I hardly use my brakes down this grade and im new! all you do is down shift before the grade jake on and go
Monteagle
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Mountainman444, Dec 28, 2008.
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Depends on what side, were you east bound or west bound? I thought read some where you were moving empty trailers, loaded will make a huge difference going up, and coming down. Nothing like a grossed out paper load, in those under powered freightliner fleet trucks.....that will curl your toes the first time!
Last edited: Sep 7, 2009
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All the trucking I did in the past was in South Florida. Pretty flat! No Jake. I rented a Penske box truck in 2004 to move back to Florida. I called a friend and told him I was heading down the mountain. He told me pick a gear and stay in it. I weighed at Flying J before I hit the road. I was 1600lbs over the rating of that truck. I wasn't hauling furniture. It was loaded with lots of engines, trannys, car parts, tools. 6 speed with air brakes. I did fine. I did stop at the light and the DOT was there.
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Monteagle is easy to go down just mind the advisory signs with weight/speeds and make sure you are slower than the signs suggest if you want no problems.
I did it for years in fleet trucks with no jakes and before I knew what I was doing. Almost everyone I know with an adventure on Monteagle charges down the hill and hopes for the best.
Keep your speed low, your gear lower, and don't let your speed build up than slow down to speed up and then slow down. I can give you the physics equation, if you need it, but the energy builds up faster in the brakes faster than the speed increase of the truck. That means a little increase in speed equals a much bigger increase in energy the brakes must cope with.
Set your speed and gear low enough and only start riding the brake lightly if you speed builds up. Once you apply the brakes leave them on until the grade is flatter or you arrive at the bottom of the hill. Once you apply the brakes see if you can find the point where you can just detect they take effect.
Driving a slow fleet truck it's my impression that many of drivers passing me haven't the slightest clue how to use your brakes. Every time the road curves, you're on the brakes. Every time the road dips, you're on the brakes. Every time someone says "bear" on the CB you're on the brakes. Every time there is a leftover construction sign you're on the brakes. Not only does the truck have an accelerator and a brake, you can actually lift off the go pedal and not stab the brakes, there is something between "run from the cops" and "panic stop". -
Joealds Thanks this. -
Drop to the gear you need and jake down. I used to run the eagle alot. I knew my truck and the loads I had. Once you get it figured out go with what YOU are comfortable with.Hauled everything from steel to combines down it.Not a bad "learner" grade really.Now when you get up to Cabbage sometime youll be kinda ready lol.
Also ALWAYS ask if you have doubts. Dont let the billy bad ### type shout you down.I would rather ask a dumb question,then be at the bottom being scrapped up off the road. -
Also remeber they have cameras there watching who stops and who dosen't!!! But a good job he is new and made it without a trainer. But That ain't DONNER!!!
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Isn't Jellico a longer hill than Monteagle? I rolled over it once both ways.
I went to the Rockies once. I was on I-80 Salt Lake City across Wyoming. It was a let down crossing the continental divide.alds Thanks this. -
Not just the camera's.
There is a bear who sits back around the exit before the brake check and watches for those that do not stop as well. -
Jellico is longer but not as steep.
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