East bound Monteagle Mountain and gear choice.

The last time I went down that side heavy was in the Century I traded, with half the jakes not working (high setting felt like low). 5th held it fine 20-25 mph, I could have gone up a gear but wasn't in a hurry. Nobody said anything on the CB and plenty blew by me. In fact, even I overtook an even crappier truck that must've had no jakes at all. He was creeping along about 15 mph.

 

I do the 25mph posted for my weight, which is 7th with a 10 speed, then watch as everyone blows past me, and someone smokes their brakes as they run up on everyone and are going way way to quick.

 

Just to clarify.... MountEagle is a hill, not a mountain. Mountains don't start till you go west and hit Denver

 

Ever wonder if a few of those runaways were drivers running on the ragged edge of their jakes when they let go? Not like you're gonna notice them fail while climbing up the hill and know to be extra slow over the top.

 

You'd have proper respect for it if you'd ever went down it back in the day when jakes were rare and it followed the old curvy US 41 route. Lots of drivers lost their lives there. Now it's practically a straight shot but like others say,looks can be deceiving. Lived around the area all my life and another thing I also have proper respect for the speed limit signs except for uphill westbound. Smokey will make a believer out of you and issue failure to maintain control along with speeding ticket on the downgrades.

 

A gear low enough to keep you below the speed limit without touching your brakes. The gear would depend on your truck specs. Remember you can go down slower than the speed limit, but you may only get to go down once too fast. I simply don't get in a hurry going down mountains. I use the gear I climb in or one below as a general rule.

 

I thought constant pressure was the recommended method now.

 

True dat...

The sign before you come off the top recomennds a good speed...just always keep in the back of your mind that you can come off a hill too slow every time... too fast its only once.

What will it cost you, maybe 2 minutes total?

 

I went through the inspection station there once and the bear watched a half a dozen semis ahead of me pass and pulled in a Class 6 haul and tow for inspection .