Safest way to drive downhill?

Just pray no one slams on their brakes in front of you and you are good to go.

 

Heed all warning signs. Slow down before grade. Be in the gear below the one you climbed the hill in. Use engine brake. Use service brake sparingly. Are go real slow with hazards on

 

Go slow one gear lower than you would climb it is standard answer. I say go as slow as you feel you can safely stop if something where to happen period. You are responsible for driving your truck and its you that has to deal with consequences if you cant stop. If it 25mph that you feel safe then so be it just make sure your 4 ways are on.
I use the engine break all the time just in adverse weather low setting and low rpms on this you will hear conflicting opinions on though.

 

You should go down the hill in a gear that you can use the jake in the 2 position and the three once in a while, I have never heard of not using the Jake's in the rain, I live in B.C. we have mountains, every truck uses the Jake's on road and off wet, dry, snow, or rain, in the snow you go much slower and use the one position. Your brakes are for emergencies, starting out you want to go slower, and when you know the roads and roughts you are going to travel then you can make informed decisions.
I agree with the one full gear lower than you go up the hill with.
Just a thought!

 

The bible says to pray without ceasing. As most prayers are not formal but just thoughts between you and whoever you talk to in your thoughts, the advice to pray is actually correct. Keep thinking. Your thoughts need to be ahead of you. Always ask yourself what is going to be happening 10 seconds down the road. Have a plan for brakes failing. Have a plan for a deer jumping out. Have a plan for a four wheeler to suddenly appear out of your blind side.

As to going down a hill heavy the main problem is brake failure. You want to use your brakes as little as possible as heat makes your brakes less effective. The more you let the brakes rub the more heat.

So first thing use your engine (Jake) brake. Also use the transmission by using a lower gear and a higher RPM. This is very important if you are in curves. Heavy with a high center of gravity going around a curve is a recipe for, well I don't cook but if I did I wouldn't want to use that recipe.

Use your flashers if you have any doubt. Let everyone know you are not totally confident.

Just go slow. We all want to get there safely and on time. Having to stop and climb down the hill to check and see if you have survived the crash will cause us all to be late.

 

You actually want to coast down the hill, when you're 40k+.
Especially if you're new to mountain driving or have never taken the specified route.

 

If you're fully loaded that drive axle isn't going to skid with the jakes on.