Going down the grades HEAVY

Stumbled on this the other day and thought it was pretty cool. It's from the Colorado Motor Carriers Association. C.W. McCall talks you thru driving across the Rockies on I-70. They have a CD they will send, or you can download MP3 of it. Check it out !

http://www.cmca.com/crossing/Crossing_WB.htm

Sorry for the double post.

 

This how I break going down a steep grade.

Find a gear where the truck will run up to 2100-2300rpm then steadily brake for 5-6 sec to bring it down to 1300-1500rpm if it takes longer then 5 sec you need to drop a gear.
If it worked out and it took you 5-6 sec to bring it down to 1300-1500rpm
release the foot break (Jake fully on) and let the truck roll back to 2100-2300 rpm, if it hits 2100-2300 less then 6-7 sec then you need to drop a gear after breaking to 1300-1500 rpm (remember you need to break hard to bring the truck back down to 1300-1500rpm, if it takes you longer then 5-6 sec you need to drop a gear)

Snub breaking method.
Never has failed me yet under heavy heavy loads. not once have I seen my brakes get hot nor have I had somebody tell me they was smelling or smoking.

 

I just got back from Oakland CA last night.

I spent 7 hours on DOnner thursday (including walking 2 miles to buy a chain that my fleet manager shorted me and I didn't catch, and 2 miles back carying the iron) It was snowy and fun. I love it up there when it snows.

On my way out. Sherman and ELk mountain were iced over and had 70+mph wind gusting. That was totally crazy and the worse wind I'v seen. I saw a set of doubles blow up on its wheels on one side and another truck get blown sideways into the graely shoulder while siting still. Luckily I was 80K pounds. I shot some video of it with my phone but it didn't turn out great but you can tell how bad the truck is rocking.

I got shut down in CHeyanne from friday night untill sunday morning too. It's been an interesting week, 2 1/2 days to get out and 4 1/2 to get back

 

The down hill break method is called "Snub breaking method"

Stopping the truck is called "Stab and release method"

Stab and release is used to keep the Tires rolling under a hard break in order to keep the TRL from swinging on you while trying to stop fast. (a method that was used a lot when there was no Anti breaks on trucks, but still used today under certain conditions) similar to pumping your breaks in a car but with a lot more force.


Snub breaking is something as
Find a gear where the truck will run up to 2100-2300rpm then steadily brake(firmly) for 5-6 sec to bring it down to 1300-1500rpm if it takes longer then 5 sec you need to drop a gear.
If it worked out and it took you 5-6 sec to bring it down to 1300-1500rpm
release the foot break (Jake fully on) and let the truck roll back to 2100-2300 rpm, if it hits 2100-2300 less then 6-7 sec then you need to drop a gear after breaking to 1300-1500 rpm (remember you need to break firmly to bring the truck back down to 1300-1500rpm, if it takes you longer then 5-6 sec you need to drop a gear)

 

Hi All,
My problem is the oposite, I'm only in a mid duty running a 180 HP Cat 3116 w/ a God forsaken 545 Allison. Yes, I know I'm WAY underpowered and trying to learn how to turn her up a notch or two (80-100 HP would do nicely). Anyhow, before I turn this truck up, I need to figure out why it's running so hot coming up White Pass, it's a 4500 ft pass that takes only about 18 miles to go up then back down.. a fairly short but notable little pass. Anyway. I put in a new thermostat, a 180` and still, it's running right at 210` mark and 220` is red line! It will do this on other short hills that are steep.I hoped chaging out the thermostat would help, the fan is working, the inter cooler works,,, Is this just the nature of the beast here, or what. I'm getting real sick of running the cab heat and hrolling down windows to help dissipate heat that shouldn't be there,, I'm afraid it'll cook the turbo or warp that engine. Any thoughts?