Mountain Driving Tips

I would take otherhalf's advice above all! He was the one hauling the bomb up and down the mountains and had the most to lose of all of us! He survived! Do whatever he said.

 

Was it the Nashville or Chattanooga side?

 

You can't use a Jake in town so you have to rely on real driving techniques. Using a Jake during icy conditions is also a no-no.

Snubbing the brakes is the name of the method. You need to be in an appropriate gear firstly. Then allow your RPM's to rise to around 1600-1800 then with a hard brake application bring the RPM down to 1000, roll on up to 1800 again and repeat.

The act of heating up the brakes cause the brake drums to expand and thus causing what they call brake fade. The brake shoes no longer can "reach" the expanded drums.

 

That's called controlled braking, and it's effective.

 

That would be the Nashville side.

 

Snubbing, controlled, or stab breaking.....all the same thing just a different "title" depending on what area of the country you learned. What ever the name, it still is the same....just get down the hill safely and in control!

There is somebody waiting for you at home...even if it's just your dog!

 

Where the Idea came from to ride the brakes from top to bottom came from is our wonderful government. When the first cdl manuels came out that was the way they taught mountain braking.about 5 years later I think it was ,they finally changed it and admitted they were wrong,but I have always wondered how many drivers they killed with that little nugget of advice.

 

Also, get on the CB if you have doubts. You may get some sarcasm, but some of the old hands give ###### good advice. Also, question some of the old hands at truckstops.

I always did 2 lower than what I had to gear down to. that plus my jake meant if I was too low I could always upshift. Also if HEAVY then go down in the gear that would be max for the posted speed "suggestion" or limit. for example if it says 45 I would start in 8th. If the jake is weak 7th. Different trucks will handle differently so learn it early.

 

HOW ABOUT USE COMMON SENSE?

I didn't see that listed.

 

Ahhh... they quit issuing that on July 23rd, 1976. Your date of inception must be prior to that in order to have a measure of said commodity inserted into your basic makeup.