Mountain Driving Tips

REDD....REDD.....REDD.....

You got to know common sense isn't that common. However, for somebody who has never driven in a mountainous area to ASK on a truckers forum how to do so properly to me says "common sense".

 

Slow , always be going slow enough that if you depress the clutch and stand on the breaks you will still be able to bring the rig to a stop with out any thing but your right foot.Then you will be OK.The trick is to know this speed, so err on the safe side.The cooler your breaks the larger the margin you got before they start fading.Don't put your self in a position where if you miss a gear you can't stop.If you snap a shaft or break a uj you want to live don't you?

 

Common sense, based on a strict construction of the term, consists of what people in common would agree on...not much of that around here...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_sense

 

Well, let's see. As I am a Canuck and drive the Rockies (mind you we don't know how to drive apparently, LOL). Lots of good advice so far.

1. At least a full gear lower to start the descent than to climb it.
2. Full Jack on and you shouldn't have to touch the brakes at all. I don't pulling over #100,000. Find the right gear and the engine will do all the braking you need.
3. If your truck doesn't have a jake, stay out of the Rockies. They are needed to help maintain control. You can do mountains without a jake but you have to take it really easy.
4. Stop at brake checks. In Canada most of them are mandatory. If in doubt stop any way. Check the rig and mark the stop in your log.
5. Winding mountain roads, slow the heck down. At least 5 to 10 mph less than the posted corner. There are many corners that are 2 lane and fine for cars at the posted speed but are WAY too tight and you need to take all of your lane and a little of the other side to make the corner.
6. In bad weather, slow down even more. Chain up when the lights are on. I've seen too many rigs spin out on a hill because the driver refuses to chain up.
7. Mountain passes the weather can change in an instant. Stay aware, listen to the cb, and don't worry about the idiots blowing by you. They are the ones I see with the brake smoking and close to on fire all the time.
8. Snow and ice can make a flat road deadly, mountains multiply that risk.
9. Watch for animals, they can appear around a corner with no warning.
10. Don't worry about taking a hill slowly. Climb it in a gear where you can still accelerate if needed but not at full throttle.

 

Ya, what he said (Flying Finn)
It's funny how animals are attracked to the steepest part of the hill?
And never follow anyone down..... capt your own ship.

 

I am asking Nick? so your saying down shift while your descending? OK here is the all time dumb question....why dont you just descend in the gear that won't let to go over the top? If your truck is governed, it should be no problem? I am asking, please no I am not being a smarty.

 

it's wise to be in the correct gear before you start moving down the slope, not a good idea to be bangin gears around as your descending a mountain.

 

He meant to be in the gear you need to be before you go down. If you climbed the grade in 9th, then you should be in 8th before you go down.

I know what he meant cause he's my hubby. I know how he thinks.

A governed truck will not keep you out of trouble on the downgrades just because it's governed. You still need to be in the correct gear and control the speed. The governor will not maintain a safe speed for you. That only prevents you from using the 'go pedal' to get a higher speed. That governor doesn't really exist when it comes to down grades. I know, I drove governed trucks.

Hope this helps you.

 

Just a little addition to Lilbit: A governor only limits the speed you can throttle up to...has nothing to do with downhill acceleration due to weight vs. gravity.

And one comment...we understand that Lilbit understands what Nik is saying, but it is highly doubtful that Nik understands everything that Lilbit is thinking...again the guy/gal thing plays into the equation!