Hello,

I've been driving trucks for about two years, all on flat terrain. My experience comes from driving heavy-duty wreckers and snow-plow trucks, and I've never had any OTR experience in a big-rig (have had plenty in a pickup w/gooseneck). I've never had to worry about proper downshifting as I've never had any risk of burning up brakes in the situations I've been in (I know how to do it, but my skill at downshifting properly is mediocre).

In about a week I am expected to make my first mountain drive from Colorado Springs, CO to Las Vegas, NV. The rig I'll be driving is a 13-Speed w/ a 475hp Cat (With Jake Brake) pulling a 65-70K van. I'm looking for a little advice here...

1) What will be my safest route to take for someone who has never driven a truck in the mountains? My choices are I-25 South to I-40 (I've heard that Raton Pass is fairly steep, and that the Hoover Dam Bypass is straight-up scary with the steep downhill); or I-70 (Which has a chance of winter driving conditions combined with the Eisenhower Tunnel & Vail Pass -- I've done this in a car in the winter and it is not fun).

2) Whichever way I go, how do I know what gear I need to be in to get down the hill safely? What gear will I need to get up the hill?

I'm not in any real hurry, I have 2 full days to make the approx. 13 hour trip, I just want to make the trip in one piece and I am pretty nervous about my first mountain drive.

Thanks for any advice you can give!

The quick answer will be whatever gear for the posted speed for rigs for the grade. Most of the major mountain passes have a posted speed on the downgrades for rigs. At least from what I remember from 1999 and 2000. I'm sure someone else will pop in here with more recent (if necessary) and possibly more detailed info. Just remember, you can go down a grade as many times as you want too slow, but only once too fast. Go with what you are comfortable with, no matter what anyone says to you on the CB!

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I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was going to blame you.

Dynamite comes in small packages, Nitro comes in smaller ones, take your pick!

yea, good advice turn your cb off and take your time

KEY Word here "comfortable" ... stay in your comfort zone, and do not let anyone push you out of it... As far as gearing it will depend on your gross weight and speed you need to stay at or under down the hill, weather plays a factor in that too... Stay safe and good luck and good truckin'

My PERSONAL recommendation would be to go south. I-70 is not a good choice in any weather, and worse in winter time.

After that - yeah. Slow is good. FOr me, I always find a gear in which I am comfortable, then downshift one if I'm loaded light, downshift two if GVW is over 70K.

Generally, I'm aiming for about 30mph on the download

Of course, this is just me, and even for me not a hard and fast rule.

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Keep the big doors at the back!

Thanks for the responses so far.... obviously I need to downshift PRIOR to beginning the downhill as I assume it is damn near impossible to downshift on the downgrade without finding yourself trapped in neutral?

Yes that would be the right way to go about downshifting. Would not want to put your self in the position of having a runaway truck on your hands..'cuz you missed a gear.

I knew I'd miss something! Definitely get in the right gear before heading down. I missed a gear on my first real mountain grade, but did manage to get it in there. I was sweating it for a few on that. That was in Montana somewhere around the Continental Divide three weeks into training.

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I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was going to blame you.

Dynamite comes in small packages, Nitro comes in smaller ones, take your pick!

but it's not really all that difficult to downshift once you are heading down and discover the slope is steeper than expected.

No, you don't want to do it. Yes, you can if you have to.

"impossible" is really, really the wrong word. Once you learn how, it's not even that hard. What it is though, is undesirable. You do it if you think you are having to use the brakes too much, or you can't keep your speed from climbing too quickly - that sort of thing.

I've only been driving 4 months OTR, and have had no difficulty downshifting on a grade

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Keep the big doors at the back!

Like Lurchgs said 30mph is a good speed to start with. Use your engine brake and apply the brakes with a steady pressure to slow the truck down. Don't stand on the brakes and if you're using them alot then you need to slow down. Just remeber you may need your full braking power on any spot during the downgrade. Watch for smoke, roll your windows down and turn off all noise in the cab (radio, music) keep the cb on but low. You want all your senses, feel,sight,and smell. Like said before you'll want to be in the right gear before you start down the grade. Don't worry about what gear you'll need going up because your truck will tell you that. Relax stay sharp and don't let anyone get into your head.

I'd stay away from I70 and you can go around the Laughlin pass by staying on I40 through Needles and then head up on U.S.95.