braking on big mountains...

A old hand taught me years ago , Whatever gear you use going up , do not use anything higher going down .

Also never "Depend" on a Jake or any engine brake . The first time it does not work may be your last .

Smart man ........

 

The slower you go the more brake you can use without over-heating...just take it very slow...the gear may not hold you completely but at least your not heat up as fast.

 

butt pucker....that's funny, I'm gonna use that if it's ok with you...by the way thanks for all this advice guys...and gals.......butt pucker,love it

 

It took me a while to find it but there was a post already made about this subject that has great info...
Post was started by
GasHauler


http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...advice/17506-going-down-the-grades-heavy.html


Here is what I posted in it..

(RPM range will vary from engine, the below is for a Detroit.. Cat would be a little less and a Cummins a lot less)

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)

 

#### good advice. When I pull my 5th wheel trailer down either the Bakersfield side of the Grapevine or the down the i15 from Victorville, I use my engine brake. I am passed all the time by truckers going too fast. I am going slow because I have learned from experience that there will be problems at the bottom and I will need to almost stop.

Why are drivers always in such a #### hurry?

 

Because they're paid by the mile?

Of course they'd forget that if the freight didn't make it there, they wouldn't get paid at all...

 

The problem here is as it is in the military.. You rush rush rush then 99% of the time you get there you do nothing but sit and wait..... So, was the rushing worth it? (military i can see the purpose but not in trucking)

 

It takes maybe 5 minutes longer to go down the grade. Almost always there is a bottleneck half way down, and besides there is a weigh station at the bottom.

I mean, I learned that after the first trip.

 

Excellent thread! Thanks for sharing.

 

coming out of globe az.I saw one of the most wonderfull sights I've ever seen. It was a full circular rainbow double and of great brilliance.I was told by a local Apache that it was a rare sight,and they believed it was a window for the passed souls to enter the hereafter. Anyhow I didn't have a camera,and dont have a picture,but I do know it was a rare occurance. The copper mine in Globe was called Magma copper,and I worked in the SanManuel mine owned by the same.