Full load, grades, no engine brake

Stab brake.

 

switch companies if they don't give a proper truck for mountains if that's where they run you till then run slow and stay alive is your only option also turn on engine fan if u have a manaul switch . be safe

 

What I do in that case is downshift to maybe 3rd or 4th, depending on the grade, then put slight pressure on the brakes and keep required pressure on until at the botton of the grade. Keeping pressure on stops oxygen from getting between the brake shoes and the drum; the brakes get hot but can't flame without oxygen. A couple of times the brake shoes flamed when I let off the brakes at bottom of grade, but it goes out if you keep driving. Don't stop, or you could burn the entire rig.

 

Somebody works for Stevens I take it. Stab your brakes, and start the grade as slow as you can. Keep her in a lower gear as well, wherever you are comfortable. Remember, engine braking is a pretty new concept. Didn't always have them.

 

try 14% winding mountain in wv with 3 months experience. get to the bottom of the ridiculous mountain, pull of to the shoulder, and go into the convenience store, where i am thanked "for not running into the store". she told me its not an rare occurrence. then she told me i was only half done...2nd mountain coming up.

imo you want a gear thats gonna be low enough so that the engine is helping to slow the truck before you get to the suggested speed limit. stab brake to keep 5 mph under suggested limit. that always worked for me.

 

Stab braking and lower gear doesn't work if you're on a very steep grade grossing 75 - 80 thousands lbs/ with no jake brake.

Anyway, there's different ways drivers approach the situation, & I know what worked for me for many years with no problems.

 

I thought snub braking was the preferred method ?

 

I REALLY hope you arent serious!!!

 

Yes, I am serious. No jake brakes with the first couple of companies I worked for. So, what's your answer, if you're grossing 75K - 80K going down a very steep grade and no jake brake and the engine with a lower gear does nothing to hold you back? I hope your answer isn't what I witnessed 0/0's do, with no jake brake, when pulling a company trailer, & use the trailer brakes to hold them back!
Come on, what would you do?

I've been driving since 1982, how about you.?

I hauled many loads of wool from CA to the Carolina's grossing 80K, so I know what I'm talking about. Old cabover Freightliner with no jake brake & no power steering. So, what's your answer?