This is my first winter and I would like to know what gear I should use going downhill if there is snow on the road and I'm loaded ?
Winter driving
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by darko1411pa, Jan 1, 2013.
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first off, never drive loaded!!!!...oh, wait - the trailer is full of product - I get it now... (had to be said, ya know)
Tonythetruckerdude and Marky84 Thank this. -
Not sure if there is a blanket answer for that.
Tonythetruckerdude and pick Thank this. -
Balakov100 and Marky84 Thank this.
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exactly, there isnt, (blanket answer) there are many things to consider.....
Tonythetruckerdude and pick Thank this. -
3rd gear should be fine.
You'll never get going fast enough to be in danger of sliding into something.
Might want to keep your 4-ways on though.
Is this question for real? -
there are many variables, like they said above. i never want to "give the truck its head" so to speak, when the weather is even sort of crappy. so ill generally use a gear or 2 lower than if it were dry conditions. but it could be REALLY bad, and then it might be still a lower gear. im not using my cruise control ever in bad weather. and you said loaded trailer...thats actually the best case scenario in bad weather. worse is bobtail and worst is empty trailer. and yes, im aware of how the horse analogy will be misrepresented as a sexual reference. go ahead, i can take it...im a big boy.
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Darko, we need to know many, many things to "sort of" give you an answer. Like has been said, there are too many variables. Truck? Trans? Load weight? % of grade? Temp? Type and how much snow? General rule of thumb is 1 gear lower than what you climbed the hill in. In snow, I'd probably drop 2 gears, maybe more. Hard to say without knowing where you are and the circumstances.
psychocreep and chompi Thank this. -
Have to go with Wingnut on this one. The general formula for going down a big hill is to go down one gear lower than you went up in. The other factor mentioned was road conditions. If the road conditions aren't ideal then you will want to access the situation and go down according to the present conditions.
Don't just judge the road conditions on what the roads are like going up or what they are like at the top either. Mountains generally have two sides and either side can differ greatly depending on which way the weather is flowing. It could be blue sky's and warm on one side and blizzard conditions ramming the other side with full force! There can also be great differences in the conditions at different elevations.
Best bet is to take it slow, take your time and adjust your driving accordingly. Do not wait until it is too late to do so or let the truck get away from you.
Keep in mind that you can go down a mountain a million times to slow but only once to fast!mattbh23, Tonythetruckerdude and REDBEAN Thank this. -
I've never found the '1 gear lower going down than up' rule very helpful.
On many hills I will be going up in 5th or 6th gear if I'm heavy, but can safely go down in 7th or 8th.
And sometimes the downhill side is steeper, so I have to step it down a bit more.
It all depends on the road, and the grade, and the load.CenutryClass Thanks this.
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