Alpine and then 89 through Hoback to Jackson Hole. Stay safe. Regards, Pat
I saw your bus at Teton visitor center and Chelsea’s bus at Yellowstone general store while I was there. I’m going to purchase a bus in the next few weeks and start converting it. Hopefully to make a trip back out there mid September.
Safe travels!!
I pulled a 1971 28" Carriage camper packed with rock collections, fossils, canning jars etc etc, up and down that thing. I had to stop so many times to cool my brakes. You exceed your luck and you're down that roller coaster :P We should start a support group lol.
Serenity blue here! So glad you guys met up with Chelsey! She followed me when I had a problem with my gear shift cable, all the way to Denver from Buena vista in Colorado ! Happy you made it out of that pass!
Speed is key when going downhill. If you are slower , the brakes don’t have to work as hard to slow you. And lightly drag the brakes rather than repeated hard stabs. Either way. Long grades will eventually put you in that position and you did the best thing. Stop and let the old girl cool off. 15-20 min Delay is faster than pulling it out of a ravine!
Sounds like "life happening" and you handled it plus had a great time kayaking in a beautiful place. I love all of the colors on the fox. Your friend has a beautiful setup inside her bus.
Back in the 80s, I was warned about this pass. The guy said that the trip up from Wyoming was tough on a vehicle towing a trailer, but it's the trip downhill that is treacherous! I did it in a GMC 1500 Suburban and the truck did super well. Cool down brakes totally before proceeding.
Living vicariously through you two. Thanks for sharing (be good, the bad, and even the ugly) 💙🚌🛶🗻
Thank you!! 😊💚🚌
You need to reign him in. You guys are so funny. Good luck with the rest of the trip.
I swear I saw your bus just outside Grand Teton National Park, June 2. Your had the hood up, I hope it wasn’t more problems. (Just off of Hwy 89). I do enjoy your channel.
My daughter is finishing up her small bus about your size and using a foot pump with a 5 gallon water container beneath the sink and a 5 gallon water bottle for the gray water leaving the sink. She’s not using an electric pump. Simple sometimes is more cost effective. Subscribed tonight.
Just made a trip to Iowa to see family and then up to Upper Michigan. I hope you all get a chance to visit both of those areas too. There is just so much to see in our big beautiful country. Enjoy the journey!!!
Been through that pass many times as a Kid . Idaho is my home State ❤️
I used to work at the Jackson Hole Historical Society. Teton Pass took an original pioneering family a week to get over with wagons and livestock. Then when the train arrived in Victor it was a two day journey with a travel lodge at the top. The Pass is no joke!
The other option to get from Idaho to Jackson is south. You would cross into Wyoming at Freedom and then north through Star Valley and the Snake River Canyon. Two lanes and curves but not the steep incline.
But the view from the top of Teton Pass is unparalleled.
You guys are just awesome. Great adventure on the water. Good decision to pull over before losing breaks.
brakes
We love following you guys! Please get some life jackets or life bands, especially with using inflatable kayaks.
Running water is awesome!😀 glad it’s fixed 😀I don’t mine camping I would go for weeks I did one time for a month and I hated coming home. See u next week safe traveling
We definitely love camping, as long as it's what we're trying to do! 😅 Although the longest we've ever gone is a week. Camping for a whole month is impressive! 😊
Wow the lake is so clear.this video was fun to watch!
I went to Yellowstone and then my GPS routed me to take Idaho hwy 33 and Teton pass back to Jackson hole. I literally felt like I was gonna died as I go higher with inclines and turns, it was almost 10pm at night and I couldn’t see much. I felt so bad for the driver behind me but couldn’t pullover since it was a single lane and no pullover spots. I was all alone and really thought I was gonna died and be on the next day local front page news. God blessed me that night because somehow I survived the drive.
At this time last year we were in Moose and the Tetons… really enjoyed the time while there got to see a brown bear with her three cubs right outside side the truck window just inside of Yellowstone park way
The Tetons are so beautiful, it’s almost hard to believe they’re real. We would LOVE to see a brown bear …from a safe distance of course! 😄
@@JimmyandNatalie yes it is and seeing the bear cubs was our highlight… ooh while down in Wyoming Pearl got see up close a moose with a calf too … well close was about 300 yrds away
Oh man, I've had hot brakes but not smoking. Still took me like three hours to cool.
Safe travels! And always learn from mistakes.
Another challenge met and conquered. Great video even with your concerns.
Keep up the good work and keep being awesome!
I didn't read through other comments but some mechanical advise.It's better to leave the engine running when you are having high temperatures.As long as a leak didn't cause the high temp the radiator will disapate the heat fastest.Also when going down hill select a lower gear to allow more engine braking.Maintain a slower speed will help the brakes.When climbing choose a gear that doesn't require full throttle application.A slower journey is better for sightseeing anyways.Good luck and hopefully you get to Canada soon.
Hi guys, you can buy 12v circuit breakers that plug into your fuse panel. Just so you don't get caught without spares. When they pop you'll need to let them cool a little bit before resetting them. When searching for them look for 'T Tocas Manual Reset Low Profile ATC Circuit Breakers 12V - 32V DC'. I Remember that the fuse will usually pop for one of two reasons to much draw or a short. looking forward to more of your journey.
You guys make it all look easy. I’m sitting at home watching you and anxiety is through the roof! Stay safe
Haha, I’m glad we at least looked calm! We were pretty stressed in the moment 😅 Thanks for watching! 💚
Grand Tetons are one of the most beautiful places in the US. Sorry you had such a rough start to this part of your journey
Just an FYI Your bus is an automatic transmission , so when going downhill or uphill you can shift that trans into a lower gear with the shift selector that will help slow you down , giving the brakes a break or give you more power , making it easier to climb - Good luck and safe travels . Rick out.
Wire in a red light in the circut of the pump switch somewhere noticeably visible that turns on when the pump is on.
Or swap the on/off switch for a timer switch like in hotel bathrooms. That way the pump is guaranteed to turn off...
I've seen other vanlifers put a timer switch on their water pump switch then they never needed to worry about remembering to turn it off. For what it's worth. Good luck!
Good day to you two. Great videos as always.
You can go thru Alpine around palisade lake. Beautiful drive also, a little longer, not so steep.
Where you camped in the caribou forest is my backyard.
I have been over that pass in a pick=up. Can't imagine going over it in a bus. I remember signs with warnings on them!
ok to me you are camping!! just this time with no clean water you were boondocking! you to are such a cute couple! God bless ❤️ prayers ❤️
Haha thanks 😊 We definitely did not realize what luxury a little water pump could bring us before this 😂
Even the grand Tetons can't stop you guys. Well done
Loved the video. Real. That's what you both are about. Real fun and adventure.
Idaho has lots of beauty on its own. Central and Northern Idaho, that's around the sawtooth wilderness area and Coeur d'Alene areas, are beautiful. As beautiful as Montana and Wyoming. Even the area of Eastern Idaho from about Ashton heading toward West Yellowstone is pretty amazing. We've driven that pass out of Jackson and yeah. It's tough. 10 miles of 10% grade is no joke. If you go south from Jackson there's a much milder pass that goes into Idaho Falls.
Agree with John Adams...Adam's.... use a lower gear to go downhill. Managing your speed with the brakes can get dangerous. The hotter the brakes, the less effective they are... and leaving your water pump on shouldn't hurt it unless it is cycling nonstop... and you should be able to hear that.
Thanks for sharing your journey! I love what you guys are doing. Stay safe out there!
Swan river? nice. that was the south fork of the snake river running through swan valley. Idaho is awesome. lots of great country.
As said in other comments, descending a grade in a lower gear is key! Instead of D put it in L2 and let her coast. People behind may stack up but your life and home are more important. Either way, they can't eat ya. Normal rule of thumb for truckers is go down hill in a lower gear than you go up.
Safe travels to ya!
Some buses new were equipped with Telma retarders (electromagnetic brake system) as an option. They work fantastic in this type of terrain.